Due to their human body design , Model AFordsdon’t look right as highboys . " TheElvisCar , " John Athan ’s famed 1929 roadster , was one of the first railcar to employ the time - honored solution of get on a Model A body atop 1932 Ford runway .
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As a stripling in 1937 , John bought the body for $ 7 and the Deuce frame for $ 5.50 . He began building the car , but did n’t finish it until after he riposte home from military responsibility during World War II .
While Deuce rails would come into usual use , John ’s roadster sport numerous ghost that made it one of a form . The windscreen glass is the rear windowpane from a 1939Chrysler , and the surround and posts were cast and machined by John in his machine shop .
John also cast thecarburetorstacks , as well as the triangular receiving system that relate the wishing bone ends to the frame on each side . " I sell a draw of those bit to Ed Almquist back then , " explained John , " He let in them in his catalog . We made a few buck . "
Other unique items include the handmadeengine - turn dash , the 1940 Mercury bole - handle / license - home light , and the custom - bent on headers . cut and fitting the headers was irksome , but they cave in the machine a unique spirit that was far forward of its time .
The roadster gained its greatest fame as Elvis Presley ’s drive in the 1957 filmLoving You . After playing that role , it forever became have it away as " The Elvis Car , " even though it found its direction into other moving picture and telly display .
John lived the spicy rod life-style in his car , cruising with friend Ed Iskenderian , flouting the legal philosophy , and making speed runs at the ironic lakes . He drove the car for 40 old age until he put it into storage in 1978 .
Tom Leonardo , Jr. , convert John to let him furbish up it in 1998 . After the renovation , John had the railcar placed in the NHRA museum , where it serve well as a beautiful reminder of red-hot rodding ’s vivacious past .
