021315_cars_elvis_640

BREAKING NEWS Memphis, Tennessee – Three-time NASCAR championship winning crew chief Ray Evernham recently visited Graceland to shoot a segment for his Velocity show AmeriCarna about the last car Elvis drove before he died, a 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III. While he was there, the Graceland folks told him the vehicle he really wanted to see was tucked away in a warehouse out back. There, under a sheet, was a rusty old 1948 Chevrolet Panel Van that they say Elvis used to use to sneak out of Graceland when he wanted to avoid his fans and the press. Once some of his fans found out about his van, they literally stole the front bumper. He was said to be so distraught about the theft, that he sang a song about it encouraging the culprit to return it. The words were later changed, but it was initially called “Return the fender”.