When it comes to celebrities, there was probably none larger in stature than Elvis Aaron Presley.  Born into bone-crushing poverty in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis went on to become one of the most famous individuals in American history.  That fame cost him his freedom.  Elvis had little opportunity to be a regular human, but there was one way he could escape stardom: as a motorcycle rider.  If you want a chance to bid on Elvis’s last freedom machine, then have a look at this 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH to be auctioned at Mecum’s Indy Spring Classic.  Would you like to take this motorcycle for a ride to see if that Elvis magic is still there?

When you look at influential figures in American history, Elvis Presley is definitely in the top tier.  The only folks who have never heard an Elvis song either haven’t been born yet or are part of a lost tribe somewhere.  The boy from Tupelo owns a whole lot of real estate in everyone’s brain.  Yet, when you see how desperately poor his family was it is hard to see how he ever escaped his situation.  Elvis’s father was not much of a provider, and the family had to often beg for assistance from neighbors or benefit from what then was called welfare.  Only his love for music set Elvis apart from other impoverished children at that place and time.

Yet it was that love of music and an incredible singing voice that propelled him to a level of stardom that few have ever reached.  While his great wealth and flame were a blessing in many ways, Elvis’s notoriety robbed him of any chance to be a regular person.  Everywhere he went he was mobbed by fans.  Hangers-on took advantage of his friendship.  While most of us would develop negative personalities if we were in the same blue suede shoes, Elvis’s inner goodness only grew.

If you take the tour of Graceland, his legendary home is filled with reminders of his generosity and kindness.  The Jungle Room was where he entertained his many friends.  A number of them were in law enforcement, and the greatest Elvis generosity story started in that coolest of man caves.  Toward the end of the tour, you are presented with a display of canceled checks that Elvis wrote to charities and ordinary people in distress, or at least people who had a hard luck story.  Elvis’s generosity was legendary in Memphis at the time.  He was known as a “soft touch.”

Elvis’s kindness also had wheels, both two and four.  The singer would gift vehicles to friends and family, often without provocation.  These vehicles became instant collectibles and garages across the country are home to many Elvis Cadillacs with his name still on the title and just a few miles on the odometer.  Elvis also had a love of Harley-Davidsons.  Many pictures are floating around the internet of Elvis on fully equipped Harleys of various vintages.

Why was he such a fan of Harley-Davidsons?  The obvious answer is that he was no different than any other motorcycle aficionado.  The wind in the hair freedom that a motorcycle makes possible is a feeling that cannot be replicated elsewhere.  For Elvis, however, that freedom meant something else.  Jumping on a motorcycle and roaring away was an escape from being Elvis the celebrity.  A helmet, a pair of dark sunglasses, and a leather jacket provided the perfect disguise.  Others wore disguises to be someone else.  Elvis was just trying to be himself.

The 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH you see here is reported to be Elvis’s last motorcycle before his untimely death.  One of 750 produced, this Bicentennial model was decked out with an absolutely beautiful custom paint scheme.  Elvis kept the motorcycle at his palatial mansion in Palm Springs, California.  The King’s time in the movies left him with a lasting love of California.  At the mansion, he kept a stable of vehicles for his personal use during the average three months out of the year he spent there.  This nearly new Harley was patiently waiting for The King to return when word traveled through the airwaves of his untimely passing.  The title is still in his name and lists the Palm Springs address.  Curiously, the title office misspelled his middle name.  It also displays his distinctive signature.

In the frenzy that followed Elvis’s death, this Harley was sold to a hotel owner in Wildwood, New Jersey.  From there it went to the Pioneer Museum in Murdo, South Dakota, and was displayed from 1983 to 2019.  Its next public appearance will be at the Mecum Spring Classic Auction in Indianapolis, Indiana.  During this May 12-20 extravaganza bidders and interested onlookers will be able to see not only Elvis’s last freedom machine but be able to get a good look at just how a 1976 Harley looked as it would have sat on the showroom floor.

Like all vintage vehicles, this motorcycle is a window back to a certain place and time.  Yet this motorcycle is a bit different.  It is a glimpse into the life of a treasured celebrity and how he found a unique way to be a normal person like the rest of us.