Viva Las Vegas! Elvis Mercedes Highlights 15 Cars From John Staluppi Jr. Collection Heading to 2018 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction
August 15, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
A ’71 Mercedes (Lot #725) purchased new by Elvis Presley highlights the John Staluppi Jr. Collection at the 11th Annual Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction at Mandalay Bay.
LAS VEGAS – August 16, 2018 – Barrett-Jackson continues building an impressive docket with 15 cars from the John Staluppi Jr. Collection that will cross the block during the 11th Annual Las Vegas Auction, September 27-29, 2018, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Among the feature vehicles in the collection are an Elvis Presley-owned 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL (Lot #725), purchased new by “the King” and retained through his death, and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Convertible (Lot #724) with a frame-off rotisserie restoration completed in 2015.
“The Staluppi family have been friends of Barrett-Jackson for many years, and it’s clear John Jr. has inherited his father’s collector-car acumen. We are honored he chose our Las Vegas Auction to sell this collection,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Collections continue to highlight our auctions throughout 2018 and have offered a tremendous variety of cars for enthusiasts looking to buy their first collector car or continue to grow their own collection. The John Staluppi Jr. Collection will be an exciting part of our return to Las Vegas for another colossal automotive lifestyle event at Mandalay Bay.”
The Elvis Presley ’71 Mercedes (Lot #725) has a fuel-injected 169.5ci 6-cylinder engine and is equipped with many options, including power brakes, power steering, power windows and air conditioning. The vehicle went from Presley’s garage to a museum, where it has been on display for 40 years, and is accompanied by documentation from the purchase, along with a photograph of the car in front of Graceland.
Lot #724, a ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Convertible, features a complete frame-off rotisserie restoration finished in December 2015. It is powered by a brand-new Chevy Performance 430hp 6.2-liter LS3 engine mated to a 4L65E automatic transmission, and sits atop an Art Morrison chassis with RideTech adjustable coilover suspension.
“The increasing number of collections offered on the Barrett-Jackson auction block provides great opportunities for fellow hobbyists to find unique cars,” said Steve Davis, Barrett-Jackson president. “From classics like a ’62 Corvette to Resto-Mods and modern muscle, such as a Yenko Camaro, the John Staluppi Jr. Collection is a great addition to our docket, and we are excited to offer them all at No Reserve in Las Vegas.”
Also among the top cars from the collection is a 2017 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro (Lot #723), one of just 50 Limited Edition Yenko Camaros built for 2017 by Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE). The special package pushes the car to 800hp and 750 ft/lbs of torque from its 455hp LT1 engine. It is documented extensively and has just 236 actual miles. Dodge is also well-represented in the collection, including a 1969 Charge Custom HEMI Coupe (Lot #722), upgraded to a fresh hydraulic roller real 426ci HEMI that has been paired up to a built 727 automatic transmission. A Hotchkis TVS system has been installed, including Fox tuned shocks and HEMI torsion bars, and the HEMI coupe is also equipped with Wilwood brakes all around.
A ’62 Corvette 327/360 Convertible (Lot #719) highlights the John Staluppi Jr. Collection that will cross the block at the 2018 Las Vegas Auction.
Other vehicles in the John Staluppi Jr. Collection heading to Las Vegas include:
- ’62 Chevrolet Corvette 327/360 Convertible (Lot #719) – Formerly from the Reggie Jackson Collection
- ’66 Dodge HEMI Charger (Lot #720) – An amazing 426/425hp HEMI with automatic transmission
- ’69 Dodge Super Bee (Lot #721) – California original car, fabulously restored to factory specifications
- ’70 Chevrolet Chevelle LS5 (Lot #716) – Matching numbers, date-code-correct, one of two Mint Green SS 454s
- ’70 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Custom Coupe (Lot #717) – 502ci Ram Jet engine, Tremec 6-speed manual transmission
- ’07 Dodge Charger Custom Convertible (Lot #718) – 6.1-liter HEMI engine and Auto-Stick transmission
The 2018 Las Vegas Auction Preview Docket is now live. Advance tickets and All-Week ticket packages are also available at Barrett-Jackson.com. Consignments are being accepted for the 2018 Las Vegas Auction; to submit an application, click here. For information on becoming a bidder, visit www.Barrett-Jackson.com/bid. Also, follow Barrett-Jackson on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for the latest news and information heading into the 2018 Las Vegas Auction.