LAS VEGAS — Elvis is looming large at the 2009 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction, with word that the 1961 Jaguar that was featured in the 1964 movie Viva Las Vegas will cross the auction block. The event begins today and runs through October 10.
The Jaguar is the yellow Ol' Yaller VIII that is part of Max Balchowsky's Ol' Yaller series of 1956-'63. It is based on the Jaguar E-Type monocoque, says the auction house, and was modified in the late 1960s by customizer Dean Jeffries. It has a red interior, a V8 engine and a four-speed manual transmission.
"No collector car auction in Las Vegas would be complete without a nod to the King of Rock and Roll," said Barrett-Jackson in a statement.
At the time of its release, the movie was panned by The New York Times as being "about as pleasant and unimportant as a banana split," yet many critics consider it to be one of Elvis' best. He plays Lucky Jackson, a racing driver who is ready for the Las Vegas Grand Prix but needs to buy an engine for his car. "Elvis is at the wheel, but Ann-Margret drives him wild," was the tagline for the movie, notes IMDB.
Inside Line says: What happens in Vegas may hit the road, in this case. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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