The Elvis Unit

The Elvis Unit – F479

The Actual Ambulance That Responded to Elvis Presley's Final Call

Known as “The Elvis Unit”, Memphis Fire Department Ambulance F479 was newly placed into service in 1975. On August 16, 1977, just shy of two years in operation, this very unit was dispatched to Graceland in a desperate attempt to save Elvis Presley’s life.

A now-famous photograph captured the moment the ambulance passed through the gates of Graceland with Elvis inside, en route to Baptist Memorial Hospital. That photo was sold for $100,000 and turned into a widely circulated memorial poster. If you look closely at the image, you’ll notice a distinct bend on the front driver’s side bumper—a mark still visible today on the very same ambulance now preserved in our museum.

On August 16, 2018—exactly 41 years later, this long-lost piece of Elvis history was rediscovered in a backyard in Bartlett, Tennessee by The Spa Guy and Globetrotting with Trey. It had sat outside, untouched since being auctioned off in 1991. Thankfully, it is now safely housed indoors at the TigerMan Karate Dojo & Museum.

Rather than restoring it, we’ve chosen to preserve its aged condition as a tribute to the humanity and vulnerability of Elvis Presley. The vehicle tells a deeper story in its current state—one of urgency, loss, and legacy.

After August 16, 1977, the Elvis Unit continued in service until 1987, then was stored inside Fire Station #1 to prevent theft before being released at public auction in 1991.

🎧 Want to hear history?
Guests may request to hear the original 911 audio from August 16, 1977, during their museum tour.