Usually, when KSL Cars conducts internal research, it isn’t very surprising. Pretty much any Utahn could guess that SUVs and pickups topped our list of the most popular body types. One surprising statistic jumped out at us, however. Despite having the lowest number of listings for any color, the cars with the highest rate of contacts were … pink.
What’s going on here? Are pink cars getting a Barbie bump? Are incoming Californians trying to brighten up these cold winter days? The answer is probably pretty simple — the rarer a color is, the more motivated and likely to reach out to the buyers.
And who can blame them? Getting your hands on this sought-after shade could make you the envy of collectors and casual car lovers alike. It’ll be tough though — there’s only ever a few pink cars on KSL Cars at a time. While you wait for your dream car (Barbie or not), you can brush up on some of the most famous pink cars from the 1950s to today.
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Elvis’ pink Cadillac
The King of Rock and Roll also happens to be the king of pink cars. Elvis Presley’s pink Cadillac may be the most famous rosy ride of all time and the inspiration for much of the buzz surrounding the model in the future.
Contrary to popular belief, Elvis’ first pink Cadillac was not “the” pink Cadillac. His first one, a 1954 Fleetwood Series 60, lasted only about six months before it was destroyed in a wreck and replaced with a blue and black model. His hit song, “Baby, Let’s Play House,” was climbing the charts at the time, however. Since it mentioned his pink Cadillac, Elvis thought it would be best for branding to paint his ride, opting for a custom shade called “Elvis Rose.” Almost 70 years later, it seems like it was a good decision.
Mary Kay Ash
Sell enough blush, and you could get a blush-colored ride. At least, that’s been the case since 1969, when Mary Kay Ash (of Mary Kay) began giving away pink Cadillac Coupe de Villes to top consultants at h
er cosmetics company. The original shade of pink was modeled and named after Mary Kay’s own “Mountain Laurel Blush,” and to this day, Mary Kay pink is exclusive to employees.
Not everyone gets a pink Caddy, though. Only about 10% of Mary Kay’s Independent Sales Directors (a role that only about 1.5% of all Beauty Consultants even reach) go on to earn the use of a pink Cadillac. Those cars are also leased, and still owned by the company. So if you’ve got your sights set on being a pioneer of pink, you may be better off looking locally.
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A classic pink Buick shows off in the sunshine.
Bates Wilson and Canyonlands National Park
What do pink Cadillacs and Canyonlands National Park have in common? According to Bates Wilson, the first superintendent of the park, not much. He believed that it was more important to keep most of the park rugged, natural and wild, “even if it means turning away the man in the pink Cadillac.”The pink Cadillac may have been only a metaphor for Wilson, but it was a helpful one. To this day, Canyonlands is one of the most rugged national parks in the lower 48 states. But while you may need a vehicle with off-road capability to visit the Needles and Maze Districts, you can easily take your pink Caddy to the views at the Island in the Sky.
Pink Adventure Tours
Residents of the Southwest might not think “Cadillac” when they hear about a pink vehicle in a national park. Since 1960, visitors to Sedona, Arizona, have been abl
e to count on Pink Adventure Tours (formerly Pink Jeep Tours) to take them up and over some wild red-rock terrain that Cadillacs wouldn’t dream of.
As of 2024, they’ve expanded to several states, but still don’t have operations in Utah. That’s fine, though, since there are plenty of incredible off-roading outfitters to be found in the Beehive State, and even more Jeeps to make the trip yourself. Paint not included.
Bruce Springsteen
The Boss may not have been seen in pink too often, but he did write arguably the most iconic pink car tune of all time, with 1984’s “Pink Cadillac.” The song outperformed its B side status, charting for 14 weeks and peaking at number 27. With lyrics like, “They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple, but man, I ain’t goin’ for that. I know it was her pink Cadillac,” it’s hard not to jump for pink Caddy listings whenever you hear it.
Beach Barbie shows off in a classic pink convertible. Yes, her job is beach.
Barbie movie
If you know someone who bought a pink car in 2023, you can probably guess the reason why. The country had Barbie fever this past summer, and plenty of folks took notice of the pink Corvette that Barbie and Ken were cruising in.
But can you buy the Barbie movie car? Kind of. The car in the movie was a remotely controlled replica that wasn’t even street legal, so no luck there. You can always buy a classic C1 Corvette and give it a fresh coat of paint, but those old sound systems probably don’t have Bluetooth. And what’s the point of getting one if you can’t have an “I’m Just Ken” jam session?
Still got the itch for a Barbie car? There are plenty available on KSL Classifieds, if you’re willing to make a little compromise on leg room. OK, fine. A big compromise.
Although pink cars are a rarity, you can usually find a few on KSL Cars. Want to be the first to the punch? Set an alert for your search, and you’ll be the first to know when new cars are added.
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