TCB Tour Bus Gallery
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TCB
Tour Bus
The TCB Tour Bus is a very famous bus that was bought by Elvis Presley.
There are so many stories about the actual purchase and ownership of this TCB Tour Bus it has been difficulty for us to keep up with.
We were told that yes, Elvis gave JD Sumner a blank check to purchase a bus, however the bus was to be JD Sumner's bus, not Elvis'.
Then we found three documents that contridict this story.
First document is a "newspaper interview" with "JD Sumner".
JD Sumner says, Elvis gave him $120,000, rather a "blank check" and JD filled it out for "$120,000" the price JD figured it would cost for a bus.
JD Sumner said, he could have filled the check out for "1 million dollars" and Elvis would still have let him have it.
JD Sumner, himself, says in this newspaper article that he customized the bus for "Elvis" and put the famous logo "TCB with the Lightning Bolt" on it for "Elvis".
JD Sumner, himself, says, when I delivered the bus to "Elvis" he was like a child and loved this bus.
Elvis, immediately took the bus out for Elvis' first drive in the bus.
We all know the story, how Elvis almost wrecked the bus the very first time Elvis drove the bus. Elvis said, "JD if I wreck the _ _ _ _ bus, I'll buy a new one".
With this document, it leads me to believe that yes, Elvis bought the bus and it was for Elvis Presley, not JD Sumner, himself, but was then given to JD Sumner by Elvis as a "gift".
We all know Elvis was very good about giving "gifts".
Another document / article that I found is very interesting as it say it was "Ed Hill", that placed the phone call to the bus company to "order the 1976/77 MCI Shell" for none other than "Elvis Presley". We've been told that Ed Hill does not recall this. This too is possible as so many things happened in Elvis's life that you don't recall everything, exacly right.
Note: This article is from the owner of the company. I phone the company and spoke with the daughter and she said, dad is right here and yes the order for the 1976/77 MCI Shell was for Elvis Presley, and placed by Mr. Ed Hill".
Second document is from Glen Tadlock, the driver for both Elvis and JD Sumner and then owner himself of the TCB Tour Bus.
Glen says the bus was ordered for Elvis and in the early hours of the mornings Elvis would want Glen to go with him for a drive in the TCB Tour Bus.
Glen said, that Elvis logged in more than 350 miles behind the wheel of the bus.
Glen said, that Elvis actually used this bus for two tours and was planing on using it on the 3rd tour when Elvis passed away. Note: There are backstage passes for these tours mounted on the inside walls of the bus.
The bus itself was at the location of Elvis' last tour, waiting for his arrival, prior to Elvis' death.
However, more into the story, Glen Tadlock purchase the TCB Tour Bus from JD Sumner and then leased it out over 100 celebrities and/or celebrity groups. Examples are: George Jones, Lorretta Lynn's band, the Oak Ridge Boys, and the last group was the "Kentucky Headhunters".
The group, "The Kentucky Headhunters" bought the TCB Tour Bus from "Glen Tadlock", according to the "bill of sale" and "title and registration".
The story and list of owners of the famous TCB Tour Bus goes on, however I'll just share the list of owners with you.
1. Elvis Presley
2. JD Sumner
3. JD Sumner & the Stamps Quartet
4. Glen Tadlock
5. The Kentucky Headhunters
6. The Fantastic Museum
7. The Professional Sports Hall of Fame, Inc. Museum
8. Legacy Hall of Fame, Inc. / Presley Heights Museum / current owners: Bill & Linda Kinard