Elvis Presley's private plane auctioned off after 40 years in desert
Elvis Presley’s dilapidated private plane sells at auction for $260K… after being left in the New Mexico desert for almost four decades
Elvis Presley’s private jet has a new owner after the airplane was parked in the New Mexico desert new Roswell for some 40 years.
Priscilla Presley, 77, the singer’s ex-wife and the mother of his only child, the late Lisa Marie Presley, was there as the aircraft went up for auction at the Mecum Kissimmee Collector Car auction in Florida on January 8, which would have been the King of Rock and Roll’s 88th birthday.
The opening bid on the 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar was for a $100K, but the offers slowly went up, until the hammer fell on the winning price of $260K.
The new owner made their bids via telephone and has not been identified.
The Lockheed was originally purchased in December 1976 for $840K, less than a year before Elvis’ death in August 1977.
New owner: Elvis Presley’s private jet has a new owner after the airplane was parked in the New Mexico desert new Roswell for some 40 years. Elvis bought the Lockheed 1392 Jetstar in December 1976 for $840 thousand, less than a year before his death in August 1977
New owner: Elvis bought the Lockheed 1392 Jetstar d in December 1976 for $840k, less than a year before his death in August 1977
It was one of several private planes the Love Me Tender singer owned.
The Grammy winner had a custom Convair 880 named the ‘Lisa Marie’ that went by the call sign of Hound Dog one, along with another JetStar identified by its call sign of Hound Dog two.
Priscilla described his love for collecting cars and planes as the Jailhouse Rock singer’s ‘joy.’
The exterior of the red and white airplane has been battered after some four decades sitting in the desert sun, and the cockpit is quite tattered and worn, but the passenger area appeared nearly as good as new.
The interior boasts seats and sofas covered with red velvet fabric, red carpet on the floor and the walls.
According to the auction site, an onboard entertainment system featured a television, RCA VCR player and audio cassette player and headphone ports with audio controls at every seat.
Other design elements included gold trim, including ashtrays.
The aircraft, which seated nine, boasts a large lavatory and a galley or kitchen area which had a beverage dispenser and a microwave oven.
Mystery owner: The new owner made their winning bid via telephone and has not been identified. The plane is not safe to fly and will have to be dismantled before it can be moved
Interior: The The interior, which seats nine, boasts seats and sofas covered with red velvet fabric, red carpet on the floor and the walls
Entertainment: An onboard entertainment system featured a television, RCA VCR player and audio cassette player and headphone ports with audio controls at every seat. Other design elements included gold trim, including ashtrays
Cockpit: After some four decades sitting in the desert sun, and the cockpit is quite tattered and worn
The last owner of the plane, California businessman named Jim Gagliardi, who bought the jet at a 2017 auction for $430,000, according to the Robb Report.
The plan was to place the jet at his earth moving equipment business in Madera, and use it as a tourist attraction.
The airliner needed to be dismantled before moving, so the plan never materialized and the owner never visited it during the six years it was his.
The most recent sale took place just two days before Austin Butler won a Best Actor Golden Globe award for his portrayal of the hitmaker in Elvis, and four days before Lisa Marie died from cardiac arrest at age 54.
Flight plan: The Grammy winner had a custom Convair 880 named the ‘Lisa Marie’ that went by the call sign of Hound Dog one, along with another JetStar identified by its call sign of Hound Dog two (Pictured with Priscilla in Las Vegas in May 1967)
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