Elvis Presley's private plane has been sold at an auction in Kissimmee after it was abandoned in a New Mexico desert.
The rusting 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar has sat unloved and uncared for in the aircraft graveyard at Roswell, New Mexico for more than 35 years, but the plane has now been sold at auction in January's Mecum Action in Kissimmee, and is hopefully going to get a new lease of life thanks to a Florida buyer
The red 1962 Lockheed 1329 JetStar was purchased by Elvis Presley on December 22, 1976, eight months before he died, for $840,000.
After Presley's death in 1977, the jet was sold that year, the jet was then sold again in auction in 2017 for about $430,000 to a Saudi Arabian company.
The JetStar was then moved to Roswell International Air Center (ROW) in Roswell, New Mexico, where it’s been stored ever since.
The jet was one of several owned by Elvis, with another two, the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II, currently on display in Graceland.
The dilapidated private jet sold for $250,000 at Mecum Kissimmee Collector Car Auction on January 8, with a private buyer in Florida making the winning bid on the day that would have been Presley’s 88th birthday.
The auction was over in a matter of minutes, with the new owner of the 1962 Lockheed Jetstar a 43-year-old “airplane maniac” James E. Webb, who lives in Florida.
Interestingly Webb was at the auction with Priscilla Presley, the music legend’s widow, and it's not know if she is behind the winning bid or not.
Webb only said that it’s a way to own a piece of history and rock ‘n’ roll history, and that his long term plan is is to renovate it in some shape or form.
He also confirmed that the plane will be getting lots of love and attention even if it does not fly again.
It will be interesting to see what the actual plans are for the jet, and if it will be put on public display, and if Priscilla Presley, figures into the plans in any way
Why it was left abandoned and how it came to be auctioned again is unclear, but it will need a lot of work, including an engine, and a major cockpit makeover before it could ever fly again.
While the nine-seater aircraft might be costly to fix up, the jet's original onboard entertainment system featuring a television, VCR player and an audio cassette player, six plush chairs and a couch, all decked out in red velvet upholstery with gold-finish hardware have been preserved.
Most importantly, included in the sale was a copy of the Aircraft Security Agreement document, which is signed by Elvis Presley himself.
"With a busy touring schedule, these crafts were needed to transport the singer, his TCB Band, backup groups, Col. Tom Parker and the ever-present Memphis Mafia to venues, concerts and appearances all around the country," says the listing. "Elvis kept several pilots on retainer that were ready to fly him to adoring fans at a moment’s notice."
Comments