Get to know the private jet of Elvis Presley who was abandoned in the desert and auctioned; photos

When it comes to Elvis Presley, it is impossible not to think about extravagance. Rock’n’roll’s maximum icon, the American artist marked generations with his music, charisma and also for his grand lifestyle-which included mansions, luxury cars and private jets.

One of these planes, by the way, eventually became a play of museum by chance: abandoned in the desert of New Mexico for over 40 years, he was sold in auction last year. The information is from La Nacion.

The model in question is a Lockheed Jetstar 1329, bought by Elvis in December 1976, for about $ 840,000 – algon close to $ 4.5 million in the current price. The purchase happened a few months before his death in August 1977.

The jet, which was already considered a symbol of status between tycoons and celebrities of the time, had a capacity of up to ten passengers and offered a luxury experience on board: red velvet upholstery, wood and gold finishes, large armchairs and television entertainment system, video video and taple.

The kitchen also impressed. It had a microwave, beverage machine and meal preparation space, plus a complete bathroom at the back. It was a jet made to the comfort of a tour of tour. With a top speed of about 900 km/he to reach up to 4,000 km, the plane accommodated up to three crew members, including pilots and commissioners.

But Lockheed Jetstar was not the only plane of the King of Rock’s personal fleet. Elvis already owned “Lisa Marie”, a personalized convair 880, which began the name of the singer’s daughter. Jetstar served as its secondary aircraft, used by band members, advisors and even by the infamous entrepreneur Colonel Tom Parker. Together, the two planes represented the traveling, opulent and accelerated lifestyle that Elvis took in the 1970s.

After the singer’s death, the Jostar was sold in 1977 and, years later, was acquired by a Saudi company. The aircraft was then taken to the Roswell International Air Center in New Mexico, where it remained forgotten for decades, exposed to the arid climate of the desert and losing much of its original value.

Without engines and many of the damaged or absent internal components, the jet became unfeasible for flights, but still retained its historical and sentimental value – especially for Elvis fans. In 2023, the plane was auctioned in Florida by Mecum Auctions, with the presence of Priscilla Presley, the singer’s ex-wife. The final bid was $ 260,000 (about $ 1.4 million), well below the amount paid by a previous buyer, Jim Gagliardi, who had purchased the jet in 2017 for $ 430,000.

Although no longer flying, the aircraft remains a testimony of the fascination Elvis exercised – and still exercises – about the popular imagination.