February 14, (THEWILL) – Elvis Presley’s battered 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar, which has been parked in the desert for close to 40 years, at the Roswell International Air Centre in New Mexico, has been sold at an auction for $260,000.
The jet was sold last month on what would have been his 88th birthday.
Priscilla Presley was present at the Mecum Kissimmee Collector Car auction, in Florida, for the event, and she described Elvis’s collection of cars and planes as his hobby.
Bidding started at $100,000 and climbed slowly before topping out at its final sale price, placed by an unnamed telephone bidder.
Priscilla noted at the start, “This is my first auction, I watched the entire proceedings as they unrolled.”
According to the auction site, Presley purchased the aircraft on December 22, 1976, for $840,000 and used it, as well as two other jets in his personal fleet to cart his TCB band, backup groups, Col. Tom Parker and Memphis Mafia on tour to concerts and appearances across the country.
The plane’s exterior shows considerable wear, however, the interior is a retro glimpse of luxury private air travel in the midcentury era.
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