Besides the great music he made, Elvis Presley was known for his lavish life of luxury and exuberance. This fact is most vividly exemplified by his estate at Graceland. Besides the extravagant mansion, Presley owned some expensive cars too. His three pink Cadillacs eventually became most famed thanks to his version of the song “Baby, Let’s Play House,” in which the late American singer had replaced the line “you may get religion” with “you may have a Pink Cadillac.”
There have been more stories as well, both genuine and exaggerated, that detail Presley’s appetite for abounding, heavy nutrition. He supposedly enjoyed the Southern cuisine to which he was accustomed in his childhood, notably chicken-fried steak, biscuits, and gravy. Then there is also the Fool’s Gold Load or the peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwich, now popularly known as the “Elvis Sandwich.”
Elvis food cravings, or even the pink color of his three famed Cadillacs, might sound a little bit strange, but no complaints should be made about his 1962 Lockheed Jetstar private jet. After 30 years on a runaway, this yet another luxury asset that once belonged to the King of Rock and Roll is now due to be sold via an auction to the highest bidder on Saturday, May 27th.
As part of an A-List celebrity and icons memorabilia auction, the jet of the American cultural icon makes one of the only three planes belonging to the singer, still privately owned. The other two are in the ownership of the Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennesse.
The 1962 Lockheed Jetstar jet, has been privately owned for more than 35 years, and as the auction’s bidding website Liveaucteeners shares, it has been a real tourist attraction parked on a runaway in Roswell, New Mexico in the US.
Presley owned the jet along with his father, Vernon Presley and as it has been said, it resembled a very dear belonging to the late singer. The jet is utterly preserved with its original interiors that combine red velvet seats and red shag carpet. The beautiful woodwork adds to the warm and cozy ambiance inside, withholding an original retro splendor. The entire inside of the jet was custom designed to Elvis’ specification.
The Lockheed Jetstar has also been featured on the television, thanks to the National Geographic channel. As the Liveauctioneers web page further reports, the jet can be fully restored, and even placed on display for viewers to enjoy its beauty. The new owner could potentially earn millions of dollars if such exhibit is set under entry fees as an attraction.
Furthermore, the Lockheed Jetstar is unique as per being one of only 204 aircraft produced between 1957 and 1978 in a collaboration between Jetstar and Lockheed, a former aerospace company which later became Lockheed Martin. At present, Lockheed Martin makes for one of the world’s largest aerospace, defense, security, and technology companies, after it had reportedly merged with the American manufacturer Martin Marietta in 1995.
With an original cockpit and no engines, the luxury jet is estimated to worth between $2 million and $3.5 million according to GWS Auctions, the company that organizes the auction. The starting bid was set to $10,000. The highest bid for the jet as of Tuesday, May 23rd, has been $151; the auction page was showing a total of 13 bids so far.
Elvis private 1962 Lockheed Jetstar Jet makes one of the 315 rare memorabilia being auctioned at current. Another lot with an item of Presley includes an original negative photo of the singer and a printing plate for personalized stationery.
The estimated worth of these assets is between $7,500 and $10,000. A third lot, a collection of stories about the King’s death, are estimated to worth up to $1,500. Aretha Franklin, Madonna, and The Beach Boys are some of the prominent names whose belongings can also be purchased at the auction.