Jet owned by Elvis — with no engine — sold for $430,000
ALBUQUERQUE N.M. — vate jet once owned by Elvis Presley has been auctioned after sitting on a runway in New Mexico for 35 years.
The plane sold for $430,000 Saturday at an Agoura Hills, Calif., event featuring celebrity memorabilia, GWS Auctions Inc. said.
The buyer was not disclosed in the sold note posted on the firm’s website, and auctioneer Brigitte Kruse said she could not imme- diate release information about the buyer or the buyer’s plans for the plane.
The auction house says Elvis designed the interior, which has gold-tone woodwork, red velvet seats and red shag carpet. But the red 1962 Lockheed Jetstar has no engine and needs restoration of its cockpit.
It was owned by Elvis and his father, Vernon Presley, Liveauctioneers.com says.
It has been privately owned for 35 years and sitting on a tarmac in Roswell, N.M.
Photos of the plane show the exterior in need of restoration and seats of the cock- pit torn.
A previous owner of the private jet disputed the auction house’s claim that the king of rock ‘n’ roll designed its red velvet interior.
Roy McKay told KOB-TV in Albuquerque on Tuesday he designed the interior himself. McKay said that when he purchased the red
1962 Lockheed Jetstar, it had a two-toned gray interior and “kind of looked like a casket.”
But then-GWS spokesman Carl Carter said the auction house is confident Elvis designed the interior. Federal Aviation Administration records show no interior changes were ever made to the jet, Carter said.