Is there anything previously owned by a celebrity that you would like to get your hands on? Maybe the guitar Paul McCartney wrote “Blackbird” above? Or perhaps a old race car driven by Michael Schumacher? What about an old jet that used to belong to Elvis Presley?
One lucky buyer is now living that dream, after placing his $260,000 winnings bid for Presley’s 1962 Lockheed 1329 JetStar passenger plane at a Mecum auction in Florida, based on Report Robb. But what did it? happy bidders get it for almost a brand new McLArtura?
Well, that’s an unfortunate sight, if we are honest. To be sure, the plane was owned by the King himself and had a rather flashy interior in its heyday. But, It’s been decades since Elvis bought the jet in 1976 for $840,000.
So, it needs a (pretty) a little TLC, You can say. To begin with, it No Pratt and Whitney yet more engine. That will make moving it from the Roswell International Aviation Center in New Mexico, where it has been for 40 years, a challenge for the new owner.
tHis handiwork is decorated with rust and peeling paint. It also had much of its cockpit was removed so even if it still has a motor, it won’t be easy to control it. However, the new owner will be pleased to know that inside the remains of the plane is a slightly better story. There’s delicate velvet seating for six, as well as gold hardware, such as seat belt buckles.
Wood paneling and cabin trim also surround a vintage TV and there’s an onboard bathroom. The plane also comes with all the essentials, like a built-in microwave, a VCR and even a cassette player. Luxurious.
So it’s definitely a fixer, or an “incredible chance of recovery, as Mecum Auctions said in the list. But what do you do with this $260,000 piece of rock and roll history?
My fellow Jalopnik writers think it could be turned into a home or you could turn it into a small wedding venue similar to This huge offer in the UK.
Regardless of whether you or the buyer actually plan the plane, don’t expect it to be a big money machine. Where Elvis bought it for $840,000 in the ’70s, it sold to the final buyer for $430,000 in 2017. Now, after not paying extra miles, it’s dropped another 230,000 dollars for its value.
Maybe stick to trade in old Elvis goods or even his missing teeth if you want to make quick money from The King of Rock’N Roll music.
