Elvis Presley’s abandoned private plane is being auctioned for $260,000 … after sitting in the New Mexico desert for nearly four decades

Elvis Presley’s private jet has a new owner after being parked in the New Roswell desert in New Mexico for about 40 years.

Priscilla Presley (77), the singer’s ex-wife and mother of his only child, the late Lisa Marie Presley, was present when the plane was auctioned on January 8 at the Mecum Kissimmee Collector Car Auction in Florida. the 88th birthday of the King of Rock and Roll.

The opening bid for the 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar was $100,000, but bids slowly rose until the hammer fell on the $260,000 winning price.

The new owner placed his bid over the phone and has not been identified.

The Lockheed was originally purchased in December 1976 for $840,000, less than a year before Elvis’ death in August 1977.

New owner: Elvis bought the Lockheed 1392 Jetstar d in December 1976 for $840,000 less than a year before his death in August 1977

It was one of several private planes owned by the singer Love Me Tender.

The Grammy winner had a custom Convair 880 named “Lisa Marie” with the call sign Hound Dog One, along with another JetStar identified by the call sign Hound Dog Two.

Priscilla described his love of collecting cars and planes as the jailhouse rock singer’s “joy”.

The exterior of the red and white plane was battered after some four decades in the desert sun and the cockpit was quite battered and worn, but the passenger compartment looked almost new.

The interior consists of chairs and sofas upholstered in red velvet, as well as a red carpet on the floor and walls.

According to the auction website, an in-flight entertainment system included a television, RCA VCR and audio cassette player, and headphone jacks with audio controls at each seat.

Other design elements included gold embellishments, including an ashtray.

The aircraft, with seating for nine people, has a large toilet and a kitchen or galley with a beverage tray and microwave oven.

Mystery owner: The new owner placed their winning bid over the phone and has not been identified. The aircraft is not flight safe and must be disassembled before it can be moved

Inside: The interior, which seats nine, has red velvet upholstered chairs and sofas, red carpet on the floor and walls

Entertainment: An in-flight entertainment system included a television, RCA VCR and audio cassette player, and headphone jacks with audio controls at each seat. Other design elements included gold details, including an ashtray

Cabin: After about four decades in the desert sun, the cabin is pretty cracked and worn

The plane’s last owner, California businessman Jim Gagliardi, bought the plane for $430,000 at auction in 2017, according to the Robb Report.

The plan was to place the fighter plane at his construction machinery company in Madera and use it as a tourist attraction.

The plane had to be dismantled before it could move, so the plan never came to fruition and the owner never visited it in the six years it was his.

The final sale occurred two days before Austin Butler won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the hitmaker in Elvis, and four days before Lisa Marie died of cardiac arrest at the age of 54.

Flight plan: The Grammy winner had a customized Convair 880 named “Lisa Marie” with the call sign Hound Dog One, along with another JetStar identified by the call sign Hound Dog Two (pictured with Priscilla in Las Vegas in May 1967).