Elvis’s 1962 Lockheed JetStar Takes Center Stage
When most people think about Elvis Presley — the “King of Rock and Roll” — what comes to mind are his signature jumpsuits, iconic voice, legendary concerts, and his Memphis mansion Graceland. But few know as much about his aviation history — and in particular, the 1962 Lockheed 1329 JetStar that once belonged to him and later surfaced in an unlikely way: auction block after decades of abandonment.
1. A Jet Fit for a King: The Early Life of Elvis’s JetStar
What Is a Lockheed 1329 JetStar?
The Lockheed JetStar was one of the first business jets in the world, designed in the late 1950s and early 1960s for corporate travel. Early models like the 1962 L-1329 boasted four engines in rear-mounted pods, cruising at high speeds of around 550 mph and offering long range — characteristics that made the JetStar attractive to wealthy private owners and corporate executives.
Elvis Presley, whose fame and success had soared since the 1950s, was no exception to this crowd. He loved to travel — typically by aircraft — while touring the U.S. and wanted the comfort and privacy that a private jet could offer.
Elvis’s Acquisition and Customization
Presley bought the 1962 JetStar in late December 1976 — barely eight months before his untimely death in August 1977. At the time, he paid roughly $840,000 for it, a princely sum in the 1970s and equivalent to several million in today’s dollars.
Inside, the jet reflected Elvis’s unmistakable personal taste:
Plush red-velvet seating and carpet
Elegant wood paneling and gold-finish hardware
It was a flying lounge fit for royalty — one that the King’s entourage could enjoy while traveling between concert cities across the United States.
2. A Forgotten Jet in the Desert
From High Altitude to Low Profile
Despite its flashy origins, Elvis’s 1962 JetStar never enjoyed a long life at the forefront of private aviation. After Presley’s death in 1977, his private aircraft fleet was gradually dispersed or repurposed. At least two of his jets — including another Lockheed JetStar and a larger Convair 880 known as the “Lisa Marie” — ended up on display at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, where fans can view them today.
But the 1962 JetStar fared a different fate: it ended up abandoned and left to deteriorate for decades on an airfield in Roswell, New Mexico. Parked on tarmac and exposed to the elements, its exterior deteriorated, engines were removed, and cockpit instruments vanished over time.
Why It Stayed Forgotten
For nearly 40 years, the jet sat unused. It changed hands from one private owner to another and was offered for sale multiple times, but no sustained restoration effort ever took hold. Even though some aviation historians hoped the plane might one day be restored or preserved, challenges such as missing parts, high restoration costs, and regulatory hurdles prevented it from returning to flight.
As late as the 2010s, enthusiasts documented the weathered aircraft on runway tarmacs, noting how much wear and tear it had suffered since Presley’s ownership. This deepened its mystique as a “lost” piece of rock-and-roll history.
In January 2023, collectors and Elvis fans alike were stunned when Mecum Auctions announced that the jet would be put up for bidding — not as a restored flying machine, but “as is” with decades of desert wear. The auction event in Florida was themed around collectible cars and historical vehicles, and the presence of Elvis’s private jet added serious buzz.
The Sale
Despite its Hollywood provenance, the jet did not fetch a massive price like some might expect for memorabilia tied to one of the most iconic stars of the 20th century. The bidding started modestly, and after some competition, the final sale price landed far below its original value — with the jet selling for roughly $234,000 — a fraction of what it cost Presley nearly 50 years earlier.
The buyer was James “Jimmy” Webb, a Florida-based aviation enthusiast and YouTuber behind the channel “Jimmy’s World,” known for tackling ambitious restoration and custom vehicle projects.
4. What Happened After the Auction
From Jet to Road Cruiser
Once the dust of the auction settled, Webb undertook the daunting task of moving the jet out of New Mexico. Because the aircraft was not airworthy, it had to be disassembled and transported via land to Florida — a major logistical challenge in itself.
Rather than restoring it to fly again — a project estimated to cost upwards of $6 million — Webb decided on a different destiny for the JetStar: converting it into a luxury RV. Reports suggest that he intends to turn the fuselage into a road-going recreational vehicle that can travel across the country, giving fans and enthusiasts a chance to see the interior’s original red-velvet seats and other vintage features up close.
Public Tours and Preservation
After conversion, the interior has been showcased at events, including exhibits like a stop in Memphis where people could see the cockpit and cabin in person — a rare opportunity to connect with Elvis’s personal history.
Though the JetStar will never fly again — both due to missing parts and modern FAA regulations — this adaptation ensures the aircraft survives in a new role. Webb has also discussed crafting memorabilia from the plane’s metal components to help fund the RV project, with plans to donate surplus proceeds to charities Elvis cared about.
5. Why This Jet Still Matters
A Piece of Cultural History
The story of Elvis Presley’s 1962 JetStar isn’t just about a dusty airplane or a quirky roadside attraction — it’s a window into the lifestyle and era of rock-and-roll royalty.
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