Elvis Presley’s Private Jets Are Going to Auction, Likely To Fetch In Excess Of $10 Million
If you’re an Elvis Presley fan and your current memorabilia is limited to a few CDs and framed pictures of the King of Rock and Roll, here’s your chance to grab something a little bit special.
Soon to be auctioned by Beverley Hills based Julien’s Auctions are two of Elvis Presley’s luxury jets — the Lisa Marie, named after the singer’s daughter, and the Hound Dog II. The planes were bought by Elvis in 1975, two years before the star’s death, and are expected to fetch between $10 and $15 million in the auction.
Presley treasured his jets and spent more than the initial cost of the Lisa Marie refurbishing it to include a master suite with full-size bed, a lavish bar, and a conference room. The jet also contains a bathroom fitted with gold taps and a stereo system with 50 speakers. The Convair jet could fly Presley and as many as 28 passengers up to 4,800 kilometers, and it was reported that 8-10 people traveled with Elvis at any one time, usually at night.
The very last flight the Lisa Marie took was to transport his former wife Priscilla Presley and actor George Hamilton to his own funeral. It was sold by Elvis Presley’s father, Vernon, in 1978.
The Hound Dog II, a Lockheed JetStar, was purchased by Presley in 1975 for $900,000 while waiting for the extravagant refurbishments to the Lisa Marie to be completed.
“It gives us an insight into how he lived and how Elvis, the King, traveled onboard the Lisa Marie,” said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions.
Neither of Presley’s planes are currently airworthy but have been on display at Graceland, Memphis, for more than 30 years for fans to view. The buyer will have the option of purchasing land adjacent to the Graceland site in order to continue to house the jets.
An agreement between Graceland and the jets’ current owners, whose identity has not been disclosed, is set to expire at the end of April.
Elvis Presley’s two planes will be auctioned off through the sealed bid in what is certain to be a hotly contested auction for such unusual rock and roll memorabilia.
[Photo: Reuters]
