After 40 years in the desert, Elvis Presley's private plane was sold at auction for $260,000.

Rock and roll's king Elvis Presley's private aircraft was bought for $260,000 after 40 years of accumulating dust in a desert. The 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar owned by the late King of Rock and Roll has found a new home after spending the previous 40 years on the tarmac at the Roswell International Air Center in New Mexico. The vehicle was auctioned off last month on what would have been the 88th birthday of the "Unchained Melody" singer.

Elvis Presley's ex-wife Priscilla Presley claimed that the singer, who passed away from a heart attack in August 1977 at the age of 42, received enormous "pleasure" from his vehicle and plane collection at the Mecum Kissimmee Collector Car Auction in Florida on January 8. The "Hound Dog" rocker paid the mega-amount of $840,000 for the plane in 1976, and he used it to fly his controversial manager Colonel Tom Parker, his band, crew, and their equipment to his shows. The interior features the original '60s red velvet seats, wood panels, gold finishes, and a retro entertainment system, despite the exterior's dire need of repairs. A Kenmore microwave is also located in the cooking area.

The last known owner of the aircraft was a businessman by the name of Jim Gagliardi, who acquired it in 2017 for $430,000. Priscilla's attendance at the auction follows the passing of Lisa Marie Presley, her and Elvis' only child, last month. The 77-year-old actress decided to challenge an amendment to Lisa's will after she passed away on January 12 at the age of 54 from two heart attacks, but she insisted throughout the legal battle that she "loved" the "Suspicious Minds" hitmaker "very much" and resisted anyone who might "think differently."

She spoke to E! News, "Elvis and I have a deep love for one other. The fruit of our affection is Lisa. It would be insulting to the family legacy and to what Elvis left behind in his life for anyone to hold any other opinion." The former "Dallas" star is appealing an addendum to Lisa Marie's will that substituted Riley, 33, and Benjamin, who committed suicide in 2020 at the age of 27, as trustees of her trust, and removed her and the singer's longtime business manager Barry Siegel from that position.

(source : IANS)