Elvis Presley Private Jet Is for Sale, One Careful Owner, No Time-Wasters

Posted on: May 23, 2017, 05:00h. 

Last updated on: May 23, 2017, 05:38h.

Casino.org Staff Writer Read More

Expertise: Commercial Gaming.

What’s the best way to get comped in Vegas? We bet turning up in Elvis Presley’s private jet may be a fast track to some real VIP treatment. In fact, we couldn’t think of a more “baller” way to arrive in town.

And now you can, if you have a few million bucks lying around and the number of a good aircraft mechanic. That’s because the King’s 1962 Lockheed Jetstar private plane is up for auction next weekend.

Elvis, who was Vegas’ star attraction between 1969 and 1976, and left an indelible mark on the city, may have permanently left the building, but his jet hasn’t gone anywhere in decades.

It’s been sitting on a runway in New Mexico for the past 30 years, gathering tumbleweed.

Love Elvis? Tender Your Offers

OK, it needs some restoration. The gold-tones with woodwork, red shag carpet and red velvet seats, all personally designed by Elvis, are looking a little frayed these days, and a lot of work needs to be done on the cockpit.

Oh, and it’s missing all its engines. But it can be yours for around $2 million to $3.5 million .

At least, that’s the ballpark figure auctioneer GWS Auctions of California expects the it to go for on Saturday (May, 27), when bids will start at $10,000. It’s one of 315 lots included in an auction of rock and roll celebrity memorabilia that includes handwritten notes from The Beach Boys and lost photos of the late R&B singer Aaliyah.

“This is the ‘lost’ jet. It was very important to Elvis, as he owned it with his beloved father, Vernon,” explains the auctioneer’s website. “This jet has the potential of being fully restored, and placed on exhibit for the world to come see.”

Suspicious Minds

Meanwhile, at the Westgate Casino Las Vegas, there is a whole bunch of Elvis memorabilia that has definitely not left the building. In fact, it remains impounded in the casino, despite a lawsuit launched in April 2016 by Elvis’ estate to get it back.

These are the assorted stage outfits, letters and jewelry, and even the TV remote from Elvis’ Graceland mansion, all of which formed part of the casino’s ill-fated “Graceland Presents Elvis” attraction, launched at the casino last year, before being swiftly abandoned.

It seems Westgate fell out with the company operating the show, Exhibit A Circle, who, the casino claims, left it in the lurch by suddenly walking from the project, despite signing a ten year contract.

Westgate is suing Exhibit A Circle for breach of contract and, apparently, keeping the rare Elvis artifacts as collateral.

Elvis Presley Enterprises accuses Westgate of “aggressively seizing the valuables without a legitimate basis” as a means to gain leverage in its case against Exhibit A Circle.”

It’s enough to make you empty a .357 magnum into your television.