ELVIS Presley's abandoned private plane that sat rusting in the desert for 40 years has finally been sold.
Sold for around £216,000 the iconic jet went up for auction at the Mecum Kissimmee Collector Car auction in Florida on what would have been the rock and roll star's 88th birthday.
Priscilla Presley, 77, also made an appearance at the event and spoke to the swarms of budding auctioneers, describing Elvis’ love of collecting planes and cars.
The battered 1962 Lockhead 1329 JetStar, was previously used to carry his famous TCB band, Col. Tom Parker and Memphis Mafia across the country to concerts and appearances.
The opening bid started at around £81,000 but climbed slowly until it reached the winning amount of £216,000.
The new owner made their winning bid via telephone but has remained unnamed.
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According to the auction site, Presley’s dilapidated private jet was originally purchased by the icon in December 1976 for £694,000, less than a year before his death in August 1977.
The Grammy winner owned several private planes including a custom Convair 880 named the ‘Lisa Marie’ as well as a second JetStar.
The red and white jet's exterior is tattered after spending almost forty years under the sun in the New Mexico desert.
But although the cockpit and exterior has been worn down over the years, the interior is a luxurious retro glimpse into the singer's private air travel.
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The passenger area has a plush couch and nine red velvet seats that swivel and recline.
Red carpet covers the floors and walls too, alongside wood panelling and regal gold-finish hardware.
According to the auction site, the plane also boasted a television, RCA VCR player and audio cassette players with headphone jacks attached to every seat.
The jet's on-board lavatory included a vanity, as well as a kitchen area, beverage dispenser, and microwave oven.
The plane's engines and many cockpit components have been removed and no engines or replacement parts were included with the sale.
The aircraft was also sold with a copy of the Aircraft Security Agreement document signed by Elvis, as well as bill of sale documentation.
Jim Gagliardi, the plane's previous owner, bought the jet for around £36,000 at a 2017 auction, according to the Robb Report.
The Californian businessman planned to use the iconic aircraft as a tourist attraction but he never got round to relocating it from the desert.
According to the report, Gagliardi never once visited the plane in the six years he owned it.
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