Elvis Presleys private plane is up for auction after being

Elvis Presley’s private plane is up for auction after being abandoned in the desert for four decades

Elvis Presley’s derelict private plane is auctioning for $260,000… after being abandoned in the New Mexico desert for nearly four decades

Elvis Presley’s private jet has a new owner after the plane was parked in the New Mexico desert, New Roswell, for around 40 years.

Priscilla Presley, 77, the singer’s ex-wife and mother of his only child, the late Lisa Marie Presley, was present when the plane was auctioned off at Mecum Kissimmee’s collector car auction in Florida on Jan. 8, marking the King’s 88th birthday of Rock and Roll.

The opening bid for the 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar was $100,000, but bids slowly increased until the gavel fell on the winning price of $260,000.

The new owner placed his bids over the phone and has not been identified.

The Lockheed was originally purchased in December 1976 for $840,000, less than a year before Elvis’ death in August 1977.

New owner: Elvis Presley's private jet has a new owner after the plane was parked in the New Mexico desert, New Roswell, for around 40 years

New owner: Elvis Presley’s private jet has a new owner after the plane was parked in the New Mexico desert, New Roswell, for around 40 years. Elvis bought the Lockheed 1392 Jetstar in December 1976 for $840,000, less than a year before his death in August 1977

New owner: Elvis bought the Lockheed 1392 Jetstar d in December 1976 for $840,000, less than a year before his death in August 1977

New owner: Elvis bought the Lockheed 1392 Jetstar d in December 1976 for $840,000, less than a year before his death in August 1977

It was one of several private planes owned by the Love Me Tender singer.

The Grammy winner had a custom Convair 880 named “Lisa Marie” that operated under the call sign of Hound Dog One, along with another JetStar identified by its call sign of Hound Dog Two.

Priscilla described his love of collecting cars and airplanes as the jailhouse rock singer’s “joy”.

The exterior of the red-and-white plane is battered after roughly four decades in the desert sun, and the cockpit is quite tattered and worn, but the passenger area looked almost as good as new.

The interior features seats and sofas upholstered in red velvet fabric and red carpet on the floor and walls.

According to the auction site, an inflight entertainment system featured a TV, RCA VCR and audio cassette player, and headphone jacks with audio controls at each seat.

Other design elements included gold embellishments, including an ashtray.

The nine-seat aircraft features a large lavatory and a galley or galley area with a beverage dispenser and microwave oven.

Mystery owner: The new owner placed his winning bid over the phone and has not been identified.  The aircraft is not flight safe and must be disassembled before it can be moved

Mystery owner: The new owner placed his winning bid over the phone and has not been identified. The aircraft is not flight safe and must be disassembled before it can be moved

Interior: The interior, which seats nine, features red velvet upholstered seats and sofas, red carpet on the floor and walls

Interior: The interior, which seats nine, features red velvet upholstered seats and sofas, red carpet on the floor and walls

Entertainment: An onboard entertainment system featured a television, RCA VCR player, and audiocassette player, as well as headphone jacks with audio controls at each seat Gold: Other design elements included gold embellishments, including an ashtray

Entertainment: An onboard entertainment system featured a television, RCA VCR player, and audiocassette player, as well as headphone jacks with audio controls at each seat. Other design elements included gold detailing, including an ashtray

Cockpit: After about four decades in the desert sun, and the cockpit is pretty tattered and worn

Cockpit: After about four decades in the desert sun, and the cockpit is pretty tattered and worn

The plane’s last owner, a California businessman named Jim Gagliardi, bought the jet at auction in 2017 for $430,000, according to the Robb Report.

The plan was to place the jet in his Madera earthmoving equipment shop and use it as a tourist attraction.

The airliner had to be disassembled before moving, so the plan never came to fruition and the owner never visited in the six years that it was his.

The last sale came just two days before Austin Butler won a Golden Globe award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the hitmaker in Elvis, and four days before Lisa Marie died of cardiac arrest at the age of 54.

Flight schedule: The Grammy winner had a custom Convair 880 named

Flight schedule: The Grammy winner had a custom Convair 880 named “Lisa Marie” which went by the call sign Hound Dog One, along with another JetStar identified by its call sign Hound Dog Two (pictured with Priscilla in Las Vegas in May 1967)