Airplane enthusiast reveals first steps to turning Elvis Presley’s abandoned private jet into a camper after buying it at auction for $260,000
It’s all rock and roll in one garage in Florida.
YouTuber James Webb of Jimmy’s World has revealed how he started converting Elvis Presley’s beloved private plane into a camper after buying it at auction for $260,000 in January.
The plane sat abandoned in a New Mexico desert for almost 40 years until it went up for sale, and now Webb has big plans to convert it into a car and take it on tour across the US.
In a new videothe Florida-based influencer shows how he mounted the body of the 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar onto the reinforced frame of a donated camper.
YouTuber James Webb of Jimmy’s World has revealed how he started converting Elvis Presley’s beloved private plane into a camper after buying it at auction for $260,000 in January
The plane sat abandoned in a New Mexico desert for almost 40 years until it went up for sale, and now Webb has big plans to convert it into a car and take it on tour across the US.
In a new video, the Florida-based influencer shows how he mounted the body of the 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar onto the reinforced frame of a donated camper
He explains to the viewers that the whole project is a bit of an experiment for him, as he has never taken on such a challenge before
Webb imagined driving his donated camper back to his workshop for his ambitious new project
Presley’s luxury private plane was left to rust for decades before it was put up for sale. The opening bid was $100,000
He explains to the viewers that the whole project is a bit of an experiment for him, as he has never taken on such a challenge before.
“To say the least, I’ve never done this before, I don’t see what could go wrong,” he says.
Webb, who is known to turn around abandoned planes, purchased the 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar on what would have been the King of Rock and Roll’s 88th birthday on January 8.
He then transported the plane to his work station in Florida in an attempt to turn it into a camper for a cross-country road trip to raise money for charities.
“I knew this was a unique opportunity,” Webb previously told Fox News.
‘It was the largest financial purchase I have ever made other than a house, and ironically this was more expensive than my house. How crazy is that?’
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll had purchased the plane for $840,000 in December 1976, less than a year before his death in August 1977.
It subsequently changed hands several times before being removed from service by the FAA in 1983. “Because of FAA regulations, that was the reason it was grounded in the first place. They haven’t changed those regulations and the parts for this plane no longer exist. We don’t have them to fly this plan again,” Webb told Spectrum News after purchasing the plane.
Webb documents the progress of the worn aircraft and has already successfully repaired the lights
Webb’s vision for the plane is to turn it into an Elvis mobile – a project he believes could either succeed or fail
From the remains of the plane not used for the camper, such as the wings and gas tanks, Webb will convert the pieces into Elvis mementos for profit
The cockpit, along with the rest of the aircraft, has never been restored. The inside of the plane is filled with red velvet seats and carpet
Webb has no plans to ever fly the plane again. If he did, a new engine would be needed
A cassette tape is seen hidden behind a cupboard. Webb plans to keep the wood paneling in the beloved aircraft
Presley’s two other jets are currently at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. He can be pictured above outside one of them with Priscilla Presley
The once 60-foot-long plane was originally lipstick red, but after being exposed to extreme weather, Webb says it has more of a “salmon color.”
“We’re going to paint it, repair it and get it all nice and tidy on the outside,” he revealed.
Although refurbishing the nine-seater aircraft can be expensive, the original cassette player, wood paneling of the cabin and 1970s charm have been preserved.
Webb documents the progress of the worn aircraft and has already successfully repaired the lights.
The exterior of the rusted plane is also getting a makeover, but Webb plans to keep the interior velvet seats, deep-pile carpet and wooden cabin panels.
Webb’s vision for the plane is to turn it into an Elvis mobile – a project he believes could either succeed or fail.
“Maybe we’ll take it to Las Vegas, to Graceland,” Webb added.
From the scraps of the plane not used for the camper, such as the wings and gas tanks, Webb will turn the pieces into Elvis souvenirs to make a profit.
This rare aircraft is one of only 204 aircraft manufactured between 1957 and 1978 in a private partnership between Jetstar and Lockheed.
The opening bid for the 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar was $100,000, but bidding slowly increased.
In Webb’s latest YouTube, he shows how he successfully mounted the plane on its new base, with subsequent jobs including installing a steering column, extending the stairs and stripping the interior.