Elvis Presley's pair of personal jets, one complete with gilded wash basin and plush sleeping quarters, will go under the hammer in a sealed-bid auction for a piece of mile-high rock 'n' roll memorabilia, Julien's Auctions said Friday.
Jets Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II, which were refurbished in accordance with the late King of Rock 'n' Roll's preferences, will be offered together to bidders and are expected to fetch between $10 million and $15 million, the Beverly Hills, California, auction house said.
They are no longer airworthy but have been on view for visitors at Graceland — Presley's Memphis, Tennessee, estate — for three decades.
Presley bought the Convair 880 jet from Delta Air Lines in 1975, two years before his death at age 42, for $250,000. He named it Lisa Marie, after his daughter.
Presley spent more than $300,000 refurbishing the jet with a penthouse bedroom, executive conference room, bar and videotape system linked to four TVs. He had the plane painted red, white and blue with his motto "TCB" — "Takin' Care of Business" — on the tail.
He purchased the eight-to-10 passenger Hound Dog II, a Lockheed Jetstar, also in 1975 for about $900,000 while waiting on the refurbishment of the Lisa Marie.
The four-engine, 28-passenger Convair could fly Presley, who preferred to travel at night, on trips of up to 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers).
Only 65 of the Convair 880 model jets were produced from 1959 to 1962.
The buyer also has the option to purchase several acres adjacent to Graceland to display the jets, independent of the Presley museum.
An agreement between Graceland and the jets' current owners, whose identity was not disclosed, is set to expire at the end of April.
