And private jet converted into a motorhome. And not just any jet, but one of the three that belonged to the personal fleet of Elvis PresleyIt is the work of a YouTuber who is dedicated to restoring airplanes and helicopters, but on this occasion he chose to give a second life to this 1962 Lockheed 1329 JetStar.
This crazy conversion, as they are not usually abundant, is practically ready to be exhibited after a year and a half of work. It will do so at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024, an exhibition for aviation enthusiasts that takes place between July 22 and 28 in Wisconsin. Although this Elvis Jet RV It won’t fly through the skies, of course.
A retro motorhome as faithful as possible to Elvis’ jet
The creator of this wonder is Jimmy Webb. On his YouTube channel Webb often shows off his creations and this latest one has not been an exception as he has documented the entire process in several videos. Webb got hold of this Lockheed 1329 JetStar at a Mecum Auctions auction in January of last year. He took it with a bid of $260,000which was the second highest because the first bidder backed out.
Webb’s first idea was to restore the jet, but when he asked for a quote, he dismissed the idea. In short, he wanted to bring it back to life and make it fly. would amount to around $6.0 million. Because of the parts, which it was not clear what they would get, and the bureaucracy that it required. Not to mention the Pratt & Whitney JT12 engines that had been dismantled years before.
So he gave it a spin and opted for Another much more affordable option: convert it into a motorhomeThe initial budget was $330,000, but he has been able to finance much of the conversion by selling some of the jet’s parts.
This was the state of Lockheed 1329 JetStar, which was waiting for an owner at Roswell Airfield, New Mexico. It was one of 202 JetStars designed by Lockheed and the third to join the Elvis fleet.
The fuselage of the Lockheed 1329 JetStar left a lot to be desired after spending more than 30 years abandoned to the elements. The cockpit still had most of its controls, but the interior trim and seats, for example, were in tatters. Nothing remained of the electrical system.
Webb and his team got to work. First ordered the wings and tail of the jet to be removedwhich were of little use and would also be a problem for traffic. He then restored the entire fuselage, inspired by the aesthetics of this plane, previously customized for the King of Rock n’ Roll.
The interior wasn’t in too bad of a shape, so he had to clean it thoroughly, do some touch-ups and little else. Seats for eight passengers and three crew members, which were covered in red velvet and with golden moldings, which are still present.
It also had a small kitchen, a meager minibar and a toiletas well as the most complete audiovisual equipment for the time, with a television and speakers distributed throughout the cabin. Things that belong to a rock star.
The cockpit has been panelled with wood and the controls of the plane have been retained, but for example, the clocks of a car have been included, such as the odometer and the tachometer. The steering wheel is yoke-style and is equipped with a display or external cameras to facilitate manoeuvring.
The plane itself It sits on a dual-axle motorhome chassis, which has been clad in chrome metal. This gives the sensation of floating above the asphalt.
According to the latest video posted by Webb (above), they are almost done. They still need to adjust the door and install access stairs, as well as some mechanical details such as the oil check panel or engine cooling. They also have to finish the interior lighting.
Webb says that has the authorization to circulate on the road (in fact they try it briefly at the end of the video), which was previously inspected to comply with regulationsHe is not sure what to do with this very special motorhome: he is considering putting it on display in a museum, although he is not ruling out taking it on a trip either. It is not a typical motorhome, so he may opt for the former.
He could also resell it, and surely at a great price thanks to the appeal of such an illustrious owner. He has tried to keep it as faithful as possible to its original aesthetics, which gives it value beyond being an unusual conversion. “It’s the best financial decision I’ve ever made.”
Source: www.motorpasion.com
