Elvis Presley’s former jet is driving on the roads of Arkansas. Growing up in the Ozarks, I thought I lived in the middle of nowhere. Now that I’m older, I realize I live at the center of everything, geographically speaking. Truly amazing things happen in my area, and if you need proof, look at these photos of Elvis Presley’s former jet rolling in traffic just 30 minutes from my home.
A Legendary Plane on the Road
Yes, it’s indeed an abandoned jet that belonged to the King of Rock and Roll. And yes, it’s really driving on the road instead of flying. When YouTuber Jimmy Webb bought it at auction last year, there was no chance it would ever fly again. But I never imagined seeing it at the corner of 14th Street and Moberly in Bentonville, Arkansas.
A Chance Discovery
My friend Ian Caple was waiting for his order at the drive-thru when he saw Elvis’s jet pass by. He shared it in the Arkansas Car Spotters Facebook group, normally filled with supercars and custom vehicles. This post might just win “Post of the Year.”
A Surreal Sight
“We were sitting at Sonic waiting for our food when I looked up and saw a plane rolling down the road,” Caple recounts. “It was hilarious to see it parked next to a Mercedes.”
“He really had to watch the height to get under traffic lights and bridges. I had a good laugh when I passed by and saw Elvis on the back with the inscription ‘All shook up’.”
The Jet’s Improbable Journey
A commenter noted that the jet was heading home after visiting the Guilt By Association Truck Show in Joplin, Missouri. I wonder if they planned to be on 14th Street at lunchtime, when all the Walmart headquarters employees go out for their coffee.
The Story Behind the Aircraft
The retired aircraft is a Lockheed JetStar that Presley bought in 1976. He kept it for only a few months before selling it to a Saudi sheikh. It changed hands several times before being parked in Roswell, New Mexico, where it rusted for 40 years until Webb bought it at auction in 2022. He has significantly modified it since, mounting it on an RV chassis and having 300 hours of bodywork done.
An Ingenious Transformation
The visibility is as bad as you might imagine. However, Webb installed a 360° camera system to be able to maneuver on public roads. It’s incredible what you can register for the road, which is less surprising when you learn that he lives in Florida.