Elvis Presley's jets being auctioned off

Two of Elvis Presley's private jets are up for auction after spending three decades on display at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee.

Neither the vintage Convair 880, dubbed the Lisa Marie after Presley's daughter, or smaller Lockheed JetStar, known as Hound Dog 2, are deemed airworthy. But for devout fans of the king of rock 'n' roll, who would have turned 80 today, the two aircraft give a unique glimpse into his jet-setting lifestyle.

The Los Angeles auction house Julien's said in a statement that it expected sealed bids to come from collectors, aviation enthusiasts and entrepreneurs who might put the planes on show elsewhere.

Since the 1980s, the two jets - which belong to OKC Partnership of Memphis - have been on display at Graceland under a joint venture agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises. Last year, Elvis Presley Enterprises said it would not renew that arrangement, prompting OKC Partnership to put advertisement in specialist aviation magazines looking for buyers.

With no reasonable offers coming in, and the expiration of the joint venture agreement in April drawing ever closer, OKC Partnership opted for an auction instead. "They're not flyable airplanes. They're really celebrity memorabilia," a source familiar with the aircraft said on Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

Presley acquired the Lisa Marie in April 1975, two years before his death, for US$250,000, then spent lavishly to customise it to his own specifications. Its 29-seat interior features a master suite with forward lounge, conference room, private club room and suite and a bathroom with gold faucets and wash basin.