The Elvis Lockheed Jetstar Camper Is Complete: See How It Looks

Summary

  • James Webb converted Elvis’ JetStar into an RV, completing the project with necessary adjustments for road legality.
  • Elvis’ customized JetStar sat abandoned for 40 years before Webb purchased it for $260,000 at an auction.
  • The converted RV now meets the required dimensions for road safety, allowing Webb to drive it to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024.

YouTuber James Webb, also known as Jimmy’s World, has been famously converting an old aircraft into a recreational vehicle (RV) for camping over the last 18 months. The aircraft Webb chose to convert is one of the most famous aircraft to fly. This aircraft was Elvis’ Lockheed Martin JetStar. Over the last few weeks, Webb has been working to finish this conversion with the ambitious plan to drive the newly converted aircraft all the way to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024.

The adventure to this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

Per James Webb’s latest YouTube video, the RV conversion has been officially completed. To accomplish this, Webb needed to complete the build, and then both certify and license the new camper with the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Previously, Jimmy’s World struggled with certain aspects that may have prevented receiving a license for the RV. To achieve a license for the aircraft and ensure it was officially road-legal, Jimmy made many changes to the vehicle. In a past video uploaded to YouTube, a local sheriff conducted a walk-through during the build. The sheriff stated that the vehicle needed to meet the following dimensions:

  • A maximum of 50 feet in length
  • A maximum of 13.5 feet in height
  • A maximum of 8.5 feet in width

The vehicle achieved all of these dimensions. However, the long nose of the Lockheed Martin JetStar did not meet the DOT requirements. Per the regulations, a bumper of some sort is needed to ensure the first point of contact in the event of a collision is not a direct nose. To meet this regulation, Jimmy added a long nose-shaped addition to the vehicle’s chassis, as seen above.

Elvis JetStar RV

Photo: Jimmy’s World | YouTube

Additionally, the yoke in the cockpit, which was previously designated as the driver’s wheel, needed to be replaced. Instead, Jimmy put on a standard steering wheel to control the RV. These changes, along with several other minor changes, ensured the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) would sign off on the approval of the vehicle. Now, Jimmy plans to drive the camper over 1,000 miles from his home in Florida to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 at Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

How Webb converted the Elvis jet

The Lockheed Martin JetStar was first purchased by Elvis Presley just months before his death in 1962. The aircraft underwent an extensive customization process, which changed the livery to nearly all red and considerably upgraded the interior. The customized interior featured red velvet seats, gold hardware, and an AV system with a television and a cassette player. The cabin also included a small galley, a bar, and spacious seating for eight passengers.

Elvis Lockheed JetStar

Photo: Mecum Auctions

However, since Elvis did not get to set foot in the completed aircraft, it is no surprise that it was auctioned away shortly after his death. The aircraft was abandoned and sat in a remote airfield in New Mexico for almost forty years.

Webb purchased the aircraft at an auction for only $260,000. However, the engines and avionics systems were not included. To restore the aircraft to becoming airworthy, Webb estimated the costs at nearly $6 million. Additionally, current FAA noise regulations would even prohibit the aircraft from flying. This gave Webb the idea to begin converting the RV conversion, which took place over the past 18 months.

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