We have various other threads talking about differences in production details between different Roadsters. It has been suggested that these be consolidated, but I think it is best to leave those intact and start yet another trying to blend all the most interesting information into one place.
I can edit this post as corrections and additions are suggested.
===2005===
In 2005, Tesla was creating "test mules" by working with ACPropulsion to make drivetrains that they could put into Lotus Elise chassis. A couple of these mules were used internally to validate the technology, and then retired.
===2006===
In 2006, Tesla made about ten engineering/evalation prototype Roadsters. These were shown off to early customers & press, put through extreme testing, then mostly retired from service.
Some prototype parts were seen on them that were changed later for production.
For example, here is a prototype tail-light cluster:
"Signature" logo as a sticker:
"TESLA" logo and "ROADSTER" name as a sticker:
White gauge cluster, 2 speed transmission...
===2007===
In 2007, Tesla made about 14 Validation Prototype ("VP") Roadsters.
These continued to be shown to the press and used to evolve components as they got ready for regular production in the following year.
The VPs look a lot closer to the production models than the EPs and it becomes harder to spot the differences. Some of the VPs were done up in paint colors that didn't make production, and the seats got revised as production started.
Here is a VP showing how the tail-lights now have a red reflector inset in the brake lights, and although this one was used for display & testing in Europe, it had the narrow license plate cutout in the bumper that is more appropriate in North America. (VP12 shown below)
===2008===
In 2008, Tesla continued making VPs (about 19 more), but also started regular production with about 27 Founders' series Roadsters (sold to company investors), 100 "Signature 100 cars" (first regular customers), and about 485 standard production models. The EPs, VPs, and Founders' series cars all had their own "VIN sequence", so when we look at the last 4 digits of a production Roadster VIN, that doesn't take into account those "other" Roadsters in the total # made before it.
The early VPs, Founders', and some small numbers of Sig 100 cars came with a "1.0" drivetrain that included a 2 speed gearbox, but initial deliveries locked it in 2nd gear, as a reliability concern had been found with use of the shifting mechanism. Tesla redesigned the drivetrain, calling it "1.5" with a new PEM & Gearbox that could achieve their performance targets with only 1 gear ratio. They effectively recalled the early cars to have them retrofitted with the 1.5, and switched all production over to 1.5. I don't think there are any 1.0s in service anymore, as they were fairly thorough in swapping them all out.
I don't think you will find any 2006 or 2007 EPs/VPs in "private hands", but Tesla did sell off some of the 2008 VPs, and some of the Founders sold their cars later, so you sometimes see a 2008 VP or Founders' car listed for sale on eBay and such.
The Founders' series cars and the Sig 100 cars had special plaques made to show their special early production status.
The 2008 model had a tachometer in the dash gauge cluster:
This was somewhat redundant as the switch to single gear made the tachometer and speedometer basically track together in lockstep.
All of the EPs/VPs/Founders'/Sig100s came with a standard forged 7 spoke wheel that looks like this:
They continued to provide that wheel until sometime early in 2009 (but cars are still the 2008 model) when they switched to a new cast base wheel, and made the old forged wheel optional. The cast wheel started showing up around VIN#249, and looks like this:
After a little while (VINs in the 300s) they started to phase in shinier finished version of the base wheel, and the dark painted version was phased out. (Although they even had a set left for the last of the 2008s VIN#500).
The shinier base wheel looks like this:
Going between VIN#250 and #500 it is a bit random as to which wheel you may find. Any particular car may have been delivered with one of the 3 above wheel types.
Roadster #500 was the last 2008 model.
===2009===
Tesla continued to deliver 2008 model year Roadsters through the first half of 2009, so they skipped the 2009 model year and went straight to 2010.
===2010===
Tesla did a major update to the Roadster for the 2010 model year.
They called this Roadster 2.0, replacing the old Roadster 1.5
Externally the car looks basically the same, but "under the skin" there are substantial changes.
These changes were apparently done to reduce cost to manufacture, make the car easier to service, and improve reliability. They also made changes to improve behavior in very hot conditions.
Among the many changes:
2010 also introduced the Sport package option which included many upgrade features including:
Around VIN#750, Tesla switched the rear bumper to a "global bumper" with a wider cutout for the license plate so that they only had to produce one type of bumper for global Roadsters. (Many European countries use wider license plates.)
Old:
New:
(note, they seemed to have both types of bumpers for a little while, so cars in the #700 to #800 range could have one or the other)
During the 2010 model year, Tesla did another update to switch from 2.0 to 2.5
This was a more visible exterior update including new front and rear bumpers.
Previously the 1.5 & 2.0s used the orignal Tesla logo like this:
But, starting around VIN#964, the 2.5 front bumper has a new shape with the new Tesla logo like this:
The rear bumper changed to have a different "diffuser" that doesn't "hang down" as much as the old.
It also has a provision for a new (for 2.5) backup camera option.
Old (2.0 sport):
New (2.5 sport):
2.5 also changed the forged wheel design to a "pinwheel" design with new "turbine blade spokes":
2.5 also introduced the double-din upgrade stereo/NAV system, and optional carbon fiber interior accents.
Roadster #1169 was the last 2010 model.
===2011===
Roadsters #1170-#1464 are the 2011 models and continued as 2.5s relatively unchanged from the late 2010 versions.
Roadsters #1459-#1464 are called "the final 5" and offered special options, colors, striping and badging.
#1464 in a special red with "final 5 stripes", and "final 5 gray wheels":
---
Related other threads:
Differences in roadster versions
Where they now? The first 100 Roadsters
Roadster production dates
I can edit this post as corrections and additions are suggested.
===2005===
In 2005, Tesla was creating "test mules" by working with ACPropulsion to make drivetrains that they could put into Lotus Elise chassis. A couple of these mules were used internally to validate the technology, and then retired.
===2006===
In 2006, Tesla made about ten engineering/evalation prototype Roadsters. These were shown off to early customers & press, put through extreme testing, then mostly retired from service.
Some prototype parts were seen on them that were changed later for production.
For example, here is a prototype tail-light cluster:
"Signature" logo as a sticker:
"TESLA" logo and "ROADSTER" name as a sticker:
White gauge cluster, 2 speed transmission...
===2007===
In 2007, Tesla made about 14 Validation Prototype ("VP") Roadsters.
These continued to be shown to the press and used to evolve components as they got ready for regular production in the following year.
The VPs look a lot closer to the production models than the EPs and it becomes harder to spot the differences. Some of the VPs were done up in paint colors that didn't make production, and the seats got revised as production started.
Here is a VP showing how the tail-lights now have a red reflector inset in the brake lights, and although this one was used for display & testing in Europe, it had the narrow license plate cutout in the bumper that is more appropriate in North America. (VP12 shown below)
===2008===
In 2008, Tesla continued making VPs (about 19 more), but also started regular production with about 27 Founders' series Roadsters (sold to company investors), 100 "Signature 100 cars" (first regular customers), and about 485 standard production models. The EPs, VPs, and Founders' series cars all had their own "VIN sequence", so when we look at the last 4 digits of a production Roadster VIN, that doesn't take into account those "other" Roadsters in the total # made before it.
The early VPs, Founders', and some small numbers of Sig 100 cars came with a "1.0" drivetrain that included a 2 speed gearbox, but initial deliveries locked it in 2nd gear, as a reliability concern had been found with use of the shifting mechanism. Tesla redesigned the drivetrain, calling it "1.5" with a new PEM & Gearbox that could achieve their performance targets with only 1 gear ratio. They effectively recalled the early cars to have them retrofitted with the 1.5, and switched all production over to 1.5. I don't think there are any 1.0s in service anymore, as they were fairly thorough in swapping them all out.
I don't think you will find any 2006 or 2007 EPs/VPs in "private hands", but Tesla did sell off some of the 2008 VPs, and some of the Founders sold their cars later, so you sometimes see a 2008 VP or Founders' car listed for sale on eBay and such.
The Founders' series cars and the Sig 100 cars had special plaques made to show their special early production status.
The 2008 model had a tachometer in the dash gauge cluster:
This was somewhat redundant as the switch to single gear made the tachometer and speedometer basically track together in lockstep.
All of the EPs/VPs/Founders'/Sig100s came with a standard forged 7 spoke wheel that looks like this:
They continued to provide that wheel until sometime early in 2009 (but cars are still the 2008 model) when they switched to a new cast base wheel, and made the old forged wheel optional. The cast wheel started showing up around VIN#249, and looks like this:
After a little while (VINs in the 300s) they started to phase in shinier finished version of the base wheel, and the dark painted version was phased out. (Although they even had a set left for the last of the 2008s VIN#500).
The shinier base wheel looks like this:
Going between VIN#250 and #500 it is a bit random as to which wheel you may find. Any particular car may have been delivered with one of the 3 above wheel types.
Roadster #500 was the last 2008 model.
===2009===
Tesla continued to deliver 2008 model year Roadsters through the first half of 2009, so they skipped the 2009 model year and went straight to 2010.
===2010===
Tesla did a major update to the Roadster for the 2010 model year.
They called this Roadster 2.0, replacing the old Roadster 1.5
Externally the car looks basically the same, but "under the skin" there are substantial changes.
These changes were apparently done to reduce cost to manufacture, make the car easier to service, and improve reliability. They also made changes to improve behavior in very hot conditions.
Among the many changes:
- "Gear"/direction selector buttons instead of a "stick shift" handle.
- VDS display relocated from the left knee area to below the radio, in front of the PRND buttons.
- Revised PEM and Motor with better cooling capability.
- Revised center gauge cluster with a kW meter instead of the old tachometer.
2010 also introduced the Sport package option which included many upgrade features including:
- More low end torque for 0 to 60 in 3.7 instead of 3.9.
- Adjustable suspension for higher performance handling.
- Stickier tires. (Yokohama A048 instead of AD07)
- Special badges on the rear, side, and door entry threshold.
(Note, a small percentage of sport models seemed to lack some of the external badges.) - Black painted forged wheel option.
Around VIN#750, Tesla switched the rear bumper to a "global bumper" with a wider cutout for the license plate so that they only had to produce one type of bumper for global Roadsters. (Many European countries use wider license plates.)
Old:
New:
(note, they seemed to have both types of bumpers for a little while, so cars in the #700 to #800 range could have one or the other)
During the 2010 model year, Tesla did another update to switch from 2.0 to 2.5
This was a more visible exterior update including new front and rear bumpers.
Previously the 1.5 & 2.0s used the orignal Tesla logo like this:
But, starting around VIN#964, the 2.5 front bumper has a new shape with the new Tesla logo like this:
The rear bumper changed to have a different "diffuser" that doesn't "hang down" as much as the old.
It also has a provision for a new (for 2.5) backup camera option.
Old (2.0 sport):
New (2.5 sport):
2.5 also changed the forged wheel design to a "pinwheel" design with new "turbine blade spokes":
2.5 also introduced the double-din upgrade stereo/NAV system, and optional carbon fiber interior accents.
Roadster #1169 was the last 2010 model.
===2011===
Roadsters #1170-#1464 are the 2011 models and continued as 2.5s relatively unchanged from the late 2010 versions.
Roadsters #1459-#1464 are called "the final 5" and offered special options, colors, striping and badging.
#1464 in a special red with "final 5 stripes", and "final 5 gray wheels":
---
Related other threads:
Differences in roadster versions
Where they now? The first 100 Roadsters
Roadster production dates
Last edited:
