This is the first time I’ve seen Hagerty list an OG roadster for auction. It’s a positive sign if ICE/Hagerty car collectors are more receptive to EVs as collectibles.
Check out the latest classic and collector car auctions from Hagerty Marketplace. See this 2008 Tesla Roadster today!
www.hagerty.com
Vin #478 is looking for a good home. Currently at 41k with less than 3hrs to go.
Description
Named after genius inventor Nikola Tesla, Tesla Motors, Inc. helped pioneer automobile lithium-ion battery technology upon their founding in California in 2003. With a heavy focus on the ideal automotive battery, Tesla chose not to start from scratch for the chassis itself but rather turned to famous British carmaker Lotus, specifically for the brilliant bonded extruded aluminum chassis from the Elise sports car. Tesla would soon place an order for 2,500 completed cars minus the powertrain which were shipped to California for final assembly and distribution by Tesla. Launched with a price of nearly $100,000, the Tesla Roadster was among the first to provied customers the experience of maximum instant torque which meant that zero to 60 miles per hour happened around 3.9 seconds, nearly a second quicker than the Elise. After its debut at the San Francisco Auto Show in November 2006, the first 100 cars were sold in just three weeks. Now one of the world’s most well-known automakers, Tesla has undoubtedly established itself as a pioneer in Electric Vehicles and remains the best-selling EV automaker.
As a single-owner example displaying merely a few thousand miles at the time of cataloging, this example provides customers with an unprecedented opportunity to acquire the car that started it all for Tesla. With the incredible success of the brand, these models, particularly single-owner low-mileage examples such as this Roadster provide not only a totally unique driving experience but also what many anticipate to be incredible future investment potential as predicted in Hagerty’s 2022 Bull Market List.
Highlights
Offered from single-family ownership with 5,453 miles at the time of cataloging
Protected by paint protection film from new in many crucial areas along the front fascia
The battery was replaced around 2015, current reading shows 85% battery life
Finished in a vibrant Very Orange exterior over a premium leather Orange interior complete with carbon fiber trim
Powered by a 248 horsepower electric motor
Impressive 2,690-pound curb weight, about 700 pounds of which consists of the battery pack mounted as low as possible in the center of the vehicle for optimum weight distribution
Professionally detailed prior to listing
Accompanied by a clean CARFAX Vehicle History Report