Trio Of Ultra-Rare, Original Tesla Roadsters Discovered And Now On The Market – Potential Record-Breaking Values

One of the most sought-after collector’s items by car enthusiasts and fans of Tesla Inc TSLA is the original Tesla Roadster. Three of the rarest Tesla Roadsters ever found are now up for sale. 

What Happened: The Tesla Roadster was first introduced by Tesla in 2008 with a total of around 2,400 vehicles hitting the market during a four-year production run from 2008 to 2012.

Several Roadsters were lost in accidents and some were also lost in fires, including over 31 lost in fires at Gruber Motor Company. Less than 2,000 examples of the vehicle may be left.

Three original Tesla Roadsters that are brand new were found in a storage container in China and have been sitting there for over a decade, as reported by Electrek.

Gruber Motors, a company known for its expertise in repairing first-generation Tesla Roadsters, has announced the discovery of the previously hidden Tesla Roadster vehicles and is currently assisting in their sale.

“In 2010, a customer in China bought three brand-new Roadsters from Tesla. They got shipped to a dock in China, but were abandoned by the buyer. They have been sitting in sea containers, sealed, with zero miles, at a port, since 2010, untouched, accruing storage charges into six figures. A new owner found them and is selling them,” Gruber Motors said in an email.

The three vehicles in question have colors and models of Radiant Red Sport Roadster, Very Orange Sport Roadster and Very Orange Base Model Roadster.

A concern regarding the vehicles is that due to being stored for such a long period, the battery packs may have depleted and could potentially be unable to recharge. Gruber Motor mentioned that they won't have a clear understanding of any technology-related issues until they receive the vehicles.

Gruber is helping sell the vehicles in their current condition, but will have the vehicles shipped to the United States by mid-May if no buyers can be found for the cars while they are in China.

Given the technology question marks on the battery conditions, buyers may wait until Gruber gets their hands on the cars.

Related Link: Elon Musk Says Tesla's Initial Roadster Endeavor Was An Insane Nightmare 

Why It’s Important: Gruber Motors is helping the seller solicit bids for the vehicles, with the seller preferring to sell all three cars together. Offers for each individual vehicle are also being entertained. There is currently an offer of $60,000 for the Very Orange Sport Roadster. There is also a bid of $200,000 for all three vehicles.

Gruber Motors was part of a record-breaking sale for a Tesla Roadster in 2022 with a vehicle with 840 miles and a low VIN number of 013 selling for over $250,000, breaking the previous record of $190,000.

Considering the vehicles' pristine condition and their likely 0-mileage status, they could attract record bids. However, the uncertainty surrounding the battery packs may cause some potential buyers to hold off on bidding, instead waiting for the vehicles to reach California where Gruber Motor can conduct comprehensive testing.

In 2020, estimates for old Tesla Roadsters topped the $1 million mark, but none were able to sell for that amount. In 2021, Tesla Roadsters were selling for between $120,000 and $180,000 in most cases at auction. Sales started increasing in 2022 with a record price paid.

The Tesla Roadster occupies a unique position in electric vehicle history as Tesla's inaugural production model. It achieved several significant milestones, including being the first mass-produced all-electric vehicle for highways to utilize lithium-ion battery cells and surpassing a 200-mile range per charge.

The Tesla Roadster also became the first production car to make its way into space, with a vehicle flying on a Falcon Heavy rocket test flight in 2018.

“In the future, when all new cars are electric, we will likely look back at the Tesla Roadster as the vehicle that sparked the automotive industry’s electric revolution,” Electrek previously said.

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