Before the Model 3 became a common sight on city streets and before the Cybertruck captured headlines, there was a spark. A low-slung, two-seat sports car that did more than just turn heads—it completely shattered the world’s perception of what an electric vehicle could be. That car was the original Tesla Roadster.
Launched in 2008, the Roadster was Tesla’s audacious opening statement. It was a proof of concept on four wheels, demonstrating that electric cars didn’t have to be slow, boring, or limited to a few miles of range. But with only about 2,450 units ever produced, the original Roadster is now a rare piece of automotive history. So, seventeen years after its debut, where are these revolutionary vehicles now?
From a Lotus Chassis to a Silicon Valley Icon
The story of the Roadster begins not with a blank sheet of paper, but with an existing masterpiece of automotive engineering: the Lotus Elise. Tesla partnered with the legendary British sports car maker, using the Elise’s lightweight and nimble chassis as the foundation for their electric dream. While it shared its core structure with the Lotus, nearly every other component was unique to Tesla.
The true innovation was hidden under the skin. Instead of a gasoline engine, the Roadster housed a revolutionary battery pack made of 6,831 lithium-ion cells—the same type found in laptops. This groundbreaking approach to energy storage gave the Roadster two things no other EV had at the time: a range of over 200 miles on a single charge and blistering performance.
It could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, a figure that put it in the same league as Porsches and Ferraris of the era. The Roadster wasn’t just a good electric car; it was a phenomenal sports car, period.
The Journey of the Original Roadsters
Production of the first-generation Roadster ran from 2008 to 2012. After the last one rolled off the line, these pioneering EVs began journeys as unique as the car itself.
The Most Famous Roadster: A Starman in Space
Without a doubt, the most famous original Roadster is Elon Musk’s personal cherry-red model. In February 2018, it became the payload for the maiden flight of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. Strapped into the driver’s seat was “Starman,” a dummy in a spacesuit, with the car’s sound system famously playing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”
Today, this Roadster is in a heliocentric orbit around the sun, having completed multiple journeys past Mars. It serves as a celestial monument to human ingenuity and is, by far, the most distant and well-traveled car in history.
Prized Collector’s Items
With its limited production run and historical significance, the Tesla Roadster has become a highly sought-after collector’s item. When new, it sold for over $100,000. Today, well-maintained examples regularly fetch prices between $150,000 and $250,000 at auction, with some pristine, low-mileage versions commanding even higher figures. For collectors, owning a Roadster is like owning a piece of the future, a tangible artifact from the dawn of the modern EV revolution. Its value as a tangible asset has only continued to grow.
Still Cruising the Streets
Many Roadsters are still in the hands of passionate owners and EV enthusiasts who drive them regularly. These cars are a testament to the durability of Tesla’s early engineering. While their technology has been surpassed by modern EVs, they remain incredibly fun to drive and represent a unique connection to the history they helped create. You can often spot them at car shows and EV meetups, where they are treated with the reverence they deserve.
Museum and Exhibition Pieces
A number of Roadsters have been acquired by museums around the world. Institutions like the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and the Henry Ford Museum have featured the Roadster in exhibits, recognizing its pivotal role in automotive history. These displays preserve the car’s legacy, allowing future generations to appreciate the vehicle that kickstarted the electric car boom.
The Enduring Legacy of the First Tesla
The original Tesla Roadster was more than just a car; it was a statement. It proved that electric vehicles could be desirable, high-performance machines. Every Tesla on the road today—and indeed, every compelling EV from any manufacturer—owes a debt to the little two-seater that dared to be different.
From a collector’s garage to a museum floor and even to the far reaches of our solar system, the remaining Roadsters are scattered but not forgotten. They are the founding members of a revolution, and their journey is a powerful reminder of how one brilliant idea can change the world forever.