2008 Tesla Roadster – a snip at just £820,000

An optimistic US owner of a 2008 Tesla Roadster Prototype is hoping to convince car enthusiasts his car is worth a massive $1 million (£820k).

We’re all aware of just how much car enthusiasts are prepared to pay for certain cars, especially cars with a pedigree and cars with a history.

Take the Ferrari 250 as a prime example, with buyers willing to pay tens of millions for one of the 33 cars ever built, or a more modern example with the 1990s McLaren F1 now commanding eight figure sums.

But what about an eight year old Tesla Roadster Prototype. What’s it worth? Certainly not the one million dollars being asked by one very optimistic owner.

On the plus side, this 2008 Roadster – the first production Tesla, built around a Lotus – is one of the just 33 prototypes Tesla used to shake their electric sports car down, and there’s a fair chance it’s just one of a handful left after accidents and crash testing.

It’s also fair to conclude that the Roadster was responsible for putting Tesla on the path to the Model S, Model S and Model X which, in turn, has made premium car makers sit up and take notice that electric premium cars are possibly a lucrative market to pursue. Even if Tesla has never turned a profit.

But really, with Tesla Roadsters going for £30-40k, pitching an asking price at £820k is just complete madness.

However, if you think a Tesla with a bit of history may be worth a punt as a future banker, the second ever Tesla Roadster to come to Europe, and thought to be the first customer car, is up for sale complete with VIN #000002 – for just £50k.

Now that could just be worth a punt.