2011 Tesla Roadster

Goodwood Festival of Speed|11 July 2025, 14:00 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

2011 Tesla Roadster
Registration no. GV11 WPL
Chassis no. SFZRE3B1XB3000666

• Pioneering all-electric sports car
• One owner from new
• Cosmetically refurbished in 2023 (bill available)
• Circa 23,000 miles from new

Arguably the most disruptive brand in motoring history, Tesla was founded in the USA in 2003 to build electric vehicles, the company taking its name from pioneering inventor and electrical engineer, Nikola Tesla. In 2004 South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk became the company's chairman and the rest, as they say, is history.

In 2008, Tesla began manufacture of its first production car, the Roadster. A pretty two-seater sports car, the Roadster was based on the Lotus Elise and enjoys the distinction of being the first road-legal series-production all-electric car to use lithium-ion batteries, and the first to travel further than 244 miles per charge. Produced at the Lotus factory in Norfolk from 2008 to 2012, the Roadster used carbon-fibre body panels to help keep weight down, but the presence of those heavy battery packs meant that it tipped the scales at 340kg more than the Elise. Even so, the immense off-the-line thrust (peak torque is a zero revs) delivered by the electric motor made for a highly respectable 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds (regular version). It was claimed that a full charge should be good for 220 miles, although exuberant use reduces the range considerably. Batteries are said to last for 100,000 miles and are recyclable. Only 250 Roadsters were allocated to the UK market with an asking price of £96,000 when new.

This Tesla Roadster has had only one owner from new and has been kept on trickle charge at all times when not in use. It has taken part in only one track day (in 2023) with no issues. The current odometer reading is circa 23,000 miles and service records dating back to 2020 are available (there are no surviving earlier records). In 2023 the Tesla was treated to a partial cosmetic restoration, the paintwork, decals and cockpit being refurbished and the leather trim refreshed (bills available). Modifications from factory specification amount to the installation of a subwoofer, a recent Alpine stereo system and a vehicle tracker. This pioneering electric sports car is offered with a V5C document, current MoT, its original paperwork, and all books and tools.

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