Found in a container: three brand new Tesla Roadsters

This is now a barn find! Not a rusting Jaguar E-Type in a dead man’s shed, but three Tesla Roadsters in mint condition. They were found in a container in a Chinese port.

Tesla produced approximately 2,000 Roadster models between 2008 and 2011. There are fewer than two thousand of these left, as dozens of cars have been lost to fires and accidents over the years.

Tesla Roadster as a valuable classic of the future

The auction results show that the Tesla Roadster is considered a true classic of the future. Every now and then a roadster is knocked down, often for amounts in excess of 100,000 euros.

This container find is therefore a lucrative one for the new owners of the three electric sports cars, which American roadster specialists Gruber Motors are bringing back to life.

Bought from a Chinese customer but never picked up

According to Gruber, the three brand new roadsters were bought by a Chinese customer in 2010. They were then shipped to China but never picked up at the port by the buyer.

The container has now been there for thirteen years, which has increased storage costs to over a tonne. At first glance, the Teslas are in excellent condition. After all, they are still new, with 0 kilometers on the counter and the protective film still attached.

Is the battery still charged after more than thirteen years?

According to Gruber, the problem is the battery. The three roadsters have been idle for thirteen years with (probably) dead batteries. There is a risk that they will “jam”, which means that the battery can no longer be charged.

“We don’t know if the batteries were disconnected before the cars were shipped,” Gruber said. “And if that actually happened, will there still be charges after thirteen years?” We won’t know until we inspect the Teslas here.”