2011 | Tesla Roadster

Before the market-monopolising Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla's first offering was the Roadster. It was based on a Lotus Elise chassis and fitted with a three-phase AC induction motor, producing 249bhp and 273lb-ft of torque, paired with a lithium-ion battery and driving the rear wheels through a single-speed BorgWarner Transmission. When deliveries began in 2008, the Roadster set the record for numerous 'firsts': first highway legal, serial production, all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells, and the first production all-electric car to travel more than 244 miles (393 km) per charge. Jay Leno even declared it 'an electric car that is fun to drive.' Lightweight is not a term you often associate with an electric vehicle, but the Roadster's 1300kg puts it squarely in that category. Indeed, the Roadster seems the antithesis of the majority of Tesla's contemporary core attributes: fast, yes, but lightweight, lovely to look at, and with lots of character thanks to its Lotus roots.

Think of this Tesla as a tonic to today's EVs. This is a car for an enthusiast, a thrilling alternative to the largely SUV-heavy EV market. This Radiant Red example was previously kept in Jersey, before its first registration with the DVLA in June 2025, and has only had two owners. Having passed its most recent MoT test certificate in April, and a reported range of up to 200 miles on a single charge, this Roadster is ready to hit the road. Also supplied are the factory hard top, as well as a canvas top, for open-air motoring. The seller states that this Roadster was one of the very last right hand drive cars produced, perhaps even one of the final five. Of the almost 2,500 cars produced, only 60 are reported to have been right hand drive, meaning this is probably the rarest Tesla you can find. With Tesla constantly providing upgrades to the Roadster during its four-year production run, what you're looking at is the finished article, the best a Roadster can be. Consigned by Charlie McCreery

Lot details
Year: 2011
Make: Tesla
Model: Roadster
Registration: NJ61 DDL
Chassis No: SFZRE3B16B3000647
Odometer: 25,303


* Possibly one of the last five right hand drive cars produced

* Low ownership, low mileage