Not every Tesla Roadster brought to Gruber Motor Company for
battery recovery and repair
is eligible for our procedures. When a battery has remained fully
discharged—or “bricked”—for an extended period, particularly beyond
six months, its cells can deteriorate
beyond the point of recovery.
This Roadster is one of those cases.
Its original battery pack is no longer a candidate for our recovery
procedure. Returning it to the road will require a
Tesla 3.0 R80 replacement battery pack,
giving this much-loved Roadster the opportunity to begin a new chapter
with its next owner.
This Roadster was reported to be
fully functional before it became bricked
following an interruption in charging. No other electrical or
charging-system failures have been reported, although its non-running
condition limits verification of current operation.
The Owner’s Backstory
An Unforgettable Birthday Gift
This Roadster was a completely unexpected birthday gift from my wife. I couldn’t believe it. I was thrilled to own one of the original 500 Roadsters—a car from the early days of fully electric motoring.
We live in the Los Angeles area, and my wife saw it advertised by the original owner, who actually lived in our neighborhood. We bought it about 13 years ago, and we loved the car.
Over the last three years, our family—and particularly my wife and I—have gone through a number of changes. I had to park the Roadster in a friend’s garage, about 90 minutes from our house. I have not
driven it in over a year.
During that time, there was a power outage. My friend and I did not realize that charging had not resumed and that we needed to unplug and reconnect the car. When I went to drive it about two weeks ago,
I discovered that the battery was dead. It was a very painful discovery.
Current Battery Condition
Gruber Motors has advised me that the entire battery pack needs to be replaced.
Unfortunately, I cannot afford the replacement.
“I hope the next owner enjoys this Roadster as much as we did.”
An $18,000 Tesla Roadster—What’s the Catch?
Get a closer look at this
$18,000 Tesla Roadster
and the story behind its price. We explain what a
“bricked” battery means,
why this car requires a replacement pack, and what a future owner
should consider before bringing this early Tesla back to the road.
The $18,000 asking price is for the car.
The required Tesla 3.0 R80 replacement battery pack is an additional
expense. Watch for a discussion of replacement costs and the car’s
potential appeal to an enthusiast or collector.
Gruber Motor Company specializes in Tesla vehicle service, engineering, aftermarket products & services, and Tesla vehicle restoration. Starting with the the legendary and iconic Tesla Roadster, an aging fleet for which we have developed advanced levels of support, services, and products, our acquired skills are instrumental in keeping these cars on the road.
Recognized by Tesla as a legacy parts supply partner, and our history of sharing our Roadster related re-engineering findings, has resulted in a bi-directional collaboration, all geared towards providing increased levels of support for the Roadster owner community.
The Vehicle is sold “as is,” and the Seller makes no express or implied warranties as to the condition or performance of the vehicle other than what is described in the Vehicle Specifics section.
