Lifestyle
Tesla Roadster owned by Hollywood legend to be auctioned for cancer research
An Original Tesla Roadster owned by Hollywood superstar Olivia Newton-John has become available for purchase in an online auction, where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the “Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Center” in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia.
In 2010, the actress, most famous for her 1978 role in the musical “Grease” with John Travolta, and her husband, John Easterling, purchased the 742nd Roadster produced by Tesla Motors. It is estimated to be worth between $80,000 and $100,000 according to Julienslive.com, the site responsible for handling the auction.
The original Roadster available for auction features a one-speed direct-drive transmission, tachometer, engine immobilizer, traction control, 4-sensor 4-wheel anti-lock braking system, rear-wheel drive, adjustable suspension, front and rear ventilated brakes, forged wheels, bonded aluminum chassis, and carbon fiber body.
Bidding started at $20,000, but the vehicle is currently at $32,500. Any person interested in owning the 248 horsepower car capable of 128 MPH and a 0-60 MPH time of 3.7 seconds should place their maximum bid price on the vehicle’s auction page by November 2 at 10 AM PDT. The winning bidder will receive the Roadster, along with the original price sticker, documentation and paperwork for the history of the car, and the original owner’s manual.
Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. Since her diagnosis, she has become a key figure in health awareness and cancer prevention. Newton-John and Easterling, who is described as an eco-entrepreneur and is the Founder/CEO of Amazon Herb Company, are both environmentally conscious. This mentality lead to the purchase of their Tesla Roadster in 2010. In 2012, the couple was awarded with the ACEER Legacy Award for their efforts to support the solving of environmental issues, including preserving the Amazon Rainforests.
Tesla’s Original Roadster was produced by the Silicon Valley-based carmaker from 2008 to 2012. It was a groundbreaking vehicle, as it was the first highway legal car to use lithium-ion batteries as its power source. It was also the first all-electric car to be able to travel over 200 miles on a single charge. The company has stated during a Security and Exchange Commission Fiscal Year report for 2012 they had “delivered approximately 2,450 Tesla Roadsters to customers in over 30 countries.”
As the Next-Gen Tesla Roadster will be available for purchase and will begin production in 2020, the Original Roadster has become a true driver’s car for EV enthusiasts. Just like a 1960s Mustang is one of the most sought after vehicles for Ford Motor Company supporters, the Original Roadster pretty much falls into the same category. It is the original vehicle Tesla Motors manufactured, and will always be among a hardcore Tesla fan’s wish list. People interested in owning one of Tesla’s first thousand vehicles should contribute to Newton-John’s auction, as it not only will bring an original piece of electric vehicle history to your garage but will also directly benefit the research and development of cancer prevention.
Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.
If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.
FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:
- But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
- This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
- As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
- For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States.
This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
— JC Christopher (@JohnChr08117285) January 29, 2025
The convenience of…
FSD user’s tale:
- As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
- During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
- In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous.
- “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
- “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
There are few things that prove an enthusiast’s love towards a company more than a dedicated short film. This was highlighted recently when YouTube’s SoKrispyMedia posted a 10-minute action movie starring Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as well as several of the company’s most iconic products.
The video:
- Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver.
- The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
- While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
- Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.
Future Robo-cop @Tesla_Optimus
— SOKRISPYMEDIA (@sokrispymedia) January 12, 2025
full video: https://t.co/TXpSRhcP5K pic.twitter.com/YFHZ7siAP7
Cool inside jokes:
- The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it.
- From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
- The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
- The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.
Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
Tesla definitely seems to be determined to release the coolest lineup of accessories for its coolest vehicle. As could be seen in an update to the Tesla Shop, the electric vehicle maker has now launched a metal key card for the Cybertruck—because why not?
Cybertruck keys:
- The Cybertruck, similar to Tesla’s other vehicles, is shipped with a regular key card.
- The vehicle could also be accessed and locked through a phone key.
- As per the Cybertruck’s Owner’s Manual, the all-electric pickup truck is capable of supporting a total of 19 keys.
The Cybertruck’s Metal Key Card:
- Tesla’s Cybertruck Metal Key Card functions much like the vehicle’s regular key card, but it is finished using premium stainless steel
- As per Tesla’s description of the item:
- “Convenient, durable, versatile. The Cybertruck Metal Key Card is a premium stainless-steel alternative to our traditional plastic key cards, making it easy to access your Cybertruck without your Phone Key. Ideal for when your phone is unavailable or when sharing your vehicle with a friend or valet.”
- The Cybertruck Metal Key Card costs $60.
- In comparison, the Cybertruck’s regular key card is sold for $40.
- The Cybertruck Metal Key Card comes with the metal key card itself, as well as a bifold key card wallet.
Tesla Cybertruck merch push:
- Being the company’s most eye-catching vehicle, it is no surprise that that Tesla has been releasing quite a lot of merchandise inspired by the all-electric pickup truck.
- These include a $250 levitating Cybertruck model, as well as a $35 Cybertruck wind-up racer, both of which are out of stock.
- Tesla also sells the $35 “CyberMug,” a $40 “CyberStein,” and a $50 “CyberVessel.”
- Other Cybertruck-inspired merchandise are the $60 Cyberwhistle Stealth, and the $50 CyberOpener.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
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