Tesla Roadster (1st gen)

The Australian market for first-generation Tesla Roadsters is showing pronounced weakness, with the median asking price now at $103,788 AUD—down 22.8 percent over the past 12 months. A single transaction in that period provides limited visibility, but the directional signal is unambiguous: these cars are moving lower, not higher.

The 2,450-unit global production run of the original Roadster qualifies it as genuinely rare, and its collectibility score of 8 reflects genuine historical significance as the car that launched Tesla's brand. However, current Australian desirability is rated low, and the zero active listings suggest sellers are either holding or exiting the market entirely—a telling indicator of soft demand.

Transacted examples show very low mileage, averaging just under 10,000 kilometres, typical of owners treating these cars as novelties rather than drivers. The condition norm is therefore quite high, though rarity and condition alone are not reversing the trend.

Liquidity is severely constrained. One tracked sale in a 12-month period across the entire market underscores how difficult these cars are to move, which typically widens bid-ask spreads and extends time-to-sale for motivated sellers.

The three- and five-year base projections point to significant downward pressure: values are modelled to fall to $63,750 (−38.6 percent) by year three and $54,956 (−47.0 percent) by year five. The gap between a highly collectible classification and current depreciating momentum reflects uncertainty around whether early Tesla appeal will sustain or whether these cars will eventually stabilize as museum pieces at lower price floors.

Current owners facing liquidity challenges and price deterioration should expect a patience-intensive sale process if they proceed. The medium-confidence rating reflects the thinness of the dataset, but the underlying trend does not favour near-term recovery.