Dan O’Dowd Acquires Rare Tesla Roadsters
Remember the “barn find” featuring three virtually brand new, barely touched Tesla Roadster examples stuck in shipping containers in China? After 12 years of limbo, it appears this trio of Roadsters may have finally found a buyer. Interestingly, the buyer is someone many may least suspect.
The YouTube channel “What’s Inside? Family” (via CarScoops) recently visited Medlock and Sons, an independent Tesla Service Center located in Washington state. The shop is operated by Carl Medlock, who was part of the original team that produced the Roadster. O’Dowd sent his newly acquired vehicles to Medlock’s shop for restoration after years of inactivity in a shipping container, which resulted in moderate damage.
Who is Dan O’Dowd?
If you consider yourself a fan of Tesla, then you’re likely familiar with the name Dan O’Dowd. In case you’re not, here’s a brief overview. Dan O’Dowd is a billionaire entrepreneur known for his work in software development, particularly for secure operating systems utilized in aerospace applications. His operating systems run on the Boeing 787 and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighter Jet, both of which he claims are “hack-proof.”
O’Dowd has conducted a public campaign against Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) software, expressing concerns over AI-driven systems making critical safety decisions. Through his organization, “The Dawn Project,” he has funded campaigns aimed at banning Tesla’s FSD and has even purchased Super Bowl ad time to showcase his test videos, which criticize the safety of FSD-equipped Teslas.
An Unexpected Acquisition
While many may wrongly assume that O’Dowd would never spend money on a Tesla, it turns out he is quite a fan of the first Tesla Roadster model and has a collection of them. The latest additions to his collection are the very same Roadsters that have been trapped in China for over a decade.
Notably, the factory clear vinyl wrappings on these vehicles have cracked, and the clear coat on some carbon fiber components has deteriorated. Furthermore, one of the original tires on a Roadster can no longer hold air. However, the biggest issue is that after sitting idle for so long, the Roadster’s batteries are virtually non-functional. The approximate cost to replace the battery pack for each car is around $35,000. Nonetheless, all three vehicles remain in relatively remarkable condition.
The Rarity of These Roadsters
Original Tesla Roadsters are quite rare, and the specific trio purchased by O’Dowd is likely among the rarest of them all. Originally, these vehicles were bought by a Chinese company fresh off the assembly line with the intent to reverse-engineer them. However, the Chinese government held the Roadsters at a shipping port, where they remained for 12 years. Remarkably, each of these vehicles only has 104 miles on the odometer, owing to initial testing after leaving the factory. Since they were never sold through a dealer, they may be the only three Tesla Roadsters globally that have never been titled or registered, as noted by Medlock.
Medlock did not disclose the exact amount O’Dowd paid for the Roadsters but explained some of the math involved. “The cars were $125,000 new in 2010,” said Medlock. “Some of these cars, when optioned, could reach $160,000. If you factor in inflation, he essentially paid the retail price for what these cars would cost today.”
The Financial Aspect
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $125,000 in 2010 translates to approximately $177,916 in 2024, while $160,000 equates to about $227,732 today. Thus, O’Dowd likely paid between $533,750 and $683,200 for all three cars, excluding an additional $105,000 for battery replacements and other potential fees. This amount becomes even more startling when considering that O’Dowd isn’t even planning to drive them.
Instead of making the Teslas roadworthy, O’Dowd intends to display them in a museum due to their unique rarity. This decision certainly challenges the perception of him as a Tesla detractor, suggesting that O’Dowd’s criticisms may be specifically related to the FSD software.
