I was up at Alice's for breakfast today. that's where Tesla is hooking up the new owners to drive the production prototype. There was a 959 there in the parking lot. When the owner came back from his test drive, he said "It's a better ride than my 959". How's that for an endorsment. He's got about 55k on the 959.

Matt

ps, I may get a ride, but only on the condition that I obay the marketing departments media information release. And since no auto mag has gotten a review, If I do get a ride, I have to keep it secret (not that I got a ride, but what I thought) till later.

and another reason to love living in the hills. A wine distributor was pedding his wares up at Alice's. Got to taste about 14 different wines. Needless to say it's now nap time! Sometimes life is real real good!

 

how did that guy manage to get his 959 street legal. i was under the impression that since porsche refused to do crash testing on a single car every 959 that was purchased by an americna had to be kept soly for off road use. I mean im sure its not to hard to drive the car ont eh street every now nad then with fear of not getting caught, but 55k on a off-road vehicle is a pretty lot.

by the way; snap some pics of either the tesla's or the 959

 

There are a few (very few) 959's on the streets in the US - I believe that they are registered as historically significant vehicles !

 

It was the lack of catalytic converters that made the 959 not suitable for the US. GIAC did some work to fix that:

http://www.giacusa.com/programs.php?mpid=52

 

but there's something funny going on, as a dealer car with 55k is interesting. But it's a street driver for sure, when the engine cover was opened, it's no show car! Dust and dirt all over the place. And you can't see jack of the motor.... He also had a bunch of crap in the back seat, and a cat carrier there as well. Looks like his daily driver!

And FWIW, I think the guys who live in those tax brackers figure out ways to get around things.... Like CHP 11-99 licence plate frames!

Sorry, no photos. If I took picks of every cool car that ends up at Alice's, I'd have no hard disk space left....

But it was the first time I saw a 959 in person.

Matt

 

Sorry to get OT but what is the CHP 11-99 thing about? I saw several of those when I was last in SoCal and couldn't figure it out.

Sounds like the Tesla is a smoker and a 959 driver? I'd be too nervous that it would damaged.

 

and it tells the cops "I give a lot of money for your benefit. Give me a break in return!"

Matt

 

http://www.chp11-99.org/index.htm

voice of desent
http://zo-d.com/stuff/automotive/119...orruption.html

Plate frame was for sale...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w202...-solution.html

So, for $1800 you get a pretty good chance of a warning over a ticket. So it seems.

Matt

 

Nice spotting!

I recall a shop in Santa Cruz that makes 959's street legal.

I remember many years ago I saw two silver 959 and a XJ220 on the back of a transporter heading on Hwy 280S.

 

$45k? LMAO you could buy someone at the DMV for less than that.

 

I Google'd Tesla not knowing what the Hell you were talking about and after scrolling past Nikola Tesla's Death Ray and Love Song by Tesla, I take it this what you meant. I think.
http://www.teslamotors.com/

 

0-100 in about 10. Take that supercars! Sure it's running on something like 3,200 Lithium Ion AA batteries (Actually a little bit bigger), but that sucker just screams! For just $97k or so. I think they've sold several hundred (with just a $75k-$100k deposit). For what it does, it's pretty competitive. But ~200 mile range, and a top speed of about 130 or so (because they only use a two speed tranny). Full torque at 0 RPM.

Matt

 

I believe AutoWeek covered the new twist on 959's back in 2003.

Here's the link:

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...73293084773575

 

the car I looked at was very understated for $450k!

Matt

 

I wonder if Bill Gates was able to have his DOT'd so he could drive it? He's got the money to spend-that's for sure. I seem to remember reading about his 959 being held at LAX for a long time.

 

seems like some revisionist history was at work in the Autoweek article. But still, seems like you can get one if you have $0.5M

Matt

 

And you know, the 959 is one of the few older supercars that is just as fast as modern TT or the widowmaker (GT2) (and, of course, the precursor to those cars. That says a lot. Take a look at the Countach, a car many people drooled over. Its 0- 60 times today are pretty sad. A R56 is getting close to matching the Countachs acceleration times.

 

You dog...
I saw a 959 at a Barrett Jackson auction many years ago. Something about grey market, and the historical significance thing makes it barely legal.

 

My hubby and I went to the Pasadena Art Center "Dream Machines" show a couple months ago. A 959 was there among other innovative machines.

 

959s were illegal to bring in or cost a fortune to conform with DOT specs. But I think some ppl who got the money did that. I think 4 were held by DOT or customs or whoever for quite a while but got through (or something like that).

 

dupe post

 

There was a red 959 at last year's Danville d'elegance (http://www.danville-delegance.org/). I just checked my pics and it has a CA DMV issued plate, here's the car: http://canepa.com/inventory/exotic/2664.html

 

Spy photo
http://jalopnik.com/cars/spy-photos/...101-303942.php

and

Tesla Delays Deliveries And Amps-Up The Hype. Again.

 

To spy on something, it has to be hidden!

As far as the pessimism go, we'll only be able to judge that in hindsite. But they were planning on 100 roadsters, and have 600 customers. Seems to have hit a spot.

Matt

 

TTAC tends to be well ... the truth in the sense, IMO, they don't mind towing the party line. I haven't seen any kind words from them about Tesla yet. Then again, they are down on the Big 2 1/2 too.