This Tesla sold for half the price because of one word written on the windshield

This Tesla Model S was purchased by a car rebuild expert sight unseen.

At first glance, it doesn’t look like there’s anything wrong with the EV.

However, the car would’ve gone for double the price if it wasn’t for one word written on the windshield.

What was the word and what does it mean for the buyer?

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The story goes that the Tesla was sat in the junk section of an auction yard for quite some time.

The car rebuild expert saw the listing and had every intention of saving the EV and getting it back on the road.

But with all the will in the world, is the Tessie saveable, or will he end up stripping it and selling parts to claw back his money?

What was written on the windshield?

‘DEAD’ was the word that was plastered on the windshield of the electric sedan.

A Tesla Model S P90D with the Ludicrous package, its price was slashed in half because of the word.

Apparently, the door handles wouldn’t pop out like they’re supposed to, so nobody was actually able to inspect the vehicle.

How much did the Tesla sell for?

The winning bid was $10,100 plus taxes which, in reality, is how much it should be worth in parts.

Although stripping it for parts doesn’t necessarily require opening the doors, if the car rebuild expert could get it going again, he could make 100 percent profit.

To paint a clearer picture, similar models go for around $20,000 on the used market.

On the subject of Teslas, this YouTuber says his Model S Plaid lost him $100,000 in two years.

Who is the car rebuild expert?

Sam of Samcrac is the car rebuild expert who decided to take a gamble on the Tesla.

No stranger to the game, he knew there was more than met the eye right from the start, but decided to but the EV anyway.

He’s not the only one, as this man bought the world’s cheapest Tesla, and experts were stunned after learning why it was so cheap.

Sam believes that the EV was likely repossessed and had been sitting in the yard for quite some time, as the stickers in the windshield that once showed white and shiny in the sales ad had turned yellow over the years.

What happened next with the Tesla?

Sam hired a transportation firm to deliver his Tesla, however, they were unsuccessful, as no matter how much they tried, they couldn’t move the car.

So, he hired a second firm who somehow managed it and, before long, the EV was in his backyard.

After giving the vehicle a wash and ceramic coating, which transformed the it from the car he saw in the listing pictures, he needed to figure out how to get inside.

He worked out that double-tapping the button on the key pops the door handles, which revealed a cabin covered in black and white with leather and Alcantara.

The infotainment screen showed a range of 218 miles (351 kilometers), so the Tesla was anything but ‘DEAD.’

That got Sam thinking that the car had probably been forklifted to a charging station, likely after the auction, as if they’d done it before, it would’ve sold for way more than $10,100.

That might sound like the end of the story, but Sam faced one issue: the Model was stuck in valet mode and he needed a PIN code to change it.

As the Tesla App was still registered to the previous owner, Sam contacted Tesla with the ownership documents to inform them that the car was now his.

The electric sedan also needs a high-voltage battery fuse ($320), lower control arms ($160), and Sam noticed a noise from the front suspension and that the wheel is rubbing against the fender, but he will sort those issues himself.

Despite the minor flaws he needs to carry out, he can still flip the Model S for a tidy profit.