The first-ever Tesla Model S to roll off the production line has been donated to an automotive museum in Los Angeles by its owner.
Entrepreneur and early Tesla investor Steve Jurvetson donated his Tesla Model S P85 to the Petersen Automotive Museum, he shared on X on Nov. 29, along with photos of the vehicle.
Jurvetson also posted quotes from articles covering the Model S upon its 2012 release, and he said reading them gives him goosebumps as he thinks back on that time.
“The Model S isn’t just the most important car of the year. It’s the most important car America has made in an entire lifetime," Road & Track said.
“The Model S feels and drives like the future. It’s a rolling testament to the potential of automotive innovation, and a massive leap forward," according to WIRED.
“The Model S could become the Model T of an approaching petroleum-free era," the New York Times wrote.
“What is the bottom line on the Tesla Model S? It’s an eye-opener like the automotive world has never seen in its entire history," said The Street.
Jurvetson managed to acquire the first production Model S by spotting pricing for the vehicle on an internal Tesla document and writing a check for that amount, despite the fact CEO Elon Musk had already stopped taking reservations for the highly anticipated electric vehicle.
The entrepreneur also donated his Tesla Roadster and Model X to the museum, and he has been outspoken about the vehicles’ place in history over the years.
