Mid Spring Spotting '23

Warmer weather, more cars. Enjoy!

Above: (4/19/23) - 2010 Tesla Roadster (Sam)

What a find we have here!  I spotted this royal blue roadster as I was heading out of class one day, and I was immediately intrigued by it.  When I got closer, I saw the Tesla badge on the hood (well, actually it was the plate that cued me in) and immediately realized it was an OG roadster.  Yes, the very first production model Tesla.  The first generation Roadster was produced from 2008 to 2012 and was based on the Lotus Elise chassis.  Almost 2,500 Roadsters were produced, with one even being sent into space in 2018.  This car's sleek lines and clean interior make it hard to believe that it's already 13 years old.  You can definitely see a few styling cues in this car that would later be re-used in the Model X, S, 3, and Y.  My friend Anthony, who's extremely knowledgeable about Teslas, told me the company had a program a few years back where Roadster owners could sent their cars in for upgrades and battery replacement.  From the R80 badge on the back, this car appears to have been part of this program.  This was a really nice rare find, and it's the first Tesla Roadster I've ever seen in person.  

Above: (4/22/23) - 1969 Mercedes Benz 280 SL (W113) (Sam)

Talk about another last-minute Mercedes!  My parents had come down to visit for the weekend, and I was just about to get into the old Pilot when I saw this beauty roll by.  Much like the 190B I spotted back in March, this Mercedes made a brief entrance on one of the few occasions I was out on Nassau Street.  This one looks to be a restored show car or well-preserved survivor.  Regardless, it was extremely clean and brought a smile to my face as it went by.  

Above: (4/23/23) - 1968 Volvo 142 (Sam)

I had no idea how rare this Volvo was until I sent the pictures to David, who informed me it was a very rare Volvo 142.  This was seen at a small foreign car dealership in Baptistown, NJ, that usually has a few cool classics kicking around.  It's likely this car will end up in a good home and get restored, or at the very least, preserved.  

David: This Volvo may very much be the find of the year, and I have to give it to Sam for finding this car. The Volvo 140 series, while a huge success for Volvo similar to the 240, has become a rarity, and I don't think I've ever seen one before. Although it's a bit rusty, it still is a historical car, and for that reason, it deserves to be one of the best cars found this year. 

Above: (4/24/23) - 1990 BMW 325i (E30) Sedan (David)

Here we have a pretty standard BMW E30. While not the cleanest example we've seen on ONEC, I really like this one because it's a clear survivor. I spotted this on my way into class one afternoon. I had attempted to park next to it in the Volvo, but the space was occupied. Maybe next time I'll have better luck. It's good to know there's someone else who enjoys classic European cars on campus.

Above: (4/29/23) - 1990 Volvo 240 DL (David)

To read the story on this Volvo 240, check out our Car Narratives article 1990 Volvo 240 DL !