A teenager from Washington state purchased a wrecked Tesla Model 3 for $15,000 and invested additional funds to repair it for his family. The restoration revealed surprising details from the car's computer about the original crash. The project, shared on YouTube, highlights the challenges and costs of reviving electric vehicles.
Winston Pemberton, a Tesla enthusiast from Washington, acquired a totaled Tesla Model 3 from Geico for $15,000, which included $13,000 for the vehicle and $2,000 in fees. His parents encouraged the purchase, hoping he would restore it for family use. Upon examining the car's built-in computer by inserting a USB, Pemberton uncovered footage of the crash: the Model 3 collided with the side of another vehicle ahead, explaining why it was declared a total loss.
The repair process demanded significant investment beyond the initial cost. Pemberton spent $10,000 on parts, with $1,000 allocated to taxes, bringing the effective parts expense to $9,000. In total, the project amounted to about $25,000. Despite the expense, the family has been using the restored car for several months.
Pemberton documented his efforts on his YouTube channel, WinstonsGarage. In his channel bio, he stated, “I rebuilt a Tesla Model 3 for my parents, and we have been driving it for a couple months now! I hope to one day bring another Tesla onto the channel and rebuild it, but we will see.”
The Tesla Model 3, introduced in 2016, has become a popular electric vehicle since production began in 2017. This restoration underscores the feasibility of salvaging such cars, though it requires substantial resources and technical know-how.