Elderly man who loves classic cars reacts to being given a Tesla to drive for his 101st birthday
- World War II veteran Walt West is a collector of classic cars
- West got to ride in a Tesla on his 101st birthday
- This wholesome video shows his reaction to experiencing an electric car
Published on Oct 02, 2024 at 4:45 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Oct 03, 2024 at 6:19 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
An elderly man from the United States was left speechless after driving a Tesla on his 101st birthday.
The veteran – a classic car lover – has an enviable collection of rides, including a 1950 De-Soto Carry-All Sedan.
But while Walt West is more accustomed to being behind the wheel of his classics, he was in for a special treat on his 101st birthday.
Having been a member of the Fighting Wildcats in World War II, the veteran was given the chance to try a Tesla Model S – and his reaction was absolutely priceless.
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“I don’t know nothing about them,” West said in a video posted to his son, Jerry Heasley’s, YouTube channel.
Narrating the video, Heasley explains to viewers that the Tesla Model S is capable of 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in just 2.8 seconds while pulling one-G – the same as a parachute jump.
Strapped into the passenger seat, the veteran was about to experience first-hand how fast the Tesla Model S is compared to the classic cars in his collection.
Not only was it West’s first time in an electric car, it was the first time his son had been behind the wheel of one, too.
“You wanna go fast?” Heasley asked his father.
“Here we go,” Heasley exclaimed, as he planted his foot to the floor.
The poker-faced veteran tried his best to hide his excitement behind his dark-tinted sunglasses, but it wasn’t long before he let out a, “yeah boy”.
After several bursts of acceleration, it was clear West was having a great time, with the “yeah boy” exclamations becoming more frequent and greater emphasised.
Seeing West’s reaction reminds us of the time a German Tesla enthusiast tried FSD for the first time.
Tesla vehicles seem to evoke these kind of reactions, as even James May – the ex-Grand Tour presenter – was impressed by the Cybertruck he recently drove in California.
Asked his thoughts on riding shotgun in a Tesla Model S, West was clearly taken aback by the experience.
“I can’t imagine that much power to go that quick,” the veteran commented.
“They’ve built some pretty good engines, but nothing like that.”
Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
