The Tesla Model S or The Intergalactic SpaceBoat of Light and Wonder

The Oatmeal Tesla Model S
Image: The Oatmeal

The Tesla Model S has some very loyal fans, and it can count among them Matthew Inman, the man behind The Oatmeal comic, who has written the most glowing review of any car in the history of car reviews. Inman has only one complaint and it’s about the Model S being a not very exciting name so he lists the ones he likes to use, including Intergalactic SpaceBoat of Light and Wonder.

The review/comic is an absolutely hilarious read that involves a bit of automobile history, a look at the future and how electric cars fit into that future, and no small amount of fun. The man absolutely loves his car, from the handles that pop out automatically when you approach to the giant touchscreen to the app on his phone that let’s him play with his car from afar. Once he finished with his love letter/review, Inman created a second comic asking Tesla CEO Elon Musk for some help.

It all comes down to the Tesla name which was used as a nod to Nikola Tesla who, 126 years ago, created the AC induction motor used in the vehicles. His original lab in Shoreham, New York was up for auction with the chance that it would be torn down and replaced with a retail store. Inman, being a huge Nikola Tesla fan, crowdfunded $1,370,461 on indiegogo to save the property with the intent of turning it into a museum. Mission accomplished, but not complete. That was enough to buy the sprawling complex, but he still needs help to refurbish it and turn it into a museum. And that’s why he turned to Musk.

The second part of the comic is a request for Musk to donate the needed funds. It’s not that far-fetched as Musk did donate $2,500 to the original indiegogo campaign, but this time Inman is hoping to get millions. Eight million to be precise. His plea was very hearfelt and sincere, and he even tweeted Musk asking him to take a look at the request.

And apparently Musk did take a look because this morning he tweeted back “I would be happy to help.”

How much he’s donating remains to be seen, but I’m betting he’s pretty happy to help his company’s namesake and the guy who called the Model S an Intergalactic SpaceBoat of Light and Wonder.

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.