BMW Z8, 2001
BMW Z8
BMW Z8•
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Chassis No.: WBAEJ13441AH60659
Engine No.: 60112466
Registration: Cancelled Swiss Carte Grise
Location: Langenthal, Switzerland
CHF184,000 | Sold
- Offered from The Carrera Collection
- A sparingly used specimen of BMW’s famous retro-modern millennium roadster
- Presented in archetypical Titanium Silver Metallic over all-black nappa leather
- US-market example, imported to Switzerland in June 2007
- Offered with a hard-top roof
Addendum
Please note, as this vehicle is stated to have been delivered new to the US market, buyers in European countries are encouraged to investigate the feasibility of road registration prior to bidding.
Please note that this vehicle was delivered new to the US market. Buyers in European countries are advised to check whether road registration is possible before placing a bid.
The 1990s arguably yielded many of the most iconic cars to wear a BMW badge in the modern era, including those within the Z Series. So named for the German word for “future”, earlier models such as the Z1 and Z3 hinted at the bold ideas BMW bosses reserved for its line of roadsters.
The BMW Z8 began life as an audacious concept which intended to pay homage to its legendary open-top ancestor, the 507 Roadster. The design brief had been completed by Henrik Fisker, who later went on to style the Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage. The Z8 was ready for customers by 1999, the same year the car was deftly exhibited as a technological marvel as James Bond’s car in the 1999 film,
The World Is Not Enough
.
Featuring an aluminium spaceframe chassis and body, the Z8 utilizes the same 5.0-litre “S62” engine fitted to the contemporary M5 saloon. Its potent 394 brake horsepower capability propels the lightweight Z8 to 100 km/h in a little over four seconds, and 0-to-160 km/h-to-0 in a mere 14.5 seconds. The Z8’s dynamic performance is similarly impressive, as its ultra-stiff stressed-skin chassis affords the car a level of grip through corners comparable to the then class-leading Ferrari 360 Modena.
Despite boasting features such as traction control, stability control, airbags and GPS navigation, none were overtly visible in the cockpit, which boasted a body-coloured dashboard—as the 507 had done before—and a centrally mounted instrument cluster, which endows the driver with an unimpeded view of the road ahead.
The handsome Z8 offered here is finished in the model’s
de rigueur
colour combination of Titanium Silver Metallic over a Black nappa leather interior; it was originally delivered new to the United States on 1 March 2001. It has resided in Switzerland since July 2007, passed through only one additional Swiss owner before it was acquired by The Carrera Collection in November 2013. At the time of cataloguing, the odometer read just 14,480 kilometres, and the BMW is accompanied by a hard-top roof.
Truly one of the most recognizable BMW’s of the 21st century, the Z8 is nothing short of an icon and deserves to be treated as such. Suitable enough for James Bond, the Z8 is an excellent grand tourer and sports car, one that begs to be enjoyed on the open road.
The 1990s arguably saw the arrival of some of the most legendary models to bear the BMW propeller badge, including those in the Z Series. The letter stands for future, and earlier models such as the Z1 and Z3 hinted at the bold ideas BMW’s bosses had in store for its roadsters.
The concept for the BMW Z8 was conceived as a tribute to its legendary open-top ancestor, the 507. The design brief was developed under the direction of Henrik Fisker, who later oversaw the Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage models. Customer deliveries began in 1999, the same year the Z8 played an important role as a technological masterpiece in the James Bond film
“The World Is Not Enough”
.
The Z8 has an aluminium spaceframe and body, and under the hood it uses the “S62” 5.0-litre V8 from the BMW M5 of that era. Its 400 hp propel the lightweight roadster from 0 to 100 km/h in just over four seconds, while the classic 0–160 km/h–0 test takes only 14.5 seconds. Its driving dynamics are also impressive: thanks to its particularly stiff semi-monocoque chassis, the Z8 offers cornering grip that is on a par with the Ferrari 360 Modena.
Although the Z8 came with all the modern features, including traction control, stability control, airbags and GPS navigation, these were not visible. The minimalist, body-coloured dashboard—as on the 507 Roadster—featured a large central instrument cluster, giving the driver an unobstructed view of the open road ahead.
The attractive example offered here is finished in the classic Z8 colour combination of Titanium Silver Metallic with a black nappa leather interior. Originally delivered to the United States as a US-market model on 1 March 2001, this open-top Munich-built car arrived in Switzerland in July 2007, where, after just one change of ownership, it joined The Carrera Collection in November 2013.
The Z8 is truly one of the best-known BMW models of the 21st century. It is a legend and should be treated as such. Good enough for James Bond, this Z is an excellent GT and a fantastic sports car, made to be enjoyed on long journeys.
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/cc23/lots/r0016-2001-bmw-z8/
Mileage
100 km
