Description
The Car
The BMW Z8 was only ever meant to be a styling exercise. A retro tribute to the 507. But when it appeared at the Tokyo motor show in 1997, the world went mad for it.
Back in 1993, a member of BMWs board of directors drove a 507 and wondered aloud why BMW didn’t have a car like that in its range. Word of this got back to the then head of design Chris Bangle, who started an out of hours project to reimagine what the 507 would look like if it had evolved over the last forty years.
It was a project that captured the imagination of Henrik Fisker so intently that he gave up his summer holiday. It was a good move for him as the result established his reputation and led to him being appointed head of design at Aston Martin.
In the meantime, momentum was building behind the Z07 – the Z8’s motor show name. Behind the scenes BMW committed to put it into small scale production, the idea being to create a collectors car. Potential owners were wooed, BMW promising to put in place a fifty year supply of spares. And then the Bond producers came knocking, wanting the next great BMW to slot Pierce Brosnan into after the Z3 and 750iL. Apparently they visited Munich, saw the Z8 in the design studio and refused point blank to accept any other car for the film. The Z8 wasn’t remotely ready at that stage, so fibreglass-bodied mock-ups were built for filming. One of them was famously cut in half!
Development continued at Munich and a little over two years later the Z8 was on sale.
The History
Our particular Z8 has been in the same family ownership for the last 23 years
Originally supplied by Autobecker Klausmann in Germany for Vines of Guildford, our Z8 was registered new in the UK on 1st August 2000 and is showing 107754 km recorded which equates to 66955 miles. It is in near immaculate order and boasts a huge and comprehensive service history, with all works being carried out by Vines of Guildford.
The Service History
30/ 08/ 2001 @ 3277 Miles
31/ 07/ 2003 @ 12348 Miles
17/ 08/ 2005 @ 17157 Miles
30/ 08/ 2006 @ 19325 Miles
29/ 08/ 2007 @ 22593 Miles
01/ 09/ 2008 @ 26108 Miles
09/ 09/ 2009 @ 30655 Miles
18/ 10/ 2010 @ 35606 Miles
19/ 10/ 2011 @ 40516 Miles
15/ 10/ 2012 @ 45484 Miles
23/ 10/ 2013 @ 50373 Miles
22/ 10/ 2014 @ 53727 Miles
19/ 10/ 2015 @ 55734 Miles
26/ 10/ 2016 @ 57319 Miles
08/ 12/ 2017 @ 59770 Miles
27/ 12/ 2018 @ 61483 Miles
27/ 12/ 2019 @ 62828 Miles
30/ 12/ 2020 @ 63788 Miles
07/ 01/ 2022 @ 64784 Miles
20/ 08/ 2023 @ 65706 Miles
03/ 10/ 2024 @ 66955 Miles
After our in house assessment and mechanical scrutiny, we found a very mild clutch slip in 5th gear, low speed, full throttle. We have just fitted a replacement OEM new clutch and dual mass flywheel. We have the original to see, there was a very light glazing to the clutch plate.
The Exterior
Finished in Titan Silver with matching hardtop and black convertible hood, the Z8 presents beautifully.
The bodywork is arrow straight and is untroubled by any dinks, dents, depressions, ripples, folds or creases. The paint work has a deep, lustrous and even shine with only the most minor of imperfections, the shut-lines and panel gaps are all tight and consistent and the chrome work, badging, fabric convertible hood and all other external fixtures and fittings are in fine fettle.
The style 59 double spoke wheels are virtually unmarked and are wrapped in a matching set of the correct Bridgestone Potenza RFT tyres, all in very good condition.
The Interior
Moving to the unique interior, the work of designer Scott Lempert and it’s quite the creation, especially the cabin’s curving arc of dashboard, the wire-spoked wheel and the centrally mounted instruments. Simple, clean, beautifully surfaced and in lovely condition.
Everywhere you look it is clear to see that this Z8 has been treated with care and respect, all the painted surfaces are scratch free, the carpets are clean and wear free, in fact the only signs of wear is some gentle creasing to the drivers side seat bolster and a couple of tiny scags to the passenger side door armrest.
All buttons, knobs, dials, levers, switches, toggles and stalks do precisely what they’re supposed to do and the electric convertible hood works perfectly. There is also a fantastically retro Motorola Star TAC mobile phone.
The Drive
Under that beautiful long sculptured bonnet lies one of the finest engines to ever grace a performance BMW, the S62 5. 0 V8 from the E39 M5, mated to a Gertrag 6 speed manual transmission
With 400bhp on tap, a 0-62mph time of 4. 7secs and rumoured top speed of 180mph with the restrictor removed, there is no doubt that the Z8 is crazy fast
But the Z8 isn’t a sports car per se, but an old school roadster, something much akin to a muscle car and is therefore a very easy car to live with. It is quite happy to waft around with that lovely V8 burbling gently but a quick stab on the throttle, in any gear and it will catapult you towards the horizon at a near ballistic pace!
Thanks to the fastidious servicing and the fact that this particular Z8 has actually been regularly used, it drives without fault.
The Paperwork & Accessories
The Z8 comes with its V5, original book pack including service book showing 20 service stamps from Vines plus another 12 for the brake fluid and coolant changes, a raft of invoices for the service work carried out, a spare Motorola Star TAC phone, 3 keys plus the plastic valet key, Hardtop with cover and stand, the original tool kit, unopened BMW first aid kit and our favourite bit, a boxed official BMW 007 “The World Is Not Enough” model of the Z8.
The Conclusion
We are the first to admit that we are somewhat biased when it comes to a Z8, we do considerate to be the coolest thing to ever come out of the Dingolfing factory and this particular Z8 is a fantastic example, not a garage queen but one that has been used for what it was built for.
It boasts an extensive service history, as shown and has wanted for nothing which shows in the way it looks and drives. A truly usable example that is ready to delight its next enthusiast owner.
