2000 BMW Z8

Description

This 2000 BMW Z8 is one of those cars that was special from the day it was built. A tribute to the legendary 507 and powered by the heart of the M5, it was a limited production machine that found an enthusiastic public and only got more valuable as time wore on. Today, top-quality examples like this one remain A-list collectables that seem to have a very bright future ahead of them.

The Z8 is BMW's ultimate 2-seater, a V8-powered grand tourer that still has supercar performance even 16 years later. The styling pays more than a passing homage to the stunning 507, but it's not a retro car but rather a modern reimagining of the 2-seat V8 convertible. German cars always look best dressed in silver, and the smooth bodywork glows with the high-quality factory paint that shows only the most miniscule signs of use. No repaints, no touch-ups, not asterisks, but you really can't blame a guy for wanting to actually drive this car. The twin grilles up front are a BMW trademark and house a pair of driving lights, while projector beams live under covered headlight shells that keep everything nice and smooth. The chrome air vents in the front fenders are stupidly popular today, but in 2000 they were a tip of the hat to the 507, as is the neatly sculpted tail with protruding exhaust tips. A few slender taillights keep it interesting from behind and the whole car has a crouching look that befits a machine with this much performance.

The red leather interior is incredibly rare and simply gorgeous with the silver bodywork. You usually don't expect this kind of drama from the Germans, but it looks simply spectacular. It's also in spectacular condition, with only some light comfort marks on the driver's chair and everything else in almost as-new condition. Everything was standard equipment, of course, and the Z8 took a lot of styling chances that just wouldn't fly on a mass-produced car, including the center-mounted gauges and delightful banjo-style wheel. There's a deliberate effort to replicate that 1950s look with the sweeping body-colored dashboard and simplistic controls; even the A/C controls mimic an add-on system that might have been used in 1957. Plush carpets, brushed aluminum accents, and handy compartments in the doors are reminders that this is a high-end car, not some garden-variety roadster. It also includes a black canvas convertible top as well as a removable hardtop for all-weather enjoyment. Even the trunk is surprisingly deep and useful, as well as beautifully upholstered.

The BMW M5 donated its 5.0 liter DOHC V8 to the Z8, and it's a perfect dance partner. It was state-of-the-art in 2000, with variable valve timing and a wide, flat torque curve that will turn the tires into smoke at will. It has a delightful V8 burble at idle and a major rebel yell at full boot, making it almost impossible to stay off of the loud pedal. It's unmodified, of course, and time has already proven how durable these engines are, so no worries about using it as intended. The 6-speed manual transmission is also from the M5, with silky smooth shifts and well-chosen ratios that make the most of the V8's 400 horsepower. The suspension is all-independent, the brakes are massive, and the limits are sky-high, and even today, the car is an apex predator on the street and a fantastic grand touring machine. Unmarked 18-inch factory alloys and Bridgestone radials are all part of a very well-preserved car.

Look around and you won't find many of these for sale, and those you do find will be rapidly grabbed up by an enthusiastic motoring public. If you're interested, call now because this car, even at this price, just won't last long.