Remember the time when James Bond drove a BMW? Many people may be reminded immediately of Pierce Brosnan’s portrayal as the most well-known non-secret agent in the world when they see this bright silver Z8 in the 1999 film The World Is Not Enough. Warning: The car’s destiny was not good.
Today’s Bring a Trailer featured vehicle is an incredibly low-mileage version of the sturdy BMW roadster. The Z8 has garnered increasing critical appreciation over time because to its many enticing attributes, which go beyond its Bond association. When BMW first unveiled the Z07 concept at the 1997 Tokyo Auto Show, it was met with suspicion due to its decision to use retro style for a flagship car that was constructed on a state-of-the-art aluminum space-frame chassis and inspired by the 1956 BMW 507.
The Z8 offered futuristic performance, nonetheless, in spite of its vintage appearance. It was powered by the same S62 4.9-liter naturally aspirated V-8, which produced an amazing 394 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, as the BMW M5, another highlight of that generation. The regular six-speed manual gearbox was used to direct the power to the rear axle; the Alpina version was the only one with an automatic transmission.
The Z8, which weighed 500 pounds less than the M5, was among the fastest cars tested at the time, with a time of just 4.5 seconds for the zero-to-60 mph race. It was so good that in a three-way comparison in 2001, it even fared better than a Ferrari 360 Spider. Over 2500 Z8s, or nearly half of the entire output of 5700 cars, were purchased in the United States in 2000 despite their $135,300 price tag, cementing their place as a contemporary classic.
The featured Z8 comes with the optional hard top and has only 9,000 miles on it. It still has the original six-CD multi-changer audio system and a vintage flip phone with the BMW logo placed in the center console. The vendor mentions a few little problems, like a slightly drooping hardtop headliner and minor scuffs on the bottom of the front bumper.
With a week left in the bidding, the current offer has surpassed $100,000. Given its low mileage and apparent condition, expectations are that the final bid will far exceed this figure.