This is a true collector's item, the Henrik Fisker-designed BMW Z8 appears now to finally achieve the recognition it so clearly deserves. At its conception, it was intended as an evocation of the iconic 1950s BMW 507, brought into the 21st century with the penmanship of Henrik Fisker. The concept, codenamed 'Z07' was developed throughout the mid-late '90s and publicly launched at the 1997 Tokyo Motorshow. It caused quite a stir and yet didn't sell that many worldwide, just 5, 703 were built between 2000 to 2006 and in this 'launch' specification of Titanium Silver Metallic over Red and Black upholstery, only 399 were made in the United States.

The Titanium Silver Metallic paintwork presents very well, with only a couple of tiny blemishes, but otherwise, it is believed to be its original factory paintwork.

The Red and Black leather interior presents as new without rips, tears or scratches. The car also retains the original mobile phone connected in the arm-rest with original plastic screen protector. A true time warp and collectable item.

The BMW 4.9 litre engine is based off the engine in the BMW E39 M5 and delivers great power and torque as expected from the fantastic M-division built unit. The low baritone burble of the engine gives the car an easygoing/cruiser dynamic and the low down torque makes the car fun and easy to drive in any gear. The gearbox is typical BMW a lovely engaging and easy-to-use shift with the power being directed to the rear wheels.

The BMW Z8's chassis was based on a modified version of the BMW E39 5 Series platform, which was renowned for its handling capabilities. Engineers at BMW made several adjustments to enhance the Z8's performance and responsiveness, giving it a unique driving experience. The chassis of the BMW Z8 was constructed primarily using aluminum, a lightweight material that provided strength while reducing overall weight. This lightweight construction allowed for a better power-to-weight ratio, which positively affected acceleration, handling, and overall agility on the road.

The BMW Z8 was equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. This manual gearbox was highly regarded for its precise and engaging shifting, which added to the overall driving experience of the sports car. The 6-speed manual allowed drivers to have full control over gear selection and provided a more direct connection between the driver and the car. Later, the Alpine Z8 was fitted with an automatic which arguably doesn't suit the car as well as the manual in this car.

The car stops, steers and handles exactly as it did when it left the factory in 2001. This is as close to a new BMW Z8 as it comes bar a delivery mileage example. This one has at least been run in.

The BMW Z8 features a hydraulic power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system, which provides direct feedback to the driver. Hydraulic power steering systems are generally favored for their more natural and communicative feel compared to electric power steering systems, especially in performance-oriented cars.

As a standard feature, it came with four-wheel ventilated disc brakes, which provided excellent stopping power and consistent performance under various driving conditions. The ventilated disc brakes were designed to dissipate heat more efficiently than solid disc brakes, which reduced the risk of brake fade during intense driving or prolonged braking situations. This feature was especially important for a performance car like the Z8, as it allowed for repeated hard braking without compromising braking performance. Additionally, the BMW Z8 was equipped with an advanced antilock braking system (ABS) as standard. ABS is a safety feature that prevents the wheels from locking up during heavy braking, helping the driver maintain steering control and stability even under emergency braking situations. Overall, the combination of four-wheel ventilated disc brakes and ABS ensured that the BMW Z8 had strong and reliable braking capabilities, enhancing the car's overall safety and performance aspects.

Perhaps its design was a little ahead of its time, bringing the classic features of the 507 into a modern package was a bold move at the time, but in today's market, it is sitting very well indeed. You certainly don't see many of these about, you see even fewer with under 10, 000 miles, even fewer under 8, 000 miles, so at just 7, 000 miles from new and with one previous owner, this car is the one to have as a serious car collector of low mileage icons.