In the United States, a roadster is an open-top two-seater designed to be sporty and look exciting. Famous examples include the Mazda Miata. Porsche Boxster, the Mercedes SL and SLK, and the BMW Z-cars.
Since they were first built, drivers have always been attracted to these roadsters made by BMW. The brand has produced six of them, The Z1, Z3, and the Z4. Two of them, the Z3 and Z4, were built in large numbers, but not the Z8. It’s an intriguing car, but because there are so few, people may not know as much about them.
Here are ten facts about the Z8 that you might enjoy.
10 Designed by Henrik Fisker
From 1989 until 2001, the Danish designer worked for BMW Technik until he was transferred to the Munch Branch of Designworks in 1995. He led a group of artists working on creating the exteriors of BMW cars.
After leaving BMW in 2001, he moved to Ford, who owed Aston Martin then, and became their design director. While in charge, his team helped design the DB9 and Vantage V8, the best-selling Aston Martin of all time, and the Shelby GR-1.
9 Designed to Celebrate the BMW 507
While at BMW, Fisker’s most significant project was working on the Z07 concept car. It began after a weekend in France where he drove multiple BMWs but was particularly taken by their 507, which was built from 1956-1959.
The Z07 wasn’t an exact replica but had a heavy influence on the concept of the design.
In 1997 BMW took the Z07 to the Tokyo Auto Show, after which BMW decided to build a nearly identical car known as the Z8. In 1999, 40 years after the end of the 507, BMW gave it the green light and began to sell the Z8 in its honor.
8 Tied The Benchmark Ferrari 360 Spider F1 In Its Performance
The Z8 wasn’t just a pretty face. Under the hood was the powertrain of a 1999 M5. The 4.9L V8 engine had 394hp and 368 lb-ft of torque and launched the roadster from 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds with a top speed of (limited) 155mph. Ferrari's Modena Spider had a 3.6L V8 making 400hp with the same 0-60 time but able to go 175mph, only limited by its redline.
Besides the Ferrari having four extra horsepower and a higher top speed, the two convertibles could produce the same impressive performance numbers. On the track, the Ferrari did have better handling, but the better looks of the Z8 can forgive that.
7 Every Car Was Shipped With A Matching Hardtop
While you see the Z8 without a top in nearly every picture, every car sold came complete with a removable color-matched hardtop. It also came with a stand and dust cover so that the top could be safely stored in the owner's garage.
With the hard top attached, the car became significantly quieter in the cabin and made it possible to be driven in the rain or colder weather. Of course, that also means that the driver and passenger can’t hear the engine purring either, and that’s a shame.
6 It Had Numerous Unique Features
The Z8 also had several features inside and outside that car that made it unique. At the time, nearly every vehicle's taillights had standard bulbs, but the Z8 was different and lit by neon bars. This was supposed to be the future for all cars, but in the end, it didn’t happen, and now cars use LED lighting.
Inside, the cabin was minimalist, forgoing the digital screens for a more simplistic look that mirrored the 507. It was also unique in that the car gauged cluster wasn’t behind the wheel but positioned in the dashboard's center instead. Other than the trim's aluminum accents, the interior was covered in one leather color.
5 50 Years of Parts
Part of the campaign to see the Z8 was to assure buyers that they would always be able to get replacement parts if they ever needed them. This 50-year guarantee was initially handled by BMW manufacturing but has since been assigned to BMW Group Classic.
As great as this sounds, there are two issues. The first is that because the replacement parts are from BMW, they also carry BMW prices. It can be pricey to get replacements sent from Germany for repairs. The other issue is that collectors generally want to keep their cars completely original, and while the parts are authentic, they aren’t the original ones that came with the car.
4 Built in Limited Numbers
Part of making any car special is that not everybody can get one. Being rate gives the Z8 an exclusivity that adds to its appeal. If you saw one every day, it would blend into every other car, but with a limited number built, seeing one is like spotting a unicorn.
Each Z8 was built and finished in the BMW Munich factory to be sure everything was up to standard and without flaws. Of the 5,704 total built, 3,160 of them were distributed in Europe and worldwide, except in North America which got 2,543. Each of the new Z8s preordered also included a book with pictures of their own Z8 on the production line.
3 Alpina Modified Their Own Roadster V8
Eventually, BMW reached the limit they would build, and in November 2002, production ended after only two years. But that didn’t mean it was the end of the Z8. In 2003 trusted tuner was entrusted to build their version in limited numbers. They began building the Alpina Roadster V8.
There were differences between the BMW and Alpina versions. The tuner’s version was converted from a sports car into a GT. They gave it a more supple suspension, an automatic transmission, and eliminated the rigid run-flat tires. They also redid the engine and lowered the power to 375hp but increased the torque. Only 555 of these were built, with 450 imported to the United States, where they were sold in BMW dealerships, a first for any Alpina model.
2 Pop Culture and Famous Owners
The Z8 was one of three cars used by the James Bond franchise, along with the BMW 750iL and the Z3. When the Z8 began delivery after The World is Not Enough, BMW took advantage of it by offering owners a handmade scale model. The Z8 was also used in the Jackie Chan film The Tuxedo to give its spy character additional credit.
The 507 had celebrity owns like Elvis and Steve McQueen, and the Z8 had a sizable list of celebrity owners as well. They included Steve Jobs, Gerrard Bulter, Christie Brinkley, Kevin Costner, Axel Rose, and of course, Pierce Brosnan. A number of other movie stars and athletes owned one of the limited numbers of the Z8.
1 Rising Resale Value
19 years after production ended, the Z8 has become a sought-after car for BMW and sports car collectors. They do occasionally come up for auction, but bidders need to come ready to pay up.
The Z8s originally sold by BMW were the first of their cars to cost over $100,000, with a price of $128,000. To buy one at auction today will cost an average of around $200,000, or 64% more than the original, and prices will only continue to go up.