Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 114
2002 BMW Z8 Roadster VIN. WBAEJ13472AH61824
Sold for US$179,200 inc. premium
Lot 114
An excellent example with fewer than 12,000 miles
2002 BMW Z8 Roadster
2002 BMW Z8 Roadster
The Audrain Concours Auction|4 October 2024, 17:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
2002 BMW Z8 Roadster
VIN. WBAEJ13472AH61824
VIN. WBAEJ13472AH61824
4,941cc M-Power 32-Valve V8 Engine with VVT
Electronic Fuel Injection, Individual Throttle Bodies
400bhp at 6,600rpm
6-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
*Meticulously preserved with low mileage
*Spiritual successor to the legendary 507 Roadster, designed Henrik Fisker
*Beautiful specification in Black over Sport Red and Black leather
*One of 342 black over red cars produced worldwide
*Offered with factory hard top, manuals, tool kit, and original BMW-branded phone
*A timeless 'instant collectible' BMW
THE BMW Z8
'That this new car, the Z8, is scorchingly fast comes as no surprise. It employs the potent 400-hp M5 powertrain, which endows the M5 sedan with the acceleration of a Corvette. Weighing about 500 pounds less than the two-ton M5, the Z8's performance is beyond question.' – Car & Driver.
In 1956, BMW released the 507, a stunning two-seat Roadster that delivered exhilarating performance, luxury, and rarity, which remains one of the most coveted BMW models ever produced. At the 1997 Tokyo Auto Show, BMW displayed a stylish retro-inspired concept car, the Z07. The Henrik Fisker-designed roadster was initially intended to merely exist as styling exercise; however, the incredible reception and overwhelmingly positive acclaim spurred the decision to put it into limited serial production in 1999.
The resulting Z8 remained remarkably faithful to the Z07 concept, with the 507-like twin-nostril front grille and distinctive front-wing vents. A period-style interior had been one of the Z07's most remarked upon features, and that too made it into the production Z8, including a fantastic banjo-style steering wheel. The sleek and taught bodywork was all wrought in aluminum, as was the completely bespoke space-frame chassis. The 4,941cc V8 engine was aluminum as well, a 400-horsepower power-plant that motivates this lithe roadster to 60mph in a scant 4.2 seconds. Of course, the Z8 included all the luxury appointments befitting a flagship model: traction control, stability control, front and side air bags, GPS navigation, climate control and power operation of the seats, steering wheel and convertible top.
Along with being a stunning, hand built limited-production roadster, BMW further enhanced the Z8's appeal to collectors by announcing that a 50-year stockpile of Z8 parts would be maintained. Despite a hefty launch price, initial demand was so high that bidding wars broke out, with many Z8s selling well above MSRP. By the time production ceased in 2003, 5,703 of these timeless roadsters had been built.
THE CAR OFFERED
Finished in a fantastic combination of Black over a two-tone Sport Red and Black Nappa leather cockpit, this outstanding Z8 is a collector quality example, displaying just under 12,000 miles from new. Of the 5,703 Z8s produced, just 342 were black over red, a particularly sharp color combination. This car is in excellent condition throughout, with the clean CARFAX report showing ownership in Florida, Missouri, and Maryland, and also showing the most recent service handled by authorized dealer I.G. Burton BMW. A highlight of any Z8 is the driver-focused cockpit, which features a classically inspired body-colored facia with centrally mounted instruments canted toward the driver and the fantastic retro-styled banjo steering wheel. This car's stunning two-tone red and black interior is in excellent order, with taut leather, tidy carpets, and excellent painted surfaces. Only some minor scuffing on the gear knob is noted in the otherwise pristine cabin.
This car includes several factory accessories, chief among them is the matching hardtop, along with the matching wind deflector, tool kit, and owner's manual pouch. Holding true to their motorsport roots, BMW ensured a proper sportscar driving experience with 3-pedals connected to a 6-speed manual gearbox and the potent S62 M-Power V8 engine. As one of the most exhilarating sports cars to ever come from BMW, these powerful, stick-shift, aluminum-bodied roadsters have been highly collectible since day one and are firmly enjoy classic status.
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