Maximilien Gagnebin
Senior Specialist
LOT 133
2001 BMW Z8 Roadster with Hardtop Chassis no. to be advised
Sold for CHF163,300 inc. premium
Lot 133
One owner since 2002 and 22,500 kilometres from new
2001 BMW Z8 Roadster with Hardtop
2001 BMW Z8 Roadster with Hardtop
2001 BMW Z8 Roadster with Hardtop
Chassis no. to be advised
Chassis no. to be advised
• Rare and exclusive limited edition model
• Registered new in London, UK
• Present ownership since May 2002
• Registered in Switzerland since 2017
• Full service history
"The BMW Z8 was to be nothing more than a styling exercise. A retro tribute to the 507, seen once as a motorshow concept and then wheeled off into immediate retirement and a life of occasional event and film appearances. But when it appeared at the Tokyo motorshow in 1997, the world went mad for it." - Top Gear magazine.
In recent times many motor manufacturers, particularly those with a significant sporting heritage, have felt the need to reference iconic models from the past when launching their latest. BMW has proved adept at exploiting this 'retro' trend, commencing in 1996 with the Z3 coupé and convertible, the styling of which brilliantly recalled its fabulous '328' sports car of pre-war days. Its next effort along similar lines - the 'Z07' concept car of 1997 - took its inspiration from the post-war Alfred Goetz-designed '507', a luxurious limited-edition roadster.
The sensation of the 1997 Tokyo Auto Show, the Z07 was received so enthusiastically that BMW took the decision to press ahead with a production version: the Z8. For the most part the Z8 remained remarkably faithful to the original concept, retaining 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 Z8.
The Z8's body panelling and bespoke spaceframe chassis were fabricated in lightweight and corrosion resistant aluminium, while the 32-valve 4,941cc V8 engine, shared with the M5 saloon, was built by BMW's Motorsport division. With 400bhp on tap, the Z8 raced to 100km/h (62mph) in 4.7 seconds and only the built-in rev limiter stopped it from exceeding 250km/h (155mph). It was rumoured that 290km/h (180mph) was achievable with the restrictor removed...
Power reached the run-flat tyres via a Getrag six-speed manual gearbox. Needless to say, the Z8 also came with all the modern appurtenances one would expect of 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 hood all being included in the package.
The fact that the Z8 was a low-volume model assembled, for the most part, by hand, enabled BMW to offer customers considerable freedom in personalising their cars. Further enhancing its appeal to collectors, the factory announced that a 50-year stockpile of Z8 parts would be maintained. Despite a (US) launch price of over $128,000, initial demand was so high that a bidding war broke out, with many Z8s selling for well in excess of that figure. By the time production ceased in 2003, 5,703 of these fabulous cars had been built.
Finished in silver with red/black interior, this stunning Z8 was registered new by H R Owen in the UK and purchased by the current owner in May 2002 at 1,000 kilometres. The car has been registered in Switzerland since 2017 and comes with full service history with BMW in the UK and Pichler AG in Switzerland. It has seen very little use since the most recent service was carried out less than one year ago. Presented in truly exceptional condition throughout, this beautiful Z8 Roadster comes complete with all books and tools; Motorola mobile phone; CD player (standard); and hardtop cover. The matching hardtop and its support frame are to be collected post-sale by the successful purchaser.
• Registered new in London, UK
• Present ownership since May 2002
• Registered in Switzerland since 2017
• Full service history
"The BMW Z8 was to be nothing more than a styling exercise. A retro tribute to the 507, seen once as a motorshow concept and then wheeled off into immediate retirement and a life of occasional event and film appearances. But when it appeared at the Tokyo motorshow in 1997, the world went mad for it." - Top Gear magazine.
In recent times many motor manufacturers, particularly those with a significant sporting heritage, have felt the need to reference iconic models from the past when launching their latest. BMW has proved adept at exploiting this 'retro' trend, commencing in 1996 with the Z3 coupé and convertible, the styling of which brilliantly recalled its fabulous '328' sports car of pre-war days. Its next effort along similar lines - the 'Z07' concept car of 1997 - took its inspiration from the post-war Alfred Goetz-designed '507', a luxurious limited-edition roadster.
The sensation of the 1997 Tokyo Auto Show, the Z07 was received so enthusiastically that BMW took the decision to press ahead with a production version: the Z8. For the most part the Z8 remained remarkably faithful to the original concept, retaining 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 Z8.
The Z8's body panelling and bespoke spaceframe chassis were fabricated in lightweight and corrosion resistant aluminium, while the 32-valve 4,941cc V8 engine, shared with the M5 saloon, was built by BMW's Motorsport division. With 400bhp on tap, the Z8 raced to 100km/h (62mph) in 4.7 seconds and only the built-in rev limiter stopped it from exceeding 250km/h (155mph). It was rumoured that 290km/h (180mph) was achievable with the restrictor removed...
Power reached the run-flat tyres via a Getrag six-speed manual gearbox. Needless to say, the Z8 also came with all the modern appurtenances one would expect of 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 hood all being included in the package.
The fact that the Z8 was a low-volume model assembled, for the most part, by hand, enabled BMW to offer customers considerable freedom in personalising their cars. Further enhancing its appeal to collectors, the factory announced that a 50-year stockpile of Z8 parts would be maintained. Despite a (US) launch price of over $128,000, initial demand was so high that a bidding war broke out, with many Z8s selling for well in excess of that figure. By the time production ceased in 2003, 5,703 of these fabulous cars had been built.
Finished in silver with red/black interior, this stunning Z8 was registered new by H R Owen in the UK and purchased by the current owner in May 2002 at 1,000 kilometres. The car has been registered in Switzerland since 2017 and comes with full service history with BMW in the UK and Pichler AG in Switzerland. It has seen very little use since the most recent service was carried out less than one year ago. Presented in truly exceptional condition throughout, this beautiful Z8 Roadster comes complete with all books and tools; Motorola mobile phone; CD player (standard); and hardtop cover. The matching hardtop and its support frame are to be collected post-sale by the successful purchaser.
Footnotes
Un seul propriétaire depuis 2002, 22 500 km depuis l'origine
2001 BMW Z8 Roadster avec hard-top
• Exclusive série limitée
• Immatriculée neuve à Londres
• Propriété de son vendeur depuis mai 2002
• Immatriculée en Suisse depuis 2017
• Historique d'entretien complet
"La BMW Z8 devait n'être rien de plus qu'un exercice de style, un hommage à la 507, présenté comme un concept car de Salon puis immédiatement remisé, ne devant faire que quelques apparitions ponctuelles au cinéma ou lors d'évènements. Mais lorsqu'elle est apparue au Salon de Tokyo 1997, elle a fait perdre la tête au monde entier." – Le magazine Top Gear.
Ces derniers temps, de nombreux constructeurs automobiles, en particulier les héritiers d'un passé sportif, ont souhaité se référer à un ancien modèle de légende lors du lancement d'un nouveau modèle. BMW a adhéré à cette tendance "rétro", qui s'est initialement manifestée en 1996 avec les coupé et cabriolet Z3, dont le style rappelait avec brio celui des 328, les légendaires sportives d'avant-guerre. Dans le même esprit, le concept-car Z07 de 1997 se référait à la 507 d'après-guerre, un roadster de luxe dessiné par Albrecht Goertz et produit en série limitée.
La Z07 fit sensation au Salon de Tokyo 1997 ; elle reçut un accueil si enthousiaste que BMW décida d'en dériver une version de série, la Z8. Celle-ci resta pour l'essentiel remarquablement fidèle au concept original, dont elle retint la calandre à deux ouvertures et les évents d'ailes avant caractéristiques de la 507. L'un des points les plus remarquables de la Z07 était son intérieur respectant le style de l'époque ; il fut repris sur la Z8.
La caisse et le soubassement spécifiquement étudié de la Z8 étaient en aluminium, léger et résistant à la corrosion ; son moteur, le V8 32 soupapes de 4 941 cm3 qu'elle partageait avec la berline M5, était fabriqué par la division Motorsport de BMW. Avec ses 400 chevaux, la Z8 atteignait les 100 km/h en 4,7 secondes, sa vitesse de pointe étant bridée à 250 km/h par un limiteur de régime intégré. On disait que les 290 km/h étaient à sa portée une fois le limiteur déconnecté...
Sa boîte manuelle 6 rapports était une Getrag ; elle transmettait la puissance à des pneus capables de rouler à plat. Il est inutile de préciser que la Z8 était dotée de tous les accessoires modernes que l'on était en droit d'attendre sur un tel vaisseau amiral: sa dotation comprenait l'antipatinage, le contrôle de stabilité, des airbags frontaux et latéraux, une navigation GPS, l'air conditionné et une motorisation du réglage des sièges et du volant, ainsi que de la capote.
Le fait que la Z8 était un modèle de faible diffusion, assemblé essentiellement à la main, permettait à BMW de proposer à ses clients de larges possibilités de personnalisation. Pour la rendre encore plus attractive aux yeux des collectionneurs, l'usine avait annoncé qu'un stock de pièces de Z8 serait maintenu disponible pendant 50 ans. Malgré un prix de lancement aux Etats-Unis de plus de 128 000 dollars, la demande initiale fut si forte que des enchères prirent naissance et que de nombreuses Z8 se vendirent bien au-dessus de ce prix. Sa fabrication cessa en 2003, après production de 5 703 de ces merveilleuses voitures.
De couleur gris argent avec un intérieur rouge et noir, cette magnifique Z8 fut immatriculée neuve au Royaume-Uni par H. R. Owen et achetée par son actuel propriétaire en mai 2002, alors qu'elle n'avait parcouru que 1 000 km. Elle est immatriculée en Suisse depuis 2017 et dispose de son historique d'entretien complet, effectué par BMW au Royaume-Uni et par Pichler AG en Suisse. Elle a très peu roulé depuis son dernier entretien, effectué il y a moins d'un an. D'un état général véritablement exceptionnel, cette magnifique Z8 est complète, munie de la totalité de son outillage et de sa documentation de bord, d'un téléphone mobile Motorola, d'un lecteur de CD (de série) et d'une housse de hard-top. Ce hard-top de couleur assortie et son support seront à récupérer par l'adjudicataire après la vente.
Saleroom notices
Please note that Lot 133 has completed less than 18,000 miles from new. Please note that the Chassis number for Lot 133 is WBAEJ11000AF78231. Veuillez noter le compteur odométrique affiche moins de 18 000 miles et pas 22,000 kms comme indiqué dans le catalogue imprimé et en ligne. Veuillez noter que le numéro de châssis du véhicule est WBAEJ11000AF78231.
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Auction Viewings
- 27 June 2025, 13:00 - 19:00 CEST
- 28 June 2025, 10:00 - 18:00 CEST
- 29 June 2025, 10:00 - 18:00 CEST
