The late 1990s and early 2000s ushered in a wave of retro-inspired concept and production cars – some of which, in hindsight, have aged less gracefully than the icons they aimed to recall. And then there is BMW’s Z8: a near-perfect reimagining of the marque’s exquisite 507, of which just 252 were built between 1956 and 1959. More homage than replica, more tribute than pastiche, the Z8 blended vintage proportions and detailing with modern sensibilities.

Largely hand built and entirely hand finished, the Z8 featured all-aluminum construction and a high-revving V-8 with exotic individual throttle bodies. Internally coded S62 and shared only with the legendary E39 M5, this 4.9-liter unit sat mostly behind the front-axle centerline, yielding a front-mid-engine layout and ideal 50/50 weight distribution. Performance, predictably, was exceptional: in period testing, Car and Driver found the Z8 outperformed the Ferrari 360 in key benchmarks of acceleration, handling, and braking – while delivering far greater refinement and usability than its Italian rival.

Built in the heart of the Z8’s 2000–2003 production run, this 2001 example is well documented, complete with original accessories and tastefully specified in Jet Black over a two-tone cream and black interior. This BMW has remained with its original owner since new and showed less than 9,500 miles at the time of cataloguing. A true collector-grade example of BMW’s modern classic, it offers originality, provenance, and enduring design in equal measure.