Of all the designs born of the retro styling trend of the late 1990s, few were as effective, and even fewer have held up as well over time, as the BMW Z8. Previewed by the Z07 concept, which debuted at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, this nostalgic convertible mined a particularly rich vein of the German automaker’s heritage by paying tribute to the legendary, exclusive 507. Despite the midcentury roadster’s stunning looks, it was not a success for BMW at the time, and in fact put the automaker in a precarious financial position. In a sense, the Z8 offered an opportunity to right that historical wrong—and it did so with both style and substance.

Beneath the Z8’s nostalgic skin is a very sophisticated, modern BMW. The Z8 is constructed on an aluminum space frame with aluminum body panels, Xenon headlamps, four-wheel independent suspension (including a sophisticated five-link set-up at the rear), power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, power-assisted rack and pinion steering, ASC+T traction control, front and side air bags, and a stout four-cam V-8 with double VANOS variable valve timing mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

Nearly every comfort and convenience option was included, including an electrically adjustable steering column, satellite navigation, air conditioning, six-way electrically adjustable sport seats, and a 10-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system with six-disc CD changer. Every Z8 was built on a special production line within BMW’s Munich facility, largely by hand. BMW built just 5,702 examples between 1999 and 2003 worldwide, including just 926 in 2002.

This Z8, finished Titanium Silver Metallic over a Sport Red and Black Nappa leather interior, is the epitome of stylish BMW performance with its M-derived 394-horsepower V-8 engine and six-speed manual transmission. It has seen only limited and careful use over the past decades, displaying just 23,197 miles at the time of cataloguing. It is now offered from The Rey Collection with its matching Titanium Silver Metallic hardtop, an attractive feature that gives this convertible even more versatility, as well as its owner’s manual and tool roll. Service invoices from 2009, 2011, and 2022 detail its maintenance, including most recently a battery replacement, ignition switch replacement, and an engine oil flush.

A blend of classic design and modern performance, the BMW Z8—much like its spiritual predecessor, the 507—seems destined to grow even more desirable with time.