No doubt the star of the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show was BMW’s Z07 concept, the precursor to the Z8. A nostalgic tribute to the legendary 507 Roadster, the Z07 came at a time when retro design was coming back into fashion in the automobile industry. Not only were the Japanese crowds stunned, but so was the world when BMW pulled back the cover on its stunning two-seater sports car. Designers Chris Bangle and Henrik Fisker had penned a worthy tribute to its ancestor. The car made a second appearance in Detroit in January 1998 prior to making its production debut as the Z8 at the 1999 Frankfurt Auto Show. To the joy of the media and, more importantly, the buying public, the production Z8 was remarkably similar to its concept.

Despite the nostalgia, underneath is a very sophisticated, modern BMW. This includes an aluminum space frame construction 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 (shared with BMW’s V-12 750i); 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, ranging from 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. Cleverly, the rear bumper concealed antennas for the radio and telephone.

Every Z8 was built on a special production line within its Munich facility, largely by hand. It took nearly 10 times longer to build than a standard 3-Series. Adding to the car’s cachet, actor Pierce Brosnan drove a Z8 as James Bond in the blockbuster The World is Not Enough. BMW built 5,702 examples between 1999 and 2003 worldwide, including just 926 in 2002.

This Z8 was first delivered to Chapman BMW in Scottsdale, Arizona, and has known ownership history from new. Having just 23,385 miles at the time of consignment, it includes the accessory hardtop and stand, wind deflector, factory tool roll, owner’s manual with pouch, first aid kit, spare keys and fobs, BMW Motorola cell phone, and the original window sticker, as well as a special Z8 car cover with storage bag. Finished in Tungsten Silver over black Nappa leather, it is the epitome of BMW performance with its M-derived 400 horsepower V-8 engine and six-speed manual transmission. Uniquely, it is fitted with chromed BMW alloy wheels. It has been part of the consignor’s collection since April 2012, during which time it has been stored in a climate-controlled garage. The consigner describes it to be “as clean as you can get.”

This is truly one of the most exciting BMWs of modern times and among the most collectible today.