Z8

Henrik Fisker sketched the Z8 as a design study to recapture the elegance of the BMW 507, one of the rarest and most beautiful post-war roadsters. BMW chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder greenlit production after overwhelming public response. The car's aluminum chassis and body panels were assembled largely by hand at the Dingolfing plant, with the S62 V8 — shared with the E39 M5 — providing 400 hp through a six-speed manual gearbox. A brief appearance in a Bond film added cultural cachet, but the Z8's significance lies in its engineering: a modern car built with artisanal methods, using the most powerful BMW engine of its era.