Thoughts from the Curb

Oct 13, 2008 - Countdown to Bond: The World is Not Enough BMW Z8

If the Z3 in "GoldenEye" was a pretty face with no teeth (in terms of engines and gadgets), the car 007 drove in "The World Is Not Enough" came through on all counts: the BMW Z8.

Like the Esprit before it and the DBS after it, the Z8 was in its nacient stages when its respective movie was in production, but BMW was desparate for it to be the Bond car. Only 16 cars were in existance and they were all prototypes, so BMW donated one of those prototypes and the Bond team cooked up several duplicates to use and abuse during filming. They took exact molds and applied them to Cobra kit car chassis.

On screen, it featured small missiles hidden behind the Z8's signature 507-inspired side gills. It could also partially drive itself. So it was no killing machine like its 750iL predecessor, but we at least saw what it could do -- at least for a bit.

I love this car; it is simply gorgeous and an instant classic.  I have a Bond movie model of it in my bedroom (complete with shooting missiles) and a black-on-red 1:18 model of it on my office desk. In 20 years, I'm targeting one to join my Z3...I can only hope it lowers a bit in price. Nearly 10 years later and they're still north of $100,000.

-James Riswick

Check out the Fifth Gear Bond car special featuring the Z8 and the ever-dorky Tiff Needell.

6:12 pm | Categories: bond cars Permalink | Alert Administrator

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