2003 BMW Z8 Alpina V8 Roadster
Registration no. C8 BFF
Chassis no. WBAEJ13403AH62072
*Rare and exclusive limited edition model
*One of 555 built
*Delivered new in the USA
*Present ownership since October 2016
*Circa 18,000 miles from new
Footnotes:
The sensation of the 1997 Tokyo Auto Show, the Z07 'retro' concept car was received so enthusiastically that BMW decided to press ahead with a production version: the Z8. The fact that the Z8 was a low-volume model assembled, for the most part, by hand, enabled BMW to offer customers considerable freedom in personalising their cars. Further enhancing its appeal to collectors, the factory announced that a 50-year stockpile of Z8 parts would be maintained. By the time production ceased at the end of 2002, 5,703 of these fabulous cars had been built.

But that was not quite the end of the Z8 story, for BMW tuning specialist Alpina then introduced its own, even more exclusive version: the Alpina V8 Roadster. Alpina's product was considerably more refined than the original, being equipped with a 4.8-litre engine from the 5-Series Alpina B10 V8 S and an Alpina-specified ZF five-speed 'Switchtronic' automatic transmission with paddle-shift operation. Producing a maximum of 375bhp, the Roadster's slightly smaller engine was re-tuned for greater torque at lower revs, which better suited the automatic transmission. Top speed was limited to 161mph, with 60mph coming up in 5.0 seconds, only a couple of tenths slower than the original Z8.

The suspension was revised to provide a more supple ride, and the original 18' wheels and run-flat tyres replaced with 20' rims and tyres with taller sidewalls. Re-trimmed in softer Nappa leather, the interior boasted many Alpina-specific touches including the steering wheel, gauges, and gear selection display. As its specification suggests, the Alpina V8 was targeted at the North American market, which took 450 units out of the 555 scheduled for production.

This Z8 Alpina featured in BMW Car magazine's May 2016 edition. The current vendor acquired the car in October 2016 from a prominent private collector, who had imported the car from the USA in 2015 and had it converted to UK specification by Sytner BMW. In April 2017, 'C8 BFF' was shown at the annual BMW Southern Concours event at Sherborne Castle, achieving a creditable score despite little prior preparation. Bizarrely, it was deducted 20 points for not displaying the correct 'BMW Club' insignia, and a further 20 because the carpets' original plastic protection prevented their condition from being assessed! Kept garaged since acquisition, the Alpina has been driven approximately once per month and is described by the private vendor as in excellent condition throughout, having covered circa 18,000 miles from new.