A 2000 BMW Z8 (chassis no. 60085) originally owned by late visionary Apple founder Steve Jobs is the latest headline attraction for RM Sotheby’s upcoming “Icons” sale in New York, set for December 6 at Sotheby’s global headquarters in Manhattan. This third iteration of the company’s New York sale will celebrate the cutting edge of automotive design, presenting an expertly curated roster of more than 30 of history’s most iconic automobiles from the world’s most admired marques.
Before his untimely passing in 2011, Steve Jobs and Apple remained true to the mantra, “Think Different” by embracing the intuitive and elegant technology that has revolutionized how people interact with computers, consume music, and — with the masterstroke of the iPhone — communicate. BMW was also thinking differently when it released the Z8 in 2000. The model served as the brand’s halo car and a test bed for new engineering technologies. Pulling styling cues from the lauded 507, yet equally forward-looking, the Z8 pioneered an advanced technique of welded and extruded aluminum spaceframe construction. Widely considered one of the most innovative and attractive cars of the new millennium, the Z8 quickly joined the ranks of the “modern classic.”
While not a car enthusiast per se, Jobs did have a penchant for German design, owning both BMW cars and motorcycles, as well as Mercedes-Benz SLs. It was reportedly Larry Ellison, iconoclastic CEO of Oracle, who convinced Jobs that the Z8 was a paragon of modern automotive engineering and reflective of his own products and psyche. Jobs’ Z8 (above, Karissa Hosek photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s) was delivered on October 6, 2000, reflecting his signature minimalist style and color, finished in Titanium over black leather interior. His ownership is documented by several service invoices accompanying the car, as well as a copy of the original California registration. He kept the BMW until 2003, when it was sold to its second and now current owner, who sold the car to another tech executive in 2004 and quickly suffered from seller’s remorse, buying it back a mere 18 months later. The car is being offered with no reserve.
For more complete information about RM Sotheby’s New York sale, please visit www.rmsothebys.com
