The BMW Z8 is a stellar example of how to build a car that pays tribute to the past without getting bogged down in nostalgia. The Z8 is the spiritual successor to the 507 from the late 1950s. Based on the Z07 concept, it was originally envisioned as a styling exercise meant to replace its decades-older predecessor. But when it debuted in 1998, it proved itself to be so much more. We’d still be talking about the Z8 today based solely on its retro-futuristic look, but the German marque’s third modern roadster also happened to be an excellent sports car. It offered plenty of pep thanks to the potent V-8 lurking beneath its hood, while still delivering a smooth ride thanks to its 50:50 weight distribution. The standard version was also only available with a manual gearbox, a feature that was just starting to become rare. Despite some big-screen promotion and winning..
