Steve Jobs’ 2000 BMW Z8 Expected to Fetch $400K at Auction

Noting how the late Apple co-founder had a “penchant for German automobiles and design,” the New York City-based auction house, Sotheby’s, announced that a BMW Z8 roadster once owned by Steve Jobs will be heading to auction next month, where the ultra-premium automobile is expected to sell for around $400,000 or more.

In its official listing for the 2000 model-year sports-car, Sotheby’s details the vehicles’ rich-history of ownership, which includes its first three-years under Steve Jobs’ watchful eye. “According to legend,” the listing asserts, it was Larry Ellison — Jobs’ good friend and CEO of software-giant, ORACLE — who persuaded his billionaire buddy to purchase the Z8 back in 2000, suggesting it was not only a high-quality car, but also consistent with the iPhone-creator’s penchant for excellence in design.

After three-years of owning and maintaining the car in pristine condition, Sotheby’s notes how Jobs then sold it to “a person in Los Angeles,” who just one-year later allegedly flipped the car and sold it to a “Bay Area Tech executive.” Rumor then has it that some 18-months thereafter, the Los Angeles owner was remorseful over his decision to sell the Z8, and contacted the Bay Area buyer to purchase it back.

Though the car has been in use for over 17 years now, the auction-house noted how its only been driven for 15,200 miles during that time, and was otherwise kept covered, fully maintained, serviced and up-to-date over the years, ensuring its “good condition.” According to The Auto Channel, BMW produced around 3,000 Z8 roadsters during its four-year production run from 1999 to 2003, while it sold less than 2,300 of those here in the U.S.

Back in 1999, a base-model Z8 cost around $128,000 by order. However, buyers were treated to a range of noteworthy specifications including the car’s intricately designed, all-aluminum chassis; its powerful, 4.9 Liter V8 engine capable of producing over 400 horsepower; and its uniquely-crafted engine compartment, which was not only placed to allow for an “even 50/50 weight distribution” between the front and rear axles, but allowed the beast mobile to accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in just 4.2 seconds, according to Motor Trend.

Jobs’ Z8 will reportedly go up for auction on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, as part of Sotheby’s “New York — Icons” event.