Roger Fingas
A BMW Z8 luxury convertible once owned by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is being auctioned at Sotheby's in New York next month, where it's expected to fetch between $300,000 and $400,000 or possibly more.
Jobs had a "penchant for German automobiles and design," the auction listing claims, noting that he also owned BMW motorcycles and Mercedes-Benz SLs. "According to legend," it continues, Jobs was persuaded to buy the Z8 in 2000 by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who suggested it was not just a high-quality car but matched Apple products and Jobs's psyche.
Jobs is said to have kept the car for just three years, selling it to a person in Los Angeles who in turn sold it a year later to a "Bay Area tech executive." The Los Angeles owner had remorse over that decision, and contacted the tech executive some 18 months later to buy the car back.
Although the car has actually been driven regularly for 17 years, it has just 15,200 miles on it, and has undergone service and maintenance to keep it in good condition.
One notable inclusion is a BMW-branded Motorola cellphone, which Jobs allegedly hated. The CEO eventually parterned with Motorola on a few iTunes phones before launching the iPhone in 2007.
The Z8 originally cost $128,000 before add-ons. Used models are potentially worth more, but the auction price is well above average.
Jobs's vehicle will go on sale Dec. 6 as part of a "New York — Icons" event.
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20 Comments
I am both a BMW fan and owner as well as a Steve Jobs fan. I would LOVE to have Mr. Jobs' old Z8.
The Bmw Z8 is the most beautiful car ever.
https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/bmw-z8-values-are-officially-insane-259615
I'm fascinated by people that pay lot of money to collect items that have no intrinsic value other than being owned by someone famous, or, really, just collectors in general. At least with he first Apple computer ever built there's a uniqueness to being number one; this isn't likely the first Z8 off the line, but likely just one Jobs had to delivered to him from a dealer.
I understand I'm in the minority here since even owning an original Mac wouldn't do anything for me except as an investment opportunity and I'd turn around and sell it right away so I could invest the profit into something with a better growth rate—I guess you need both sentimentality and a proclivity for idol worship in order to be a collector. Any serial killers here want to explain to me the importance of collecting trophies?¡ :smiley:
I always thought that the exterior design of the boat he had built was very unattractive, but to each their own when it comes to aesthetics.