The BMW 8 Series

When I was in my mid-forties, the BMW 8 Series was introduced. I fell in love with it and vowed to own one someday.

It is a very special car, different from the rest because of its appearance. It is hard to believe that over 36 years have passed since the company’s flagship model first made me fall in love with it. But even today, the 8 Series still looks as sexy as it did then, a testament to its incredible design.

When it was first introduced at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 8 Series captivated many people’s hearts. It became even more special when BMW decided to offer a massive 5.0-liter V-12 under its hood, allowing it to produce up to 380 horsepower.

However, the car had an electronic limiter that prevented it from exceeding 150 MPH. I actually took mine up to that speed once, and what a thrill it was.

When BMW stopped offering the 8 Series in the U.S. in 1998, it became a classic. However, the 8 Series is still highly regarded today, so much so that BMW marked its 25th anniversary.

They even prepared a commemorative video to celebrate the occasion, bringing in “BMW 8er: Power & HIghtech” author Niels Hamann to properly encapsulate the magnificence of this model.

There aren’t a lot of people who know the 8 Series more than Hamann, so when he says that the model remains the “most successful German 12-cylinder coupe ever”, I’m not going to dispute the man.

As a former owner, it is the best car I have ever owned. I am still tempted to buy another one whenever I see one come up for auction on Bring A Trailer.