Steve Jobs' BMW Z8 up for auction
NEW YORK - Admirers of Steve Jobs may never drive technology to the cutting edge, but at least they can drive his car.
The late Apple founder's 2000 BMW Z8 convertible is one of 30 vehicles up for auction in December in Manhattan, and the price is only $300,000. That's a fraction of the cost of a number of the other vehicles that are available.
Bidders at the fantasy-fueled RM Sotheby's auction might steer toward a handsomely earth-toned 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pininfarina, which has a pre-sale estimate of about $1.5 million to $1.8 million. They'll also have the chance to peruse a white, "ultimate street-legal" 1995 Porsche 911 GT2, which has a pre-sale estimate of about $1.1 million to $1.4 million, and a red 1952 Chrysler D'Elegance by Ghia, with a pre-sale estimate of about $900,000 to $1.1 million.
But bidders may instead choose to geek out on Jobs' former ride - a model that served as "a test bed for new engineering technologies," said the auction house. "While not a car enthusiast per se," Jobs did have "a penchant for German design."
Jobs also owned BMW motorcycles and Mercedes-Benz SLs.
The tech genius got his BMW in October 2000 in the minimalist style he is known for- titanium over a black leather interior. He sold it in 2003 to another tech executive, according to RM Sotheby's.
"Not only was the Z8 the halo car for an iconic brand and the Bond car for a generation, but it caught the eye of the most iconic and influential entrepreneur of our time," said Don Rose, RM Sotheby's car specialist.
Although it's changed hands a couple of times, the 400 brake horsepower vehicle only clocked 15,200 miles (24460.89 kilometers).
The car comes with a copy of its old California registration, under the name "Jobs, Steven P." It also comes with a hardtop, cover, manuals and an old school flip-phone -- ironically, a BMW-branded Motorola.
Out of garage space, but not out of bucks? A race suit and helmet might fit the bill. Steve McQueen wore them in the 1971 movie "Le Mans" and they're expected to sell for $400,000 to $500,000.