1991 BMW 850i

The wonderfully dramatic BMW 8 Series Coupé was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1989 and positively bristled with innovations, as befitted the flagship model from the makers of “the ultimate driving machine”.

While the motoring press focussed on the numerous road car 'firsts' such as the first electronic 'fly-by-wire' throttle, the first 'CAN bus' system to cut down the complexity and weight of the electrical system and the first BMW multi-link rear axle, what really impressed most people was just the sheer presence of the thing.

Luxuriously trimmed inside and packed with all the gadgets that its jet-set client base could wish for, the 8 Series turned every journey into an occasion and made the driver feel special every time they slipped behind the wheel. Initially, it was powered by a magnificent all-alloy, 5-litre V12 that produced 295bhp and a mighty 330lb/ft of torque. Allied to a 5-speed automatic gearbox that could be operated manually if really rapid progress was desired, this was sufficient to generate a 0-60mph time of just 6.8 seconds on its way to a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. An equally brilliant 4-litre V8 engine was also later offered, as was a 4.4-litre which addressed the lack of torque of the smaller engined car.

The 1991 850i offered here is quite remarkable. With one owner and an indicated mileage of 1,759 km this is a very rare manual gearbox car. First serviced on 19/05/1995 at 1,445 km, and its next visit to BMW was on 2/06/2015 at 1,759km when the bill was 4,000 Euros. This car has been kept in ideal conditions and obviously treated as an object of desire rather than a mode of transport. Obviously, the service records are impeccable and naturally the car comes with all its original equipment, untouched for the most part.

Costing well over £60,000 new, the 850i was always an exclusive machine and just over 20,000 were sold worldwide before production ceased in 1994. Rare, fast, and beautifully styled, this is a sure-fire classic of the future. There were only around 1,000 manual 850s ever built and there can't be many, if any, in this exquisite condition with less than 1,800 kms covered. We feel this may be a worldwide 'Best of Breed'.