Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today
With the Oletha, the engineering powerhouse has managed to create the sports car everyone wished BMW had built, inspired by the classic 507.
Thanks to gorgeous styling by none other than Henrik Fisker, the BMW Z8 is a car that the automotive community gravitates to. Its curvaceous body and iconic light shape originally came from BMW's desire to pay tribute to the beautiful 507 from the late 1950s in the form of a concept car. Though, with prototypes patrolling the area around BMW's headquarters from 1996 to 1999, it quickly became clear that the car code-named Z07 would soon become a reality.
The car first revealed itself in 1997 at the Tokyo Motor Show, stunning the world with its amazing looks. And when production began in 2000, it wasn't just the car's design that caught attention, as what was underneath was just as impressive.
As is the way in the motoring industry, the perfect car will never exist and, of course, many found the odd fault with the iconic BMW Z8. The main issue with the car was its lack of availability in coupe form. Unlike the Z3 and Z4, the Z8 was only ever available as a roadster. While Alpina produced a hard top for the model, we never saw it as an out-and-out coupe. Until now, that is, thanks to a company called Smit Vehicle Engineering.
Taking the shape of the BMW Z8, Smit Vehicle Engineering's Oletha was never going to be an ugly duckling. Once more, one of the two engineers behind this car worked on several Singer projects, and they aren't exactly ugly either. In fact, the car draws from the iconic model, and dare we say improves it, thanks to the gorgeous coupe roofline that so many gearheads dreamed of back in the day.
From the front, not much has changed. The kidney grille that modern-day BMW models could learn a thing or two from gently rests on the end of the car's long nose, just as it did on the original Z8 and its muse, the 507. The lights also reflect a perfect image of the original Z8, with a sharp, non-aggressive shape that surely appeals to us all.
RELATED: What Everyone Should Remember About The BMW Z8 It's from the rear and sides however that this car steps the Z8's styling up a notch. Thanks to the added chunk of metal and glass behind the driver's head, the haunches seem more pronounced on this car than on the BMW Z8. The car's hips look to extend from the taillights, curving into a pair of sumptuous shapes covering the rear wheels.
In essence, the change is very simple taking the basic roofline from models such as the BMW Z4M coupe and adapting it to the Z8. But by doing so, the entire feel of the car changes from a classy, top-down cruiser to a tight, ready to race sports car.
It's no happy coincidence that the Smit Oletha's roofline resembles that of the E86 Z4 coupe. Look under the fancy bodywork, and you will, in fact, find the bare bones of the Z4 coupe chassis that sacrificed itself for the greater good of creating a Z8 coupe.
Just like the standard BMW Z8, the Smit Oletha Z8 coupe gets its power from a V8 motor originating from one of the German brand's saloon cars. Though unlike the twenty-year-old car's S62 coming from the E39 M5, the newer, coupe iteration gets a more recent S65 from the E92 M3. This means the six-speed manual has to cope with 450 horsepower, a considerable hike from the original car's 395 horsepower.
Carbon fiber bodywork means this Z8 coupe weighs in at just 3,090 lbs, once again thrashing the standard Z8 with its additional 400 lbs. Although no official performance figures are available concerning the car then, it's easy to guess that this creation will perform like a Z8 on steroids.
RELATED: These Gorgeous '90s Sports Cars Look Brand New
For the most part, when a car comes in convertible or coupe form, it's common knowledge that the coupe performs better through the corners too. In fact, a solid sheet of metal or carbon fiber will always do a great job at strengthening a chassis, helping a car feel tight on a circuit or mountainous road. The Smit Oletha, which presents itself as more of a performance car than its open-top predecessor, surely follows that same trend.
Finally, a fully custom exhaust system blending stainless-steel and Inconel should provide a brilliant soundtrack to this stunning car. Especially when that 4.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 is singing along at 8,500 rpm.
The car is available to order via the Smit Vehicle Engineering's website. The company is yet to announce a price for this wondrous creation. Though, we think if you have to ask for the price tag, you probably can't afford it.
Writing about cars and sharing his passion for the motoring industry has always been Angus' main drive in life. He started his journey as a motoring fanatic in the world of motorsport but quickly became just as interested in the car world. Angus' main loves are the Alpine A110 and Maserati MC12 due to their links to motorsport but really, if it has 4 wheels and an engine, he's a fan.