- The BMW 8 Series is a pure grand tourer of the 1990s.
- The 850i offers creamy V-12 power under the hood, sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
- This example is equipped with a manual transmission and was purchased new by basketball superstar Michael Jordan.
In addition to being a must-see for basketball fans, Netflix’s last dance It’s a car watcher’s dream, especially if you’re a fan of ballet cars from the 1990s. Slant-nosed 911 convertibles, heavy-duty Mercedes limousines and, of course, top-spec Corvettes all graced the screen, most of the time driven by none other than the legendary Michael Jordan. Well, here’s your chance to own a V-12-powered legend.
Auction on Bring the Trailer – Like car and driverPart of Hearst Motors, it’s a 1991 BMW 850i owned by Michael Jordan while leading the Chicago Bulls to multiple championships. Even better, this daddy BMW proves that Air Jordan is a true car nut, as it comes with a six-speed manual transmission and some rare options.
BMW launched the 8 Series on the E31 chassis at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show. As a large luxury GT, it’s not intended to be a direct replacement for the 6 Series, but it essentially replaces the 6 Series, albeit with more power, more luxurious performance, and a higher price. At the time, it was competing against cars like the Porsche 928 and had an ace up its sleeve – the big BMW V-12.
Of course, BMW made its name in the 1980s with its sporty inline-six engines. Pair two of these together, and you’ve got 12 reasons to buy the 850i’s then-near-six-figure price tag. However, the 850i’s 5.0-liter M70B50 V-12 is more about silky-smooth, relentless power than induction roar. But with 296 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, the 850i is a leather-lined freight train.
If you need room to stretch out your six-foot-six-inch frame, there’s no better place to do it, and the light-colored Parchment interior is well-preserved and complements the Maritis Blue Metallic paint. The car rides on 17-inch AC Schnitzer wide wheels with the same deep concave design you’d expect from a Chicago. The AC Schnitzer has some other aerodynamic enhancements, but overall the look is pretty subtle. The 8 Series’ design itself has aged well, blending elements of the original M1 with the people behind contemporary Aston Martins.
Jordan traded the car in 1995, and the second owner rarely drove it. There are only 30,000 miles on the odometer, so this big V-12 Corvette has plenty of flying time left, although the air conditioning could use some attention. Considering how much other Jordan memorabilia often fetches, the celebrity premium would be considerable, but compared to a 911 or a Ferrari with Jordan-owned history, it’s probably a bargain.if you have loved last danceyou’ll enjoy your first waltz even more with these three pedals.
The auction ends on January 8th.
Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer living in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He grew up on British cars, grew up during Japan’s golden age of sport compact performance, and started writing about cars and people in 2008. He’s particularly interested in the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it’s racing Walter Cronkite’s career or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He taught his two young daughters how to change a manual transmission and thanked them for the excuse to buy a Hot Wheels forever.