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It is hard not to be a fan of the original BMW 8-Series that was introduced in 1990 as a luxurious grand tourer. The model, codenamed E31, was exclusively available in coupe form, as the cabrio prototype never made it to production. More than three decades after its launch, independent designer Camilo Delay shared his vision of a Speedster variant.
The BMW 8-Series Speedster is sharing the lower portion of the bodywork with the coupe, but the roof has been completely chopped off – digitally of course. Changes include the new windshield with more rounded edges, and the bespoke rear tonneau cover with the traditional double bulges fading out into the tailgate.
The resulting vehicle is significantly different from the base model in terms of proportions, looking like a speedboat. The designer also showed his proposal of a canvas roof opening mechanism, so that the two-seater cabin won’t be exposed all the time.
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Camilo Delay, who goes under the name @volac on Instagram, didn’t describe what lies under the bonnet of his fictional creation but the quad tailpipes prove that it was never intended to be an electromod. Any version of the V12 engine from the different 850i models would be more than fitting to the occasion – especially the 5.6-liter unit from the rare CSi that produced 375 hp (280 kW / 381 PS).
Predictably, the renderings of the CAD-generated model attracted a lot of attention from the internet, with the majority of the comments being positive. The post even got a comment from the official BMW Classic account, asking the designer permission to share his project with the community.
The 8-Series Speedster will most likely remain a digital-only affair. However, with the recent spike in coachbuilt and restomod projects, you never know. BMW only built a single prototype of the 850i Cabriolet that resides in its Munich museum. However, there are 20 drop-top examples of the old 8-Series called SGS Monte Carlo, as a result of a custom conversion undertaken by German company Styling Garage. Do you think that someone should do the same with Camilo Delay’s Speedster project?
