BMW Mille Miglia Concept, Sage Green Metallic

BMW presented its Mille Miglia Concept as a refinement of the 1940 race winner's aerodynamics rather than a copy of its shape. Five gills on each side, arranged in a slim Z-line between the front wheels and the A-pillars, release air used to cool the engine and lower the pressure in the front wheel arches, cutting turbulence there and pressing the car harder onto the road. Further back, fully covered rear wheels and a long, gently tapering tail form what BMW called a reverse V, concentrating the airflow's separation into one tight area, while carbon diffusers tidy the underside. The 328 Touring Coupé had won the 1940 Mille Miglia on lightness and streamlining; its 2006 tribute, built on Z4 M Coupé running gear, pursued the same ends.

This example is painted a pale sage green metallic, a silvery pistachio that reads almost silver in strong light and greener in shade. The cabin is light grey, with ribbed seats and black harness straps, a pale steering wheel and a silver dashboard and console, and the gills are picked out with pale inserts, so their Z-line is easy to follow. Frosted round lamps, a mesh kidney grille and a red tow eye sit at the front, a red lamp strip across the tail at the back. Built at 1:18, on a grey stitched base; the black plaque reads 'Limited', one of 7.