- The MF5 GT and Roadster were the final models built by the Wiesmann brothers
- This is 1 of only 55 MF5 GTs and 1 of (approximately) 10 with the BMW V10
- 507bhp at 7750 rpm and 383lb.ft of torque offer 0-62mph in 3.9seconds and 193mph
- Aluminium-monocoque, bonded and riveted and clothed in glass fibre
- Rear-wheel drive. 7-speed sports automatic gearbox (steering wheel paddle shifters)
- Low Centre of Gravity and light weight result in class-leading handling
- This immaculate example has covered just 8,000km from new
Founded in 1988 by brothers, engineer Martin Wiesmann and businessman Friedhelm Wiesmann, and based in Dulmen, Germany, Wiesmann was a manufacturer of low-volume and hand-built high-performance sports cars. It went into administration in 2014, but has recently been revived.
The company's philosophy was simply stated: 'A Wiesmann is not your average sports car. It’s a car inspired by those few with the courage, audacity and creativity to live by their own rules. Beautifully designed with precision engineering, a Wiesmann is a remarkable car made for remarkable individuals.'
The MF5 GT was the final design from the brothers and its stylistic inspiration appears to have come from classic British designs with hints of Jaguar XK120, E-type racer, Healey 3000 and Morgan AeroMax all in there.
Launched at the 2008 Frankfurt Motor Show, the MF5 uses the same all-alloy, naturally aspirated 5-litre V10 as the BMW M5 and M6 which, by any standards, is one of the world’s greatest production engines. It has Bi-VANOS variable camshaft control and, in addition to that astonishing 507bhp at 7750rpm, some 383lb ft of torque at 6200rpm. Each cylinder gets its own electronically actuated throttle valve and four oil pumps and two sumps ensure constant lubrication even during braking and cornering. Wiesmann claims 0-62mph in 3.9sec and a top speed of 193mph, which is serious enough performance to warrant the addition of an aggressive rear wing and diffuser.
The V10 is mounted low and behind the front axle line – the so-called ‘front mid-engined’ layout – and, as in the M5/M6, drive reaches the rear wheels via BMW’s 7-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission, complete with its shift-speed control and variable-lock differential. Despite the bulkier engine and transmission, the MF5 still qualifies as a lightweight. At 1380kg, it’s just 100kg heavier than the MF4 and therefore has a significantly better power-to-weight ratio: 368bhp/ton versus 287bhp/ton.
Everything about the MF5 seems to have been designed to give the driver maximum input and gratification. The cabin’s design is elegant and purposeful, and the bucket seats provide rock-solid location. It's finished in black with red detailing and the little Gecko, Wiesmann's logo, makes the odd appearance. All the controls have a precise, hard-edged feel, and it’s an easy car to drive straight away, the BMW’s paddle-shift transmission being smooth and easy to master.
However, it's probably the howling V10 that creates the most vivid impression. 'It’s the first thing you bond with, the last thing to fade from memory. Power isn’t the only issue. It’s the quality of interaction between driver and machine that gets under your skin. The multi-layered and savagely loud sonic presence of that M Power V10 is real edge-of-madness stuff. You can hear it all: ten cylinders, four camshafts, exhaust piping that would do justice to a church organ. It’s an intense, wailing wash of sound, the stadium rock of mechanical music. Wall to wall. Visceral. Intimidating.' (EVO magazine).
The lovely MF5 GT on offer here dates from 2010 and is one of the few, 10 or 11 we believe, that's fitted with the V10 from the E63 BMW, later cars offering a V8. It has covered some 8,000km from new.