1990 | BMW Z1 Roadster

Of all the BMW Z cars, the Zukunft tag is arguably most fittingly applied to the Z1. The Z1 used a skeletal frame on which the body panels were mounted, making it incredibly stiff, banishing scuttle shake and giving the car superb handling. The body panels were made of plastic, mounted on a substructure of hot-dipped galvanised pressed steel and the seams were continuously zinc welded, adding 25 per cent to body stiffness. The side panels and doors were made from General Electric's Xenoy injection-cast thermoplastic, the bonnet and boot lid were glass-reinforced plastic and the whole body was painted in a special flexible lacquer. State of the art thinking was evident in every aspect of the car's design. Those magnificent doors were operated by toothed belts which lowered both the window and door at the touch of a button. The Z1 used the innovative Z-axle suspension set-up at the rear and also featured some clever aerodynamics, the front of the car was designed to create a high-pressure zone ahead of the wheels to induce downforce whilst the aerofoil-shaped rear silencer helped to decrease turbulence and lift. The engine is one of BMW's finest in the form of the M20B25 unit taken from the E30 325i.

This Z1 is one of only roughly 50 cars which were originally supplied to the UK and it spent a vast majority of its life with its second owner, who was an accountant who daily drove the car for around 20 years, after purchasing it with around 30,000 miles when it was just a few years old. The car was fitted with a brand new engine at around 180,000 miles and has since clearly been treated to a vast amount of work including a full respray, new headlight covers, a new soft top and much more. Unfortunately, there isn't much paperwork to quantify the cars past life, but the condition speaks for itself, it could easily pass as being a car which is just a few years old with a fraction of the miles it has, the previous owners have evidently cherished it throughout its 35-year life. The Z1 might just be the perfect summer car with its proven reliable engine and features that will start conversations everywhere you go, this example looks like great value compared with the ultra-low mileage collector examples which you'd be too afraid to use for fear of depreciating them! Supplied to auction with a V5C registration document, original replacement service book and a Z1 specific workshop manual Consigned by Fraser Smith

Lot details
Year: 1990
Make: BMW
Model: Z1
Registration: BMZ 990
Chassis No: WBABA91040AL04383
Engine No: 20397071
Mileage: 225,989


* Excellent condition, clearly a cherished car

* Rare UK supplied example, one of just circa 50

* Brand new engine fitted at 180,000 miles