The primal Z
When you think of a BMW roadster, you undoubtedly first think of a Z3 or Z4. Then the exclusive, expensive Z8 looms in the memory, or the even more special 507 from which that car borrowed its design. However, there was also a BMW Z1, and we have that in view today.
The BMW Z1 is, as its name suggests, the first in BMW’s sporty Z-series, which still exists in the form of the current Z4. BMW cars with a ‘Z’ in the model name are almost all roadsters, except for the remarkable Z3 coupe and its successor Z4 coupe (E86). The ‘Z’ stands for ‘Zukunft’, or ‘future’. This gives rise to the suggestion that these are exceptionally futuristic cars, but that has been somewhat diluted with the last generations. Don’t get us wrong: Z3’s and Z4’s were all very modern cars when they arrived. However, we rarely saw the real futurism, but that was different with the Z1.
Take a good look at the photos, and then take in the fact that this car appeared on the market in 1989. It must have been a rather otherworldly appearance at the time, amid the countless square models from the 1980s and a single rounded preview of the 1990s. The Z1 is still based on the E30, the second generation of the 3-series that was launched in 1982. However, there is nothing more to see. Rounded but straight lines, convex bumpers and wheel arches and a unique front and rear facade gave the Z1 a very modern appearance, fresher even than the E36 3 series that would be launched shortly afterwards.
However, the most striking part of the Z1 is not even its body, but the bizarre door construction. Both doors do not open forwards or upwards, but sink into the sill. Together with the A-pillar-mounted door mirrors, this means that you can drive with the doors open for even more contact with the outside world. BMW would not be BMW if it did not think out this system down to the last detail, so closed side windows automatically sink into the door when the door is opened. Unique in 1989, and still not re-displayed on a production model.
The Z1 was intended from the very beginning as an expensive exclusive model. Ultimately, only 8,000 copies were made. That sounds a lot, but compared to a mass product it is almost nothing. Moreover, these cars are all more than thirty years old now, so it is certainly not a matter of course to come across one. This red car is from 1990. It was brought to the Netherlands in 1998 and has not changed hands since then. It goes without saying that it looks very sleek, including fire-red paint and a hood that appears to be in new condition.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl