A technical tour de force from BMW
Delivered new to Baden-Württemberg
With its third owner in South Tyrol since 2015
Extensively serviced and maintained by him
Original mileage of 67,912 kilometres
In 1988, BMW presented the Z1, a roadster that did many things differently. Opening doors? Far too conventional. In the Z1, they disappeared electrically into the sills – even while driving, should the desire for fresh air become particularly strong. Then there was a plastic outer skin over a self-supporting structure, a sandwich-construction underbody and a diffuser – terminology more commonly associated with motor racing.
Under the bonnet, things were reassuringly familiar: a 2.5-litre straight-six producing 170 hp. Solid Munich fare, with little trouble propelling the Z1’s roughly 1,250 kilograms. Driving pleasure was guaranteed, but the engineering surrounding it was arguably more spectacular still. And because the Z1 looked almost like a concept car that had somehow escaped into production, it immediately became an object of speculation. Before the first car had even rolled off the line in Munich, 5,000 orders were already on the books.
Hand-built exotica came at a price, however. No more than six cars were completed per day, with each body assembled by hand and considerable attention paid to every detail. Those seeking a little colour could initially choose from four, later six, different paint finishes – including some decidedly adventurous shades for the more extrovert clientele. No fewer than 38.56 per cent chose Top Red, 28.96 per cent Dream Black and 25.46 per cent Ur-Green, while just 2.83 per cent dared to order Magic Violet and a mere 1.76 per cent opted for Fun Yellow.
Around 8,000 examples were built by 1991. The Z1 remained unique in BMW history: more technological showcase than commercial proposition, more show car than conventional production model. A roadster that made its doors disappear – before itself burning briefly but brightly in the Munich firmament.
This Top Red Z1 was produced on 30 October 1990 and delivered to Autohaus Hug GmbH in Waldshut-Tiengen on 5 November. Just four days later, it was collected by its first owner, a master baker from the same town.
The Z1 would remain in his hands for almost 25 years. By 2015, it had covered 67,330 kilometres and, as the documentation confirms, had been regularly maintained. Only when its owner gave up his business for health reasons and moved abroad did he finally part with his BMW. The Z1 was entrusted to a car dealer and collector for sale, but was barely driven while there. The current consignor acquired it from him on 5 May 2015.
Since then, barely 600 kilometres have been added. The Z1 is accident-free and remains largely in its original as-delivered condition. The exception is its four wings, which the consignor had replaced as a precaution with new parts from BMW Classic in 2015. The invoice for €2,800.12 is present, as are the original wings. These had merely developed small cracks around their mounting points, were professionally repaired and, quite rightly, retained.
In 2016, the Z1 returned to BMW Classic, where it received an extensive inspection and overhaul costing €5,672.43. In addition to a complete service, attention was given to the Z1’s characteristic retractable doors, while the underbody and engine bay were cleaned and appropriately preserved.
That accounts for around €15 invested for every kilometre driven since 2015. Or, put another way, the Z1 has been maintained rather more than it has been driven. That reflects well on both the seller and the car. And the Z1 wears the evidence of those past years very well indeed.