Bmw Z1 1989–1991

[Matt]

Bmw Z1 #1

[Matt]

Bmw Z1 #2

[dimlight]

Looks like the fiat barchetta ...

[-KJ-]

Looks interesting, any info on it?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by -KJ-

Looks interesting, any info on it?

http://www.bmwz1.co.uk/z1home.htm

[henk4]

The car was actually designed by Dutchman Harm Lagaay, who later became head of the Porsche design department. Interesting to see that it never got a type approval in the USA, which may have contributed to its early demise after far less than 10000 were produced. They command high prices now in the second hand market.

[drakkie]

I saw one, a couple of years ago in switserland.

BTW: are these press pics ?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by drakkie

I saw one, a couple of years ago in switserland.

BTW: are these press pics ?

Yes. Most of mine are.

[quackman]

any pics of this car with the funky doors open?

[Matt]

Yeah, I'm kind of surprised none of the media pics have the doors open - it was one of the most unique things about the car.

[lfb666]

Bmw Z1 #3

[McReis]

Originally Posted by henk4

The car was actually designed by Dutchman Harm Lagaay, who later became head of the Porsche design department. Interesting to see that it never got a type approval in the USA, which may have contributed to its early demise after far less than 10000 were produced. They command high prices now in the second hand market.

In fact I guess the USA market deny never had anything to do with it's early demise. The Z1 was a just a concept car constructed for testing the multilink suspension that appeared later in the E36 series 3 version, and was never intented to have a go on market. However, it's lightweight construction, and therefore great agility, combined with the Z-link and 325i 170bhp engine and those looks made it such a desirable machine that the market has made some pression on BMW to launch it.

It was a very high priced machine at 55.000€, and therefore only a short number of cars were put into market to satisfy those BMW clients who wished for something special and limited.


I think I'm not writting any mistake. But if someone has more accurate answers, please share them with us.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by McReis

In fact I guess the USA market deny never had anything to do with it's early demise. The Z1 was a just a concept car constructed for testing the multilink suspension that appeared later in the E36 series 3 version, and was never intented to have a go on market. However, it's lightweight construction, and therefore great agility, combined with the Z-link and 325i 170bhp engine and those looks made it such a desirable machine that the market has made some pression on BMW to launch it.

It was a very high priced machine at 55.000€, and therefore only a short number of cars were put into market to satisfy those BMW clients who wished for something special and limited.


I think I'm not writting any mistake. But if someone has more accurate answers, please share them with us.

I think that is the official part of the story. I can't believe that if they would have been able to sell more they also would have stopped production. However, with such cars it's always the first batch that meets with great demand but maintaining sales over a longer period of time is problematic.

[Spastik_Roach]

Do the doors slide into the panels behind them? If so, thats smooooooooth.

EDIT: I see they drop down. Still cool.

[Wouter Melissen]

No they slide down.