When was the last time you saw an unregistered and essentially, brand-new BMW Z1 roadster with only 197 kilometers (122 miles) on the odometer? Exactly. And if you have the cash, you may be able to own this pristine example of Bavarian engineering from 1990 as it will go under the hammer by Silverstone Auctions in The Wing building at the Silverstone circuit in the UK on May 24, 2014.
According to the auctioneer, “this car was originally sold to a customer in Sweden back in 1990 and formed part of a private collection until it was imported into the UK in 2013”.
Designed in the mid-1980s and previewed through a concept model at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Z1 went into a limited production from 1989 to 1991, with some 8,000 units rolling off the assembly line.
While it shared many parts with the BMW 325i E30 including the front suspension, the 170PS (168hp) 2.5-liter inline-six connected to a 5sp manual gearbox, and numerous interior bits, the Z1 was largely an original creation featuring a body made entirely out of plastic with removable panels to change its color, and one of BMW‘s first multi-link rear suspension designs.
Besides the overall design that looks almost as fresh today as it did back in the late 1980s, the car’s Pièce de résistance were the awesome doors that dropped down into the sills at a touch of a button.
There’s no set price for the 1990 Z1, but Silverstone Auctions expects it to fetch somewhere between £50,000 – 60,000 [about US$84,000-US$101,000 / €61,000-€74,000).
By John Halas
PHOTO GALLERY
