BMW Z1

BMW Z1

Doors that vanish into the sills, body panels in engineering plastic and the spirit of a laboratory on wheels: the BMW Z1 is a roadster like no other. Driving with the doors lowered, elbow in the breeze, is a singular experience.

The 2.5-litre straight-six produces 170 PS and drives the rear wheels through a five-speed Getrag manual gearbox borrowed from the 325i. Side panels and doors are made of Xenoy thermoplastic. This 1991 example has covered 46,000 km.

It was the first concept from BMW Technik, a division set up in 1985 to develop new vehicles and technologies. Unveiled at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show, it was built until June 1991, in exactly 8,000 units.