1986 BMW Z1

 With the roadster coming under increasing criticism in the ’60s and ’70s in terms of both safety and comfort, it took 29 years before the next roadster bearing the white-and-blue logo entered the market. This was the BMW Z1 launched – ahead of its time in technical terms – in 1988.

The body of the Z1 was a steel monocoque made of pressed and welded metal
panels and with its plastic floor bonded into place. The entire outer skin was made up of plastic elements and panels likewise bolted on to the car, with the doors retracting on request into the high side-sills even while driving.

The 170-horsepower 2.5-litre straight-six power unit and most of the car’s axle
components came from the 3 Series. With the engine being fi tted behind the front axle, the BMW Z1 was a front mid-engined car, to use the technical term.

Acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h came in less than eight seconds and the car’s top speed was 225 km/h or 140 mph.

Through its extremely harmonious combination of materials and technologies, the BMW Z1, weighing just 1,250 kg or 2,756 lb, was a truly dynamic roadster still thrilling today in terms of stiffness, its low centre of gravity, and stability in bends. The first units of the car built largely by hand were delivered to customers as of January 1989, the base price of DM 80,000.– ensuring lasting exclusivity. Production of the BMW Z1 finally ended in June 1991, after a production run of exactly 8,000 units.

See full 1986 BMW Z1 Gallery here

In Detail

submitted by
Richard Owen

built at
Munich, Germany

engine
Inline-6

valvetrain
SOHC 2 Valves / Cyl

displacement
2494 cc / 152.2 in³

bore
84.0 mm / 3.31 in

stroke
75.0 mm / 2.95 in

compression
9.7:1

power
126.8 kw / 170.0 bhp @ 5800 rpm

specific output
68.16 bhp per litre

bhp/weight
131.78 bhp per tonne

torque
226.42 nm / 167.0 ft lbs @ 4000 rpm

driven wheels
Front Engine / RWD

front tires
205/55VR-15

rear tires
205/55VR-15

front brakes
Vented Discs w/ABS

front wheels
F 38.1 x 17.8 cm / 15.0 x 7.0 in

rear wheels
R 38.1 x 17.8 cm / 15.0 x 7.0 in

steering
Rack & Pinion

curb weight
1290 kg / 2844 lbs

wheelbase
2450 mm / 96.5 in

front track
1354 mm / 53.3 in

rear track
1471 mm / 57.9 in

length
3925 mm / 154.5 in

width
1690 mm / 66.5 in

height
1248 mm / 49.1 in

transmission
5-Speed Manual

gear ratios
3.83:1, 2.20:1, 1.40:1, 1.00:1, 0.84:1

final drive
3.64:1

top speed
~218.9 kph / 136.0 mph

0 – 60 mph
~7.9 seconds

0 – 100 mph
~23.3 seconds

0 – 1/4 mile
~15.9 seconds