Here’s What Made The BMW Z1 So Special

The late 1980s and early 1990s were years defined by cool gadgets, innovation and technological discoveries. Kids were playing Nintendo GameBoy and listening to music on their Sony Walkman, while adults were watching VHS videos and working on their Macintosh. As for the car industry, major players were constantly innovating and releasing better vehicles that looked cooler and performed better.

In that age of innovation, BMW dominated the European market thanks to vehicles like the BMW 850 CSi, BMW Alpina B9 3.5, BMW M6 and BMW Z1. Back then, BMW could do no wrong, and global sales showcased the pole position of the German company. But BMW cars were far more than fast, reliable, and high-performing vehicles. In fact, some of them had even an Avant-garde aesthetic that seemed ahead of its time.

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Take for example, the Z1, a roadster that was discovered too late by the Americans, but very appreciated in the European continent. This car has some features that were so experimental that even today, we would still consider them forward-looking. From the legendary dropped-down doors, to plastic body panels, here are some aspects that made the BMW Z1 so special.

Related: Story Of A Legendary Roadster: A Look Back At The BMW Z1

The BMW Z1’s Vertically Sliding Doors Were The Stuff Of Legends

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By far, the best and most iconic feature of the Z1 was the drop-down sliding doors. This made the Z1 look more like a concept car built for a niche audience or a movie prop than a “real” lightweight roadster you would expect to see on the highway.

“Its unusual appearance and clever doors stem from the fact it was simply acting as development mule for the E36 3- Series clever new Z-axle,” says Auto Express. Luckily, pictures of the prototype were leaked and consumers went crazy for the roadster. Otherwise, this iconic BMW wouldn’t have seen the light of day.

The BMW Z1 Features Removable Plastic Body Panels

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Wouldn’t it be nice, if once you got bored with your car, you could change its color at the snap of the fingers? I’m not talking about an expensive paint job that almost never comes out the way we want, but some futuristic standard feature that allows car owners to change the exterior color of their car by swapping the removable plastic body panels. The Z1 did exactly that!

Owners could swap the removable plastic body panels with other sets in different colors. This way, the Z1 could be revamped from time to time.

The BMW Z1 Also Feature The Composite Body

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The Z1’s composite body is similar to the one found in the BMW i8 sports coupe. Composite body is an excellent choice for automakers that want to achieve a great power to weight ratio.

Furthermore, composite body makes the cars lighter, faster and more fuel-efficient. Hence, the BMW Z1 weighed only 2,760 pounds despite its generous measurements. It is also worth noting that the composite offers an additional layer of protection against corrosion.

The BMW Z1 Is Quite A Fast Car

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The Z1 was not only a roadster that attracted onlookers with its design, but it was also a fast, high-performing vehicle that could reach the top speed of 137 miles per hour and accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.9 seconds.

The Z1 was equipped with the 2.5-liter inline six-cylinder SOHC engine, which generated 168 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 164 lb⋅ft of torque. Back in the days, this was pretty impressive. The 5-speed manual transmission was borrowed from the classic E30 325i.Related: Widely Misunderstood, Yet Extremely Iconic: A Look Back At The 1991 BMW Z1

Buyers Didn’t Shy Away From The BMW Z1’s Staggering Price

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In 1988, production started at merely six units per day, but European demand was so high that by 1991, a total of 8,000 units have already been manufactured. Interestingly enough, the staggering price of roughly $55,000, which was close to that of a standard Porsche 911 didn’t scare off potential buyers.

It is worth noting that BMW sold most of the Z1 vehicles in Germany. Also, BMW enthusiasts that are interested in acquiring the Z1 should know that even these days, this vehicle is not affordable, with prices ranging from $45,000 to $100,000. Currently, Classic Driver has six BMW Z1 for sale on their website, with the most affordable unit being a 1990 roadster retailed at $47,808.