Buy This Low-Mileage BMW Z1 And Prove That Normal Doors Are Overrated

If you're got a few quid in the bank and want to invest in a classic BMW, then sure, you could get an M car or some stylish 70s straight-six-powered rarity. But what if, instead, you went for the 1980s model that was made of plastic, had bizarre sliding doors and was cancelled because the Mazda MX-5 came along?

If that doesn't really sell it, then hear us out. The BMW Z1 was the first topless sports car out of Munich since the 507 was cancelled in 1960, and it was a proper oddity. Initially intended as a concept car, it was the first car from BMW's Technik division and, yes, the first BMW Z car. And it was very experimental, with aerodynamic thermoplastic body panels to keep the weight down and sliding doors that dropped into the massive door sills.

When the concept was unveiled in 1986, the reaction was so positive that BMW decided to put in into production the following year, and the firm was immediately deluged with some 35,000 pre-orders. The production Z1 was powered by a front-mid-mounted 2.5-litre M230 straight-six petrol engine with a five-speed manual gearbox and produced 168bhp. It was also one of the first BMWs to boast multi-link rear suspension 

The Z1 had garnered excellent reviews from the critics; legendary motoring journalist LJK Setright, who famously hated most cars, said it had "marvellos balance in everything from chassis dynamics to control-matching" that "proved it the work of masters".

But building a plastic car with wacky doors takes time,  and needs to be done by hand. This meant production was slow, and there was a second problem – Mazda had just introduced the mk1 MX-5, which was a massive hit among fans of affordable sports cars, and could be produced far more quickly. In the end, the business case for the Z1 just didn't stack up, and in 1991 was canned after just 8,000 were made.

The unusual design and history of the Z1, plus its relative rarity, have made it a favourite among BMW collectors, so this late example, up for auction at Car & Classic, is likely to get plenty of attention. With just 9,342km (5,804 miles) on the clock, the 1991 car, in Traumschwartz black metallic paint with stylish camouflage interior, was owned from new by a BMW dealership in La Spezia, Italy. It was only sold in 2021 and is now being moved on again.

If you value originality, then you're in luck – just about everything is original, incluyding the Pirelli tyres (which, to be honest, we'd want to change if we drove it). You might want to consider a bit of bodywork tidying too, as there are some cracks on the plastic and a few scuffs to sort, but nothing major. The folding fabric roof works and all the original Italian paperwork is present and correct.

Tempted? This kind of rarity doesn't come cheap, with the eventual sale price expected to be between £50,000 and £60,000. But compared to some of the less visually arresting M cars, that suddenly seems like a bit of a bargain.