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1991 BMW Z1

When the BMW Z1 was shown in concept form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1987, it signaled the direction that future 'Z' cars would take. 'Z' in Z1 stands for 'Zukunft' or future in German, and its futuristic two-seater roadster shape was penned by Harm Lagaay. Production commenced in March 1989 and continued through June 1991. Inspired by its ancestorial predecessor, the 507, demand was initially so strong that 5,000 orders were placed even before production began. The Z1 featured doors that dropped down into the door sills. The chassis was specially designed for the Z1 and featured a number of innovative features such as removable body panels, continuously zinc welded seams, a composite under-tray, and unusual dropped doors.

1991 BMW Z1 photo
Roadster
Chassis #: WBABA91000AL06826
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Auction entries : 1
During its production lifespan, a total of 8,000 cars were produced, and all were left-hand drive. Most were sold in BMW's native German market (6,443 units). The 'Z' line that followed included the Z3, Z4, and Z8.

BMW Z1 Development
BMW established the BMW Technik GmbH division in 1985 to develop new technology and concepts. Ulrich Bez served as the director of BMW Technik GmbH and oversaw the development of the Z1. When Bez left BMW in October 1988, Klaus Faust was placed in charge. Harm Lagaay served as the lead designer.

BMW Z1 Body Design
The design of the BMW Z1 incorporated a flat undertray, a roll-hoop integrated into the windscreen surround, continuously zinc welded seams, and removable plastic body panels. BMW stated that the body could be completely replaced in 40 minutes, and the company suggested that owners acquire an additional set of body panels and change the color of the car from time to time.

1991 BMW Z1 photo
Roadster
The flat plastic undertray was used for ground effect aerodynamics. The aerodynamically shaped muffler and the rear bumper were designed to help reduce rear lift. The overall drag coefficient of the BMW Z1 was 0.36 Cd with the top up or 0.43 Cd with it down.

Among the most visually unique features were the doors that retracted vertically rather than the traditional designs which swing outward or upward. (The Kaiser Darrin of 1954 was the first car to use retractable doors.) The Z1's door design allowed for hill sills which offered crash protection independent of the doors.

Electric motors controlled the windows and doors of the Z1, driven through toothed rubber belts. In an emergency, the doors could be moved manually.

1991 BMW Z1 photo
Roadster
The doors and side panels were constructed of GE's Xenoy thermoplastic, and the boot, bonnet and roof cover are GRP components made by Seger + Hoffman AG. Even the paint and paint technique was advanced and unique; it was painted in a special flexible lacquer finish developed jointly by AKZO Coatings and BMW Technik GmbH.

Mechanical Specification
The BMW Z1 had a 96.3-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 154.4 inches, stood 48.3 inches tall, and was 67 inches wide. The suspension at the rear was dubbed the 'Z Axle,' was specially designed for the Z1, and was one of the first BMW to feature a multi-link design. At the front, the independent suspension was similar to the E30 325i and used MacPherson struts.

The Engine
The BMW Z1 was powered by a 2.5-liter (2,494cc / 152 cubic-inch) M20B25 inline-6 cylinder engine paired with a five-speed GETRAG 260 manual transmission. To accommodate the low hoodline, the single overhead camshaft engine was tilted 20 degrees to the right. It produced 168 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 164 lb-ft of torque.

Alpina also produced a version of the Z1 which they named the RLE (Roadster Limited Edition) and just 66 examples were made. Half of the production was sent to the Japanese market, while the other 33 remained in Europe. Alpina fitted the RLE with an upgraded 200 horsepower 2.7-liter engine, sports exhaust, new springs in the front, 17-inch rims/tires, and assorted (numbered) plaques (at the steering wheel, shift knob, and wheels), and the typical Alpina-Stripes. The Alpina version could race from zero-to-sixty mph in 7.1 seconds, an improvement from 8.4 seconds on the BMW production version. The top speed on the Alpina increased from 19 km/h (136 mph) to 228 km/h (142 mph).


by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2016

Related Reading : BMW Z1 History

Developed by BMW Technik GmbH, the BMW Z1 was introduced in July 1988 and was produced until June 1991. A total of only 8,000 units were produced and featured unique doors which opened by dropping down into the door sills rather than outward or upward. A large majority of these models were sold in the German market. Italy received the second-greatest number of Z1s. At the time of its production,....
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Back to the future - 25 years of the BMW Z1

It was a true quantum leap when BMW unveiled the Z1 to the international motoring press in the Italian town of Punta Ala back in autumn 1988, its direct predecessor was parked in the hotels inner courtyard – a BMW 507 from the late 1950s, the last time the BMW model range had included a two-seater sports car. The leap through time to the Z1 was in fact even greater than the intervening period of....
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1991 BMW Z1 Vehicle Profiles

1991 BMW Z1 vehicle information
Roadster

Designer: Harm Lagaay
Chassis #: WBABA91000AL06826

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Z1

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
96.00 in.
6 cyl., 171.00hp
6 cyl., 152.25 CID., 168.00hp
6 cyl., 152.19 CID., 171.00hp
96.34 in.
6 cyl., 152.25 CID., 168.00hp
96.34 in.
6 cyl., 152.19 CID., 168.00hp

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