It was the year Mazda rolled out the MX-5 Miata. BMW only produced 8,000 examples between 1989 and 1991. And we have one in metallic green right here. This 1991 BMW Z1 comes with quite a story.

The Z1 was the product of the then newly-formed BMW Technik division, established in the 1980s to research cutting-edge technologies. As such, it was more like a concept than a production car.

True mileage, however, sadly isn’t known. Powered by a 2.5-liter M250B25 straight-six engine shared with the E30-generation BMW 325i, the Z1 had its timing belt and tensioner replaced in 2020.

Explore the BMW Just 4/2 concept, a unique roadster unveiled in 1995 that shared similarities with the Ariel Atom.

BMW’s first Z car, the largely unheard of Z1 roadster, has turned 25 and to mark the anniversary BMW, together with the official BMW Z1 Club, will be out and celebrating. The club has organized ...

Under the Z1's bonnet things are more conventional, with a 2.5 liter straight six cylinder and five speed manual transmission, both pulled directly from BMW's E30 325i.

Under the hood, the BMW Z1 has a 2.5-liter straight-six engine, which produces 170hp. The power is transferred to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.

BMW borrowed the M20B25 2.5-liter inline-six from the E30 lineup, namely the 325i, giving the Z1 plenty of power since it also happened to weigh a lot less than the larger, metal-skinned 3-Series.

The Z1 was powered by a 170-hp 2.5-liter I-6 engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission, which sent power to the rear wheels. It used the BMW 3 Series strut suspension upfront, but had a ...

BMW only offered one powertrain option during the three model years the Z1 was in production: a 2.5-liter straight-six. The mill was mated to the same five-speed manual, both of which came from ...

BMW sold 8,000 copies of the Z1, but none were legally sold in the United States. Those side doors and the plastic parts reportedly would never have passed U.S. side-impact safety standards.

They made 8,000 Z1's from 1989 to 1991. Because of the car's unconventional characteristics, most of the Z1 was built by hand. When it was first released, the Z1's sold for $53,000.