BMW Z1 And Its Funky Doors Are Looking For A New Home

A rare BMW Z1, one of the more unique Bimmers ever made, is up for auction. Yes, we've covered several other Z1s that were put up on the auction block before, but BMW collectors might not want to miss this, as only 8,000 examples were made.

Besides being relatively rare, the Z1 is a unique roadster because of its very unusual but definitely cool doors. One has to press a button to close the car's door from the outside. Closing or opening the door from the cockpit is done via a latch.

When a user interacts with those controls, the door slides down when opening and slides up to close. Interestingly, the door action is faster when sliding down to open. You can also lower the doors when driving, adding an extra layer of fun to the driving experience.

The ancestor of the modern-day BMW Z4 is also notable for its plastic body panels. This makes it easy to get rid of cosmetic damage. On top of that, it also makes the car quite light while not using fancy pants materials like carbon fiber. In fact, it only weighs 2,760 pounds. It is also one of the first cars ever to use a multi-link suspension.

The Z1 is powered by a 2.5-liter M20 straight-six, producing up to 168 horsepower and 164 lb-ft of torque. That doesn't sound like much, but it's more than adequate considering the car's weight.

Of note, the BMW Z1 will be auctioned on the Europe-based Car & Classic website from October 1 to October 8, 2023. It is estimated to garner a price between $61,000 -$73,000. The car is in good condition, with only 5,804 miles on its odometer.

Previously owned by the BMW Technik Division, one can say that its mechanicals are well taken care of. The vehicle was also kept in stock. However, it was disclosed that its body has some minor scuffs, but those could be easy to repair since it's made out of plastic.