The Z1 is one of the most fascinating cars to ever wear the BMW round shield. With removable body panels and vertical sliding doors, it’s anything but a typical Bimmer. It was the first car developed by the Skunkworks team at BMW Technik and one of the rarest, with only 8,000 examples ever made.
It was also the company’s first model with a multi-link rear suspension and had a near-ideal 49/51 front-to-rear weight distribution. However, this car is certainly more nose-heavy. The original in-line six-cylinder M20 from the 3 Series E30 325i has disappeared and has been replaced by a much larger centerpiece with four additional cylinders. Under the hood sits a V10 box engine with a custom carbon fiber cover designed in the style of the S85.
However, we are not entirely sure whether it is actually the 5.0-liter naturally aspirated engine from the M5 E60. We’re told it’s a “brand new” crate engine, but we’ll have to ask Munich if BMW Group Classic still sells the S85. While full details aren’t available yet, we do know that the V10 is mated to a six-speed manual transmission from an M6.
The E63/E64 did offer a three-pedal setup, but only in America, and only 701 factory cars were ever sold with a manual transmission. We also notice an Eventuri carbon fiber air intake in the crowded engine bay, as well as a quad exhaust system.
This fascinating Z1 wears a Dubai license plate and features a removable hardtop that BMW never offered. Around 500 Wiesmann hardtops were built at the time, but it’s unclear if this is one of them. And no, this is not the extremely rare ALPINA version. The almost mythical Roadster Limited Edition was limited to 66 units, and this wild build is not based on the RLE.
It has contemporary body stripes and ALPINA-style Maxilite wheels. The beautiful interior looks even more premium than that of the Z1 RLE. The telltale sign that this isn’t a real ALPINA is the steering wheel, which is missing its individually numbered hub cap. The Bang & Olufsen speakers protruding from the dashboard are a nice touch, but the car still doesn’t have air conditioning. During Z1 production from 1989 to 1991, all examples left the factory without the AC option.
We will do our best to learn more about this fascinating Z1. It appears to have only 6,665 kilometers (4,141 miles) on the clock and appears to be in perfect condition. Judging by the green environmental sticker in the lower corner of the windshield, it is apparently a German import.
If you know more about this V10 powered Z1, please contact us in the comments below.
