A heat welcome to a different instalment of our ‘Automobile within the Highlight’ sequence. We’re thrilled to have Rob Norton share his ardour for a really distinctive car – the BMW Z1.
We’ve beforehand delved into the world of BMW with our Highlight article on Richard Stern’s BMW 2002 Tii. We’re shifting gears at this time to highlight a BMW that’s as quirky as it’s charming. Rob Norton offers us the within scoop on what it’s prefer to personal and drive this distinctive machine.
So, what sparked Rob’s love affair with the BMW Z1? What makes this automotive stand out from the gang? And, maybe most significantly for these contemplating one, what’s the fact of working such an iconic car? Let’s take a look on the BMW Z1’s historical past, earlier than Rob tells us concerning the attract of the automotive.
A Historical past of the BMW Z1
BMW unveiled the 154.4 inch Z1 to the worldwide group in 1988 within the Italian city of Punta Ala. The BMW mannequin vary final included a two-seater sports activities automotive with the BMW 507 within the late Nineteen Fifties.
The BMW Board envisioned a cutting-edge firm, unbiased from different departments. A gifted crew of extremely expert engineers, technicians, and designers had the liberty to deliver their finest concepts to life. Their identify was BMW Technik GmbH, internally often called ZT.
This crew revolutionised automotive manufacturing with new supplies, constructions, and quicker growth, birthing the Z1. The BMW Board of Administration authorized manufacturing, and a yr later, the primary drivable prototype was full.
On 1 August 1986, BMW went public and introduced: “BMW Technik AG has completed its first product. The BMW Z1, a vehicle study built upon BMW traditions and future mobility needs. At the same time it factors in future mobility requirements.”
BMW’s press launch emphasised the Z1’s purpose: to ship “freedom on four wheels” and pure driving pleasure. The main focus was on driving thrills, not simply consolation, not like many Eighties sports activities automobiles. “Young”, “dynamic” and “brash” must be the phrases that finest described the Z1, together with “a new dimension in driving”.
Z1’s Slicing-Edge Options
The Z1 adopted and fused trademark BMW roadster attributes with cutting-edge know-how. Substances included superior efficiency, the flexibility to drive with the roof down, a way of sheer originality, and a splash of extravagance. The Z1 had all the correct credentials: low weight and low centre of gravity, entrance mid-engine and compact dimensions. The spotlight although was no doubt its pioneering know-how. This included a novel vertical sliding door idea and the supporting sheet-metal construction with a plastic outer pores and skin.
The Z1’s uncommon design necessitated hand-building. This was on account of its uncommon design traits and the supplies used. This, in flip, meant a small manufacturing run and a excessive price ticket.
BMW made an announcement in 1987, two years after finalizing the Z1 idea. “The time for speculation is over, the guessing game has come to an end: BMW AG will be presenting the Z1 Roadster at the Frankfurt Motor Show.”
Dashing up the event course of had been a pilot activity for this challenge. Simply three years later, in June 1988, the 170hp Z1 entered restricted manufacturing. “Once the custom-built production process is up and running at full capacity, up to six car enthusiasts a day will be able to start enjoying undiluted driving pleasure instead of just dreaming about it.”
When the BMW Z1 Stole the Present
The then Director of BMW Technik GmbH, Ulrich Bez, gave an emphatic demonstration of the advantages of the plastic panelling. He jumped with each ft onto a car wing mendacity on the ground, which promptly buckled – then sprang again to its unique form when he stepped off it once more.
At BMW’s historic 1987 Frankfurt Motor Present, the avant-garde Z1, was the primary BMW roadster for round 30 years. A wall of water offered a shocking backdrop for the automotive. Amidst the joy, {a magazine} supplied to purchase the show Z1 for DM 150,000 in money (£55,000). BMW firmly rejected the provide, because the Z1 was one in every of solely ten check automobiles wanted for homologation.
It was autumn 1988 earlier than the Z1 went into manufacturing, with an asking worth of DM 80,000 (£30,000).
The potential clientele might search solace within the first gross sales brochure entitled “For sheer driving passion: the BMW Z1 High-Tech Roadster”. In October 1988, Dr Wolfgang Reitzle, Member of the Board of Administration liable for Analysis and Growth at BMW AG, noticed the roadster as way over simply one other new mannequin. Extra importantly, it bore out the success of the progressive growth construction deployed at BMW. “Because of the newly created interdepartmental work processes which were carried out with our Analysis and Expertise Centre” Wolfgang said, “in association with Motorsport GmbH and Technik GmbH, “BMW now has unique and highly efficient instruments at its disposal for the development of new cars. The Z1 represents the first project where BMW has ventured beyond a pure vehicle project to test out and successfully employ revolutionary new approaches in this broader form.”
How was the BMW Z1 Constructed?
The car’s backbone was a self-supporting monocoque, constructed from welded sheet-steel parts and then hot-dip galvanised. This ensured seamless corrosion protection for the monocoque and made it substantially more rigid. The zinc coating provided connection and support, especially at the seams and overlaps. The effect was an increase in the monocoque’s torsional resistance of around 25 per cent.
The vehicle floor was bonded to the frame and bolted to the Z1 bodyshell and uniquely, made of plastic. In collaboration with specialists from MBB (Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm), the Z1 engineers developed a material which combined low weight with high load-bearing capacity. It was immune to corrosion, safe in a collision, and produced smooth underbody contours. The solution was a combination of fibre-composite materials sandwiched together. The resulting structure of two layers of glass fibre-reinforced epoxy resin with polyurethane foam in between produced a floor assembly with a weight of just 15 kilograms.
This construction had the added advantage that the floor unit could be preassembled separately before being completely bonded with the vehicle frame, as well as bolted to the steel structure at certain points. Special bracing incorporated into the sandwich structure enabled high forces to be applied in the vicinity of chassis mounting points and seat mountings, for instance. Indeed, the floor assembly increased the monocoque’s static torsional resistance by a further ten per cent when installed.
The Safety Features of the BMW Z1
With the additional help of the high, oversized side sills and the engine mounts, this structure stood out for its exceptional strength and outstanding accident safety. A transverse tube in the dashboard area combined with the tube used to reinforce the windscreen frame ensured a highly effective protection in the event of a side-on collision. As the tube inserted into the windscreen frame formed a direct connection between the two A-pillars, it also doubled as roll-over protection.
The BMW Z1’s Outer Shell
Although roadworthy, the monocoque was draped in plastic, the Z1 being the first model ever to feature a plastic exterior whose vertical parts were all made of injection-moulded thermoplastics. Resilient and immune to damage, the panels were bolted into place. In theory, it is possible to swap all the panels in a matter of hours to any other colour.
Different types of plastic were used for the panelling parts depending on their task. The front wings, rear quarters, doors and side sills were made from a high-tech thermoplastic that was renowned for its high impact strength, almost completely eliminating the risk of bumps and dents resulting from minor knocks. The front and rear bumpers were made from a highly elastic plastic, designed to fully regain its former shape following impacts at up to 4 km/h (2.5 mph).
The bonnet, boot lid, and soft-top compartment cover were made from special fibre composites. During the production of these plastic components, different glass fabrics (depending on the demands that would be placed on the component), foam core sections as well as the necessary fastenings, such as bolts and braces, were placed into the mould in a dry state. Once the mould had been closed, epoxy resin was injected into it and compressed while being subjected to carefully controlled temperature sequences. Components manufactured in this way combined excellent surface quality and high strength with precisely defined energy absorption in the event of an accident. Despite these advantages, the BMW engineers acknowledged that “it would appear impossible in the foreseeable future to use a larger amount of plastic for making the exterior of mass-produced vehicles”.
The 4 Colours of the Varioflex Paint System
A special paintwork system with three different degrees of hardness. The four possible paint finishes for the Z1 were ‘Nature Green Metallic’, ‘Dream Black Metallic’, ‘Fun Yellow’ and ‘Top Red’. These colours were more than highly descriptive names, their chemical composition was different too. Development work carried out in collaboration with the suppliers had led to the creation of the Varioflex paintwork system. These catered to all the requirements when applying the paint to different plastic materials.
The conventional painting techniques for metal at that time hardly placed any special requirements on the paint in terms of its flexibility. Advantageously, it was relatively easy to obtain a high surface gloss and keep the colour consistent. Due to the differing requirements depending on the specific component involved, the various plastic materials used on the Z1 called for a paintwork system offering three different levels of flexibility. High flexibility for the bumper and side sills, with medium flexibility for the doors and wings.
A hard coating of paint applied to the Bonnet, Boot lid and Soft-Top cover, as applied to a Metal body. Technicians applied the same base coat to all components, providing the car’s actual colour. They then painted the parts with different clear coats based on the required elasticity.
The Z1’s Innovative Sliding Doors
These retracted electrically into the side sills, allowing both driver and passenger to cruise along with the door open. Advanced side protection and high sills made this design legal and safe back then, a feature that remains unique to this day. Two electric motors and a toothed belt drive the mechanism for the doors and side windows. A freewheel function in the motors allowed for manual operation of the doors and windows if needed.
Engineers integrated all electrical and mechanical components into the car’s body to avoid adding weight to the doors. A double mechanical lock design restricted excessive door movement and prevented noise whilst driving. The windows operate independently or automatically return to their original position when the door closes, thanks to a memory function.
Styling and Aerodynamics
The Z1 marked a departure from the long, elongated shape of classic roadsters. Instead, it featured short overhangs, as well as a compact overall length relative to its wheelbase. The joints along the side panels were quite different from the conventional designs at that time.
The new door concept produced a wide, joint-free side sill with an elevated entrance height. This allowed the upper edge of the bumpers and side sills to form a continuous line. The designers tapered the Z1 around the doors, giving the wings a broad, flared look reminiscent of the M3. The BMW kidney grille, fully integrated into the front bumper, sported a smaller, more compact look.
The flat front end of the Z1, the smooth transitions on its bonnet and the windscreen raked at an angle of 62° provided all the right ingredients for a smooth flow of air along the top of the car. The vehicle’s perfectly smooth underbody formed a virtually continuous surface extending from the front end through to the rear axle. The vehicle’s underside rose slightly towards the rear, forming a diffuser that directed airflow at the wing-shaped rear silencer to reduce lift.
Let’s Take a Look Inside
The new BMW roadster’s interior appointments were highly functional. They trimmed the seats and door panels in a combination of new, high-class materials and fine leather. The low-slung seating position, bulky transmission tunnel and wide sills called for a new technical concept for the Z1 seats. The roadster featured bucket-shaped all-foam seats for enhanced lateral support. This afforded the high levels of support needed to be able to put the sports car’s outstanding cornering abilities to the test.
Plastic shells painted to match the car’s colour enveloped the seat backrest, which had the headrest integrated into its outline. The driver’s seat was height-adjustable. The passenger seat tilted forward, improving access to the through-loading area and the hidden, lockable glovebox.
A Masterclass in Suspension Engineering
Low centre of gravity, broad stance, the powertrain and chassis of the Z1 were largely E30 components. The classic BMW straight-six engine, mounted in a front-mid position, powered the car with 170 hp from its 2.5-litre displacement. A central aluminium tube ran from the five-speed manual gearbox to the rear differential to produce a torsionally and flexurally rigid link between the two.
The front axle, borrowed from the 3 Series, used a single-joint spring-strut design. The rear, however, featured a brand-new construction A multi-link axle comprising two transverse control arms and one longitudinal control arm. The Germans dubbed this new rear axle the “Z-axle,” quick for “centrally guided, spherical double-wishbone axle.”
The kinematic association of the three management arms ensured glorious directional stability in addition to efficient anti-squat and anti-dive management. This configuration endowed the Z1 with go-kart-like dealing with traits, with the axle load cut up within the ratio 49:51. The car’s centre of gravity situated some ten centimetres decrease than on comparable fashions.
On the Highway in a Motorcycle with 4 Wheels
In the course of the launch, the assembled automotive testers famous that the poorer roads had been no bother for the chassis or provoke any tangible physique torsion. The Z1 had a prime pace of 140 mph with a 0 – 60 below eight seconds. One tester reported, “it is not the performance that makes the car so appealing, it is the way it drives. Nimble like a go-kart, instantaneous throttle response, goes round bends as if it’s on rails. It fits the driver like a glove, making it so much fun to drive. The open-air driving experience, akin to riding a motorcycle, further intensifies the raw motoring sensation.
Marketing the Majestic Motor
The roadster’s advertising campaign featured the first fully computer-animated product film from BMW. It featured a real-life couple in an actual Z1 gliding through a virtual world for five and a half minutes, wearing the original soft white leather balaclavas that BMW had specially made for the Z1. In 1990 BMW Motorsport GmbH offered the first “Z1 adventure tour” to the south of France. The expertise was all-inclusive, designed to be loved with like-minded fanatics within the utmost luxurious. Three days within the south of France, a flight in a helicopter, powering across the Paul Ricard grand prix circuit close to Marseilles with an opportunity for contributors to hone their driving abilities, staying in sensible sport accommodations.
The entire worth of DM 3,500 (£1,300) even included the Z1 that was offered for the occasion. A number of months later, in spring 1991, the artist A.R. Penck adorned a High Purple Z1 with black graffiti. This added a brand new member to the legendary sequence of Artwork Automobiles. Nonetheless, one other brilliant crimson Z1 was by no means meant to see the open highway. A roadster boasting a large, sporty chassis and an uprated engine below the bonnet. The Z1 M was a prototype mannequin from Motorsport GmbH sporting muscular wheel arches, a low-slung entrance finish and twin headlights. Two air scoops arched behind the top restraints, and sitting atop both aspect of the deep rear apron had been two pairs of round tail lamps. They remodeled the swish roadster into a strong racer.
The BMW Z1’s Manufacturing Run
Hurt Lagaay designed the Z1, and BMW produced simply 8,012 between March 1989 and June 1991. Alpina formally launched 66 of those because the RLE Roadster Restricted Version. They launched the primary 4 colors between 1989 and 1990, including 2 extra in 1991.
133 – FunGelb (Yellow)
2301 – Traumschwarz (Dream Black)
3105 – Toprot (High Purple)
2040 – Urgren Metalic (Metallic Inexperienced)
193 – Pur-Blau (Pure Blue)
228 – Magic Violet Metalic (Purple)
Experiences point out that BMW produced two automobiles in GRAU, DEUNKEL GRAU (Grey): AL03043 and AL07393, the latter an RLE in Japan.
How A lot Did the Z1 Value?
When the primary manufacturing fashions rolled off the meeting line in early 1989, the Z1’s worth climbed to DM 83,000 (£30,000) with 4,000 orders positioned. Gross sales contracts even appeared in newspapers for a premium of DM 20,000 (£7,350).
2014, costs have remained largely unchanged for various years, promoting between £17k – £24k.
An Proprietor’s Viewpoint
The brand new BMW roadster’s inside appointments had been extremely practical. Craftsmen trimmed the seats and door panels in a mixture of latest, high-class supplies and nice leather-based. The low-slung seating place, cumbersome transmission tunnel and broad sills referred to as for a brand new technical idea for the Z1 seats. The roadster’s bucket-shaped all-foam seats offered the excessive ranges of lateral assist wanted to totally expertise its excellent cornering talents.
Plastic shells painted to match the automotive’s color enveloped the seat backrest, which had the headrest built-in into its define. The driving force might alter the seat peak, and the passenger seat tilted ahead for higher entry to the through-loading facility and the hidden, lockable glovebox.
How They CompareEngine BMW Z1 and Hartage Z1Capacity (cc): 2494 / 2693
Max bhp: 170 / 205
Max Ib ft: 164 / 189
General mpg: 24.0 / 23.0PerformanceMax pace (mph): 136 / 139
0-60mph (secs): 7.9 / 7.0
0-100mph: 23.3 / 18.9
Standing ¼-mile: 15.9 / 15.4Third Gear20-40: 6.1 / 5.1
40-60: 5.7 / 4.8
60-80: 5.9 / 4.7Fourth Gear30-50: 8.8 / 7.3
50-70: 9.4 / 7.8
70-90: 9.6 / 7.2Fifth Gear50-70: 13.2 / 10.2
70-90: —— 13.2Price
£36,925
To conclude
We thank Rob for his perception into his possession of his BMW Z1, a uncommon automotive, a basic automotive. A really cool automotive.
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The put up Automobile within the Highlight: BMW Z1 appeared first on My Automobile Heaven.
