The BMW Z1 was produced over a three year period from 1989. To begin with it is a strong vehicle full of experimental elements and a test car including removable resin body panels (later adopted by the E36) and multi-link suspension.

The biggest feature is the drop-down door design. It looks really interesting, neatly housed in the door sill. The engine is 325i, adopting the same series six-cylinder 2.5 SOHC with 170ps.

In Germany, it only comes with a simple heater and seems to not come equipped with air-conditioning, but on the odd occasionally some models will be found with air-conditioning fitted after as a custom extra. Although when release it initially caused quite a stir, that there was no air-conditioning and in fact also only an MT, it ended with about 8,000 production units.

Not a regular import to Japan, only the ALPINA version Z1 under the name ALPINA Roadster Limited Edition was regularly imported. Produced in small quantities of about 66 units the ALPINA version Z1 came with a 2.7 L engine powered up to 200ps and finished with a deco-line. I think quite a few were also retrofitted with air-conditioning.

However, when viewed from the side it looks strangely cool as the door is lowered, with the contrast between the gold deco-line and the black bodywork. Since there only 66 vehicles in the whole world, finding one takes time.

After all this door really makes the car.

Even though I can borrow images for the web, riding in one is better even in Japan. The car is both unique and beautiful.