BMW Z1 – 1 of 75 UK Cars (LHD)
There are cars that are admired, and then there are cars that are remembered. The BMW Z1 belongs firmly to the latter. Conceived by BMW’s experimental Technik division in the late 1980s, the Z1 was never meant to be ordinary. It was a laboratory on wheels: thermoplastic body panels you could remove in a weekend, a ground-breaking chassis developed from the E30 325i, and those unforgettable vertically sliding doors – an engineering flourish so bold that even today it feels closer to concept car theatre than production reality.
This 1991 example, finished in the unmistakable Top Red with its original grey nubuck and camouflage-patterned interior, is one of the finest surviving Z1s in the UK. With just 20,286 miles covered in 34 years, its preservation is remarkable. Of the approximately 75 cars delivered new to the UK, very few remain as pure, authentic, and beautifully maintained as this one.
The Z1 is more than just a conversation piece. Beneath its dramatic skin sits BMW’s 2.5-litre straight-six, producing 168bhp, paired with a precise five-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. It is a car that rewards spirited driving while still offering a relaxed, open-air experience unlike anything else – doors dropped, cabin open to the breeze, and a sense that you are part of something wonderfully unconventional.
The provenance of this car is exemplary. Its service record reads like a roll-call of the right names:
- Early years entrusted to BMW main dealers including Coombs of Guildford and Vines.
- Specialist care at Munich Legends in 2008.
- A careful hibernation under SORN from 2011 until 2022, preserving its originality.
- A comprehensive recommission at Classic Heroes in 2022, addressing everything from cambelt and water pump to brake calipers, hoses, tyres, lighting and stereo – a meticulous overhaul bringing the car back to its best.
- Most recently, in 2024, Heritage AutoWerks carried out servicing and detail work, ensuring the car is on the button and ready to enjoy.
The documentation is just as impressive: a thick history file with manuals, service stamps, invoices, and even letters from past custodians, reflecting the car’s cherished status throughout its life.
Condition is every bit as reassuring as the paperwork suggests. The Top Red paint retains its depth and lustre, with only the lightest evidence of road use in the form of a few stone chips. The interior, so often the weak point of Z1s, remains wonderfully fresh. The nubuck retains its texture, the camouflage seat centres show only minor stretching, and every detail feels preserved rather than replaced. Even the most recent MOT, in August 2025, recorded a clean first-time pass with no advisories – a fitting confirmation of the car’s health.
What makes this Z1 so captivating is the balance it strikes. It is not an over-restored showpiece, nor is it a tired survivor. Instead, it is the rarest thing of all: a low-mileage, authentically original car, sympathetically maintained, and fully ready for its next chapter.
For the discerning enthusiast or collector, this BMW Z1 offers more than just ownership of a rare model – it offers the chance to experience a moment in BMW history when imagination ran free. Few cars of the era carry such charisma, and fewer still are found in this condition. Whether you wish to admire it as part of a collection, present it at shows, or enjoy it on warm summer roads with the doors tucked away, this Z1 will reward you with theatre, engineering intrigue, and timeless style.
This is not just a Z1. It is, quite simply, one of the best.
Exterior: Top Red (option code 257)
Interior: Dark Grey Nubuck/Grey Camoflage Leather (option code 0300)
Carpets: Black
Specification with additional factory fitted options:
- Standard alloy wheels (option code 282)
- Spare wheel (option code 283)
- Blaupunkt Bremen DAB radio with interface
- GB specification (option code 812)
General information about the Z1 and filed paperwork available with the sale:
- Official UK supplied vehicle through Rydale BMW (originally registered to this dealer)
- One of 75 UK cars
- Believed to be one of only 39 cars, currently registered in UK (source: “How Many Left”)
- BMW certificate of authenicity
- Original build sheet
- Original stamped service book
- Original owner’s handbook including service book and BMW Service Card
- Previous sales invoices from 1993 (Cooper BMW, Bishopsgate), 2008 (Bramley) and 2022 (Classic Heroes)
- Previous service and repair invoices since 1994
- A selection of V5s showing all previous owners
- All previous original MOTs (21 in total)
- A selection of original tax discs
Service history:
- PDI/Pre-Delivery Inspection: Carried out at delivery miles on 04/01/1991 (Rydale BMW Oldbury);
- Running-in Inspection: Carried out at 1,320 miles on 30/11/1991 (Hughenden BMW);
- Oil Service: Carried out at 5,806 miles on 19/07/1993 (Cooper Bishopsgate, BMW);
- Inspection: Carried out at 8,801 miles on 04/04/1995 (Coombs of Guildford, BMW);
- Inspection II: Carried out at 10,079 miles on 22/03/1996 (Coombs of Guildford, BMW);
- Oil Service: Carried out at 11,811 miles on 08/05/1998 (Coombs of Guildford, BMW);
- Inspection I: Carried out 12,549 miles on 25/06/1999 (Coombs of Guildford, BMW);
- Oil Service: Carried out at 13,415 miles on 02/07/2001 (Vines of Guildford, BMW);
- Inspection II: Carried out at 13,917 miles on 23/07/2002 (Vines of Guildford, BMW);
- Oil Service: Carried out at 15,034 miles on 29/07/2003 (William Jacks Cobham, BMW);
- Inspection I: Carried out at 15,582 miles on 16/07/2004 (Car Care Centre, Guildford);
- Oil Service: Carried out at 16,251 miles on 14/07/2005 (Parrington Autos, German Car Specialists, Woking);
- Inspection I: Carried out at 17,684 miles on 16/10/2007 (Parrington Autos, German Car Specialists, Woking);
- Inspection II: Carried out at 18,066 miles on 29/05/2008 (Munich Legends BMW, East Sussex);
- Inspection: Carried out at 18,983 miles on 29/03/2022 (Classic Heroes BMW, East Sussex);
- Oil Service: Carried out at 19,797 miles on 21/11/2024 (Heritage AutoWerks).
MOT history:
- Date tested: 14/01/1994 @ 6,935 miles
- Date tested: 28/12/1994 @ 8,777 miles
- Date tested: 22/03/1996 @ 10,079 miles
- Date tested: 07/05/1997 @ 11,337 miles
- Date tested: 08/05/1998 @ 11,819 miles
- Date tested: 25/06/1999 @ 12,549 miles
- Date tested: 19/06/2000 @ 12,825 miles
- Date tested: 03/07/2001 @ 13,416 miles
- Date tested: 23/07/2022 @ 13,917 miles
- Date tested: 29/07/2003 @ 15,039 miles
- Date tested: 15/07/2004 @ 15,582 miles
- Date tested: 14/07/2005 @ 16,252 miles
- Date tested: 13/07/2006 @ 17,064 miles
- Date tested: 10/07/2007 @ 17,584 miles
- Date tested: 29/05/2008 @ 18,071 miles
- Date tested: 02/05/2009 @ 18,285 miles
- Date tested: 21/04/2011 @ 18,540 miles
- Date tested: 01/04/2022 @ 18,990 miles
- Date tested: 31/03/2023 @ 19,349 miles
- Date tested: 23/04/2024 @ 19,705 miles
- Date tested: 04/08/2025 @ 20,285 miles
£ 59,995
Registration Number: 1991/H
Mileage: 22,287
Body Type: Sports
Date of Registration: 04/01/1991
Model Year: 1991
Engine Size: 3.6L
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Fuel Type: Petrol
Owners: 5 + Original BMW Supplying Dealer
Exterior: Top Red
Interior: Dark Grey Camoflage Leather







































































































