Virtually New 1990 BMW Z1 to Hit the Auction Block

The BMW Z1 roadster was manufactured for less than three years, with only about 8,000 of them ever produced. The two-seater is rarely seen here in the states, as its unusual doors were never approved for driving here. Despite being 24 years-old, one of these cars has turned up for auction in brand new condition.

Silverstone Auctions is selling this Z1 with just 197km (~122 miles) on the odometer. The car has never been registered, so it’s just as if you just bought it from the dealership back in 1990.

Under its hood is a 168hp, 6-cylinder engine, connected to a 5-speed manual gearbox – both borrowed from the E3 325i. Also of note is the car’s unusual construction – a zinc-welded skeletal steel frame, wrapped with body panels made from a durable thermoplastic resin called XENOY. This construction technique resulted in a curb weight of just 2,756 pounds.

The car’s most distinctive feature is its unique half-height doors which retract into the body to allow driver and passenger to enter:

In fact, you can safely drive the car with the doors down for an experience that is described as driving a large go kart:

This BMW Z1 will be sold at auction this May 24, and is expected to fetch somewhere between £50,000 to £60,000 (~$84,000 to $101,000 USD)