Mystery BMW
Author
Discussion

durbster

Original Poster:

12,120 posts

252 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
I wonder if anyone can help me figure out what the hell I saw yesterday?

It was a 2 seater BMW, a similar size to a Z4 but looked like it was designed in the 70s or 80s (think original MR2 or Esprit). The nose was very Esprit like in fact, very straight and low at the bottom. Having said that, I think it would be front engined but I'm not sure on that.

The roof was down so I presume it was a convertible, and oddly it didn't appear to have doors. Instead, where the top line of the door would be, there was a section cut out so you could see the occupants arms.

It had a personalised plate which I think had 214 or something on it, but I've Googled that and come up empty.

Any ideas?

DHA

340 posts

247 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
Z1

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

234 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
Z1

Slightly nutty car where the doors vanish into the sills

sebhaque

6,535 posts

211 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
This is a Z1:


Or was it a Z8?

rottie102

4,033 posts

214 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
Z1

Slightly nutty car where the doors vanish into the sills
Z1 nutty?

Beat this! biggrin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHpV6G1QVgE&fea...

TomM

662 posts

225 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
Like this?


Wing Commander

2,220 posts

262 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
rottie102 said:
thinfourth2 said:
Z1

Slightly nutty car where the doors vanish into the sills
Z1 nutty?

Beat this! biggrin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHpV6G1QVgE&fea...
That is *amazing* !

Elroy Blue

8,842 posts

222 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
durbster said:
The roof was down so I presume it was a convertible,
You should be a detective! smile

sinizter

3,348 posts

216 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
Wing Commander said:
rottie102 said:
thinfourth2 said:
Z1

Slightly nutty car where the doors vanish into the sills
Z1 nutty?

Beat this! biggrin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHpV6G1QVgE&fea...
That is *amazing* !
Would it be safe in a side impact ?

Does look very cool.

Ferg

15,242 posts

287 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
PHer Paul Drawmer used to have a Z1 and he has a good info site.



Babu 01

2,352 posts

229 months

Sunday 23rd May 2010
quotequote all
durbster said:
It had a personalised plate which I think had 214 or something on it,
To be read as "Z1 4 initials"?

durbster

Original Poster:

12,120 posts

252 months

Monday 24th May 2010
quotequote all
TomM said:
Like this?
Exactly like that.

Thanks all. I've not seen one on the road before and it's quite an unusual looking machine. I presume it was designed more for the American market.

It was the weird door setup that made me think it might not be a production car.

Clearly the personalised number plate was wasted on me biggrin

Elroy Blue said:
durbster said:
The roof was down so I presume it was a convertible,
You should be a detective! smile
If it didn't have a roof then it wouldn't be convertible would it? wink

Beardy10

25,421 posts

205 months

Monday 24th May 2010
quotequote all
Always fancied one. They are supposed to have a very nice chassis but underpowered apparently, there are a few very rare Alpina variants around.

Superhoop

4,917 posts

223 months

Monday 24th May 2010
quotequote all
durbster said:
TomM said:
Like this?
Exactly like that.

Thanks all. I've not seen one on the road before and it's quite an unusual looking machine. I presume it was designed more for the American market.

It was the weird door setup that made me think it might not be a production car.

Clearly the personalised number plate was wasted on me biggrin

Elroy Blue said:
durbster said:
The roof was down so I presume it was a convertible,
You should be a detective! smile
If it didn't have a roof then it wouldn't be convertible would it? wink
Not quite right......

The Lotus 340R has no roof, but not really convertible, as there is no roof at all.. I think the Renault Sport Spider falls into the same bracket (But I stand to be corrected by the greater PH knowledge)

UncappedTag

2,102 posts

215 months

Monday 24th May 2010
quotequote all
Clarkson had one I believe.

Twincam16

27,647 posts

288 months

Monday 24th May 2010
quotequote all
UncappedTag said:
Clarkson had one I believe.
He shared an egg-yellow one with his wife. Awful, awful seat fabric though (it features on his Top 100 video).

durbster

Original Poster:

12,120 posts

252 months

Monday 24th May 2010
quotequote all
Superhoop said:
...If it didn't have a roof then it wouldn't be convertible would it? wink
Not quite right......

The Lotus 340R has no roof, but not really convertible, as there is no roof at all..
That's what I said biggrin