BMW Z3 1.9 Roadster

Launched in 1996 and staying in production until 2002, the Z3 was BMW’s first modern mass-market roadster and was designed very much with the American market in mind. 

Beautifully styled by Joji Nagashima in BMW’s Californian design studio, it had more than a whiff of the WW2 fighter plane about it, with an aggressively flared bonnet sporting chromed side vents that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a Messerschmitt ME109. Initially powered by a 138bhp 1.9-litre 4-cylinder engine, this could propel the little roadster to 60mph in just 9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 127mph.

This particular Z3 dates from October 1998 and comes in classic BMW silver with a lovely red Nappa leather interior. The current owner acquired the car about six months ago in lieu of a bad debt and has been using the car regularly. He reports that it drives beautifully with everything working as it should including the electrically powered soft top.

The circa 57,000 miles on the clock is believed to be genuine although there is unfortunately no service history to back this up. The vendor has recently changed the oil and filter and states that it has very good tyres all round plus a stainless steel rear sports exhaust section that gives it a very fruity sound. Supplied with an MOT until July 2013 with no advisories recorded, it is due to be driven some 70 miles to the sale and looks huge value at the modest guide price suggested today.

AMENDMENT: The electric hood on this car has just stopped working.