BMW Z3 2.2 Sports Roadster

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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 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 side vents that wouldn’t look out of place on a Messerschmitt ME109. Initially powered by a 138bhp 1.9-litre 4-cylinder engine, this was quickly deemed somewhat underwhelming and larger engines were soon offered.

This September 2002 model benefits from all the upgrades that were added to the car before production was phased out later that year with the introduction of the Z4. These included rollover bars behind the seats, side airbags, Dynamic Brake Control for enhanced stopping power and revised tail styling.

It is fitted with BMW’s lively 24-valve straight-six 2.2-litre engine which produced a respectable 170bhp and 155lb/ft of torque, sufficient for a top speed of 139mph and a 0-60 dash of 7.9 seconds with up to 38mpg economy.

Looking most eye-catching in Canary Yellow with a black soft top, it has a black leather interior with heated electric seats. Other goodies include 17” BMW lattice alloys, a brushed aluminium dash, leather M Sport steering wheel and M Sport gear knob for the 5-speed manual box.

The car has covered just over 90,000 miles from new in the hands of five keepers with six service stamps to date. It is described as being “in excellent condition throughout, with no known faults”, has recently been fitted with a new battery and has an MOT until September 2015.