BMW Z3 2.0 Roadster

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Launched in the UK in 1997, the BMW Z3 immediately won many fans for its retro good looks with more than a whiff of the WW2 fighter plane around its aggressive snout.

It soon became clear that its attributes were more than skin deep and it gained a fine reputation for reliability and ease of ownership thanks to the famous BMW build quality. Everything about these cars feels right, with tactile materials all around the cabin, firm yet supportive seats, light pedals and well-damped controls.

Allied with strong brakes, meaty steering and a naturally safe handling balance with traction control as standard, it made for a very secure driving experience and appealed more to the grown up motorist than the boy racer brigade. Initially only available with a 138bhp 1.9-litre four, this was soon ditched in favour of a smoother and more potent 148bhp 1.9-litre straight-six, good for 0-60 in 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 130mph.

Supplied new in September 1999 by Coopers of Reading, this immaculate six-cylinder Z3 has had just one lady owner and has covered only 11,000 miles in its 16-year life to date. It has four BMW main agent service stamps in the book, the last at 7,018 miles, and was also given a check-over by Rybrook Shrewsbury at 8,793 miles. A number of old MOTs also warrant the mileage.

A well specified car, equipment includes: silver metallic paint; black leather upholstery; 5-speed manual gearbox; electric hood operation; graduated tinted windscreen; BMW Business CD RDS radio; roll over protection; matt chrome interior and air conditioning.

It comes with all its original handbooks and tools, two sets of keys, the original purchase invoice for £26,810 back in 1999, and an MOT valid until August 2015. The icing on the cake is a nice V500 number plate. Spending most of its time tucked up in the garage while the lady owner and her husband worked abroad, it is probably as close to a new Z3 as you are likely to get.