Description
By: Mick Walker .
In just a few years the BMW Z3 has earned itself the title of one of the world's most desirable cars. Its styling and performance, and the cachet of the all-important badge, have given it a large share of probably the most competitive two-seater sports-car market since the 1960s. The little Z3 has proved itself more than able to hold its head high alongside the Audi TT, MGF, Mercedes SLK, Mazda MX5 and many others.
All of this might seem a little unexpected, as BMW is not normally associated with small, open-top sports cars, but the Z3 was not the first BMW in this mould; nor will it be the last. The two- seater 319 and 328 are widely acknowledged to be two of the very best sports cars of the 1930s, and in the 1950s BMW produced the beautiful 507 that provided the inspiration for the Z8. In 1988 the German company made the first Z car, the almost forgotten limited-production Z1.
Mick Walker's complete history of the BMW Z series begins with the innovative Z1. He looks at its design, development and reception by a generation that seemed almost to have fallen out of love with the open sports car. The Z3 in all its forms takes up the major part of the book, and the genesis and American production of this smart roadster is examined in detail. Including discussion of the M Coupe, and other high-performance versions, this is a fine tribute to a very popular car.
This detailed book is completed with discussions of the beautiful Z8 and the controversial Z3 replacement, the Z4. Mick Walker also examines various Z concept cars and the possible future of the breed. Illustrated with many archive and specially taken photographs, and full of information about the cars, this is a book no BMW fan will want to be without.
