A rare 1991 BMW Z1 with about 44,000 kilometers on the odometer is being offered for sale without a reserve price through a dealer on a consignment basis. The car is located in California, while the title is issued in Montana, and the vehicle has not passed inspection by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair or completed a smog test.
The Z1 is one of the most unusual series-production BMWs of the 1990s. A total of 3,102 units were built, and this example is finished in Top Red. The car's first owner was a resident of Germany, who used it until 2011. That same year, the car was imported into the United States by Kurt Sposta, a BMW executive who was involved in the construction and launch of the company's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The current owner acquired the car in 2024.
According to the listing, the odometer shows about 44,000 kilometers, or roughly 28,000 miles, of which about 7,000 kilometers were added during the current owner's ownership. The seller notes noticeable wear: scuffs on the upper part of the dashboard, cracks in the plastic of the left front fender and left sill, and tears in the soft top behind the side windows. A 2026 invoice records an oil leak from the left sill, which the new owner will need to address.
In terms of mechanical work, in 2024 the timing belt, water pump, spark plugs, and hood gas strut were replaced, the rocker shaft plugs and oil filter housing were re-sealed, and the gearbox and differential were serviced. In July 2026, the engine oil was replaced and the clutch hydraulic fluid and brake fluid were bled. In November 2025, Bilstein shock absorbers were installed on all four corners. Toyo Proxes R1R tires in size 225/45 on 16-inch Style 11 wheels were fitted in 2024.
Under the hood is a 2.5-liter M20B25 inline-six engine producing 168 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque. The car is equipped with a five-speed manual Getrag gearbox and rear-wheel drive. The rear suspension is a multi-link design known as the "Z-axle," and all four wheels are fitted with disc brakes with ABS.
The car comes with a BMW certificate, service records, a car cover, and a first-aid kit. The Carfax history report is clean, and the Montana title carries no liens. However, the absence of a California inspection and smog test means additional checks will be required to register the car in California, and the buyer should factor these costs and timelines into planning the transaction.
A no-reserve sale means the car will go to the bidder offering the highest amount, regardless of any minimum price set in advance by the seller. For collectors, this format is often used to draw attention to a car brought to market outside the usual price range, but in this case the bidding details and the final price are not disclosed in the listing.