gezzard
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 613
Club RR Member Number: 69
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Apr 19, 2022 13:31:16 GMT
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Last Edit: Apr 19, 2022 13:31:56 GMT by gezzard
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Apr 19, 2022 13:31:34 GMT
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I've always had a suspicion in my head that these were originally intended to be a Triumph revival by BMW a la MINI. The timescales somewhat add up, BMW were on a real British kick around the time these were first made, and the design language of them is so different from other BMWs of the time but is right on the money for a modernised Spitfire/GT6.
I've had a soft spot for them for a while. Wouldn't mind a 2.5 with a suitably sized turbo hanging off the side (and the floppy chassis fixed).
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Apr 19, 2022 13:54:07 GMT
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Back when these first came out the factory "ladies man" bought himself a yellow convertible and promptly painted the wheels a shade of BMW light blue, it looked hideous.
It wasn't unknown for him to leave the roof down in the carpark, on more than one occasion the local skip hire company logos (magnetic)had been applied to the doors, He never did see the funny side of that.
Didn't like them when they first came out but they have grown on me. I do like the Triumph theory that was mentioned in a previous post, shame it never happened.
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Last Edit: Apr 19, 2022 13:55:12 GMT by disastra98
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madmog
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,155
Club RR Member Number: 46
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Apr 19, 2022 17:33:59 GMT
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Back when the latest James Bond car was a BMW Z3, the German equivalent of Candid Camera got hold of it (or a copy). Their victim, a TV presenter, was asked by BMW to drive the car across to Austria for a photo-shoot and told him not to touch anything 'because the car is armed'. Imagine how you would feel being trusted with a Bond car to take for a drive on a nice sunny day.
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,961
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Apr 19, 2022 19:38:39 GMT
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Back when I had an E36 328 touring company car I had a Z3 2.8 convertible for a day, what I remember is a lot of wind roar/resonance with the hood down and it didn't handle as well as the 328.
Did impress my daughter with the power hood when I picked her up from junior school though.
Did the Z3 have the E30 type rear suspension like the e36 compact?
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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Apr 19, 2022 19:46:11 GMT
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I've always had a suspicion in my head that these were originally intended to be a Triumph revival by BMW a la MINI. The timescales somewhat add up, BMW were on a real British kick around the time these were first made, and the design language of them is so different from other BMWs of the time but is right on the money for a modernised Spitfire/GT6. I recall a similar theory about the Z4 having been originally designed as an Austin Healey, around the time that BMW had been making noises about a new one and even going as far as releasing some concept images (until the Healey family pointed out who actually owned the Healey name...) but never heard that about the Z3. According to Wikipedia, the Z3's design was frozen in 1993, a year prior to BMW buying Rover Group, so I suspect that the Triumph theory is wishful thinking on the part of marque entushiasts or actually based on the Z4 / AH theory. As it is, the dormant marques that BMW made the loudest noises about reviving were Riley and AH, and a Riley concept was designed (possibly even as far as a 1:1 mockup), but never shown.
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Apr 19, 2022 20:01:12 GMT
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I've always had a suspicion in my head that these were originally intended to be a Triumph revival by BMW a la MINI. The timescales somewhat add up, BMW were on a real British kick around the time these were first made, and the design language of them is so different from other BMWs of the time but is right on the money for a modernised Spitfire/GT6. I've had a soft spot for them for a while. Wouldn't mind a 2.5 with a suitably sized turbo hanging off the side (and the floppy chassis fixed). There’s no Triumph link with the Z3, but BMW made noises about reviving the Triumph brand circa 2005 and some renders were made of a new Triumph TR as a Z4 based folding hard top roadster. Heavily influenced by the TR4A with retro styling, but nothing ever came of it. At the same time, there was talk of reviving the Riley brand, with slightly reworked MINI’s.
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Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern
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Apr 19, 2022 20:08:17 GMT
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ive always been abit soppy about z3 coupes, a classic shape straight out of the box imo, and still theres nothing that looks quite like it.
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Apr 19, 2022 20:38:27 GMT
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Like an uncool scimitar gte
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Apr 20, 2022 12:56:46 GMT
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Hum, fair enough on the timescales for the Z3 design. I wonder when the talks of the BMW takeover began in earnest, but potentially starting to clutch at straws. Would still like to get one and delete the kidney grilles at the front
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Apr 20, 2022 13:16:10 GMT
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ive always been abit soppy about z3 coupes, a classic shape straight out of the box imo, and still theres nothing that looks quite like it. That looks absolutely sexy
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I've been killing time trawling the net for inspiration. Steer clear of those particular Sparco's, they're about as comfortable as falling down the stairs.
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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I'm a bit too generous on the bum for those anyway. I think I'd like some recliner Recaro or Corbeau like these that I can try and floor mount to get as low as possible. I'm also wanting a smaller steering wheel. Maybe a black Prototipo or similar? If I had the cash I think I'd go with air ride but (as I'm a pauper) it'll be lowering springs like my wagon. Hopefully the Z3 is coming home on Thursday. Much as I love Cornwall, it's a real ballache getting things from up country. The train is six and a half hours.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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