| The Z3 Toychest |
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| One sure indicator of how appealing a car is can be measured by the range of models and toys based on it. Since the introduction of the BMW Z3 to the US Market in 1996, the variety of replicas large and small being offered continues to expand. These replicas come in the form of infant toys, die-cast toys, die-cast collectibles, radio control models, and computer games. This article will try hard not to list every product on the market, but ones that are obtainable with some reasonable measure of exertion (unless otherwise indicated) will certainly be covered. |
 If the tiny tyke in your life isn't allowed to sit in your passenger seat, there's no reason he or she can't get a taste of the good life with their own BMW roadster. When the cuddly crawlers outgrow the BMW Baby Racer (part #80 93 9 422 370), they can upgrade to the Z3 Pedal Car (part #80 93 9 430 502). |
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| Both might still be available through the dealer's parts department or through online vendors like BMW Online, CircleBMW or The BMW Store |
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| Hard-to-find is the Z3 Battery-Operated Puzzle Play Set. This unlicensed kit contains a caricature Z3, streetsigns, streetcones, and eight plates that interlock in a variety of configurations to create an endless variation of street courses. Grooves molded into every plate serve as guides for the battery-operated Z3 to travel on. Since there isn't any mention of a manufacturer name on the box, it strongly hints that this is one of the countless foreign-made toys that doesn't have a U.S. distributor because of the small parts which raises the risk of a choking hazzard. Occasionally this play set is found through gray market sources posting on eBay. |
 In 1997, Matchbox released it's Inaugural Z3 roadster. Unlike the common blister packaging many of us remember from our youth, this first model was offered in a fancier collector's packaging and actually contained two roadsters; one looks as if it was plucked from the Matchbox factory before it fully ripened. It's bodywork is bare metal with a layer of clearcoat. The second roadster in the package exhibits a significant amount of detail uncommon for a Matchbox. The Montreal Blue Z3 features real rubber tires (albeit shod with non-OEM GoodYears), plastic tan interior with painted black seats, painted license plate, painted headlights and even roundels. According to the packaging only 20,000 were made. |
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| Not long afterwards, Matchbox's regular production began and toystore shelves were stocked with Z3s of varying colors and decals. These blister-packed toys had plastic tires and a quick paintjob shown by the lack of the handpainted details seen in the collector's edition. Blister-packaged Z3s from other toymakers also began appearing. |
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| Moving up the collectibility chart are models any enthusiast would be proud to display. Sources for these items are occasionally obscure making them more rewarding to find and obtain. |
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| Straight from BMW's own miniatures collection is the 1:87th scale plastic Z3 model (part #80 41 9 411 716) made by Herpa of Germany. The level of detail for a model this small is astounding; headlamps behind clear shields, chromed kidney grilles, painted roundels the size of a pinhead and actual rubber tires on detailed wheels are just some of the features. Model train buffs will recognize 1:87th as as the equivalent of HO scale. The Herpa Z3s would be perfectly realistic in any model train landscape. |
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| On a recent trip to Hong Kong, this 1:64th scale die-cast Z3 in GoldenEye motif was unearthed from a collector's shop. The rarity of this scale for a Z3 roadster should be notable enough, but the exquisite level of detail and accuracy demands respect for AUTOart. Not only are the head and taillamps painted, the hood roundel and rear decklid "Z3" must have required a microscope to work on. This is one of the few models that properly depict the original cleft-star wheels — they contain just the right amount of shine to convey the sense of alloy. The Atlanta Blue glistens showing it to be a bonafide metallic paint. The detail even extends underneath where viewers aren't likely to observe the molded spare tire basket. |
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| A hobby shop counter revealed this 1:56th scale Atlanta Blue Z3 that initially looked very similar to AutoArt's 1:64th model. Closer inspection reveals that this MotorMax version falls just a bit shy in it's detail intricacy and accuracy. This model is still considerably better than its similarly-sized Matchbox and Hotwheels offering. |
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| Another model carried by BMW is a 1:43rd scale die-cast (part #80 42 9 411 715) made by Minichamps. At this scale, Minichamps puts out one of the most detailed die-casts around. You would be hard-pressed to point out an intricate detail they've missed. Note that this model is one of the few rendered with the raised rear haunches and revised taillamps of the later Z3 models. |
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| Schuco also competes in the 1:43rd scale die-cast arena. Details aren't quite as crisp as those from Minichamps, but the Schuco model does feature an opening hood. |
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| Corgi of Great Britain has held the official license for issuing James Bond collectibles. The GoldenEye Z3 is #17 in their 20-model 007 collection. Chromed wheels and kidney grilles on this 1:37th scale model make up for the glaring lack of side mirrors. While other "James Bond Z3s" merely mimic the Atlanta Blue color scheme, Corgi's GoldenEye Z3 features pop-out stinger missles behind the headlamps. When the headrests are pushed down, the headlamp shields lower accordingly revealing the arsenal. |
 American model manufacturer Testors has been spotted releasing die-cast model kits (yes, the build-it-yourself kind) of the M roadster. Two scales available are 1:43rd and 1:24th. The metal body comes prepainted in Yellow or Silver. Once assembled, the hood and doors of the 1:24th scale version swing open. These kits are supposedly made for Testors by Bburago of Italy. |
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| Another 1:24th scale contendor, again from MotorMax offers a die-cast Z3 that might be found at some franchise drugstores like Walgreens or Osco. It features a hood and doors that swing open. The steering wheel will turn the tires. The engine bay reveals a 1.9L engine. |
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| During the Winter of 2000, there was a frenzied hunt by the Message Board masses at Radio Shacks for the MightyMo M Roadster from ToyMax. This plastic toy featured a decent level of detail, but it's charm was it included a 4 button infrared wireless remote that would activate the alarm, start the engine, activate the horn, and make the car move forward. If the alarm was activated, picking up the car would make it start wailing. Radio Shack has since sold out with no indication they'll carry it again. |
 Tamiya is one of the best plastic model companies in the world. The detail in this 1:24th scale plastic model kit (item #24166) continues to prove it. The kit allows building the model with the top up or down. Undercarriage is well-defined from the semi-trailing arms in the rear to the strut and brake assembly in the front. Too bad the kit was modeled with generic steel wheels that were standard-issue with 1.9L Z3s delivered in Europe (instead of some pretty alloys). To their credit, the real rubber tires contain raised lettering that reads "Pirelli". |
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| At the largest end of the die-cast scale are two entries from UT Models and Bburago. The UT 1:18th Atlanta Blue Z3 was initially available only through BMW Dealerships under the GoldenEye packaging. They are now more commonly available in silver (part #80 43 9 411 712) and red. The manufacturing detail is a bit sloppy but mostly there. The Bburago M roadster shows more precision and craftsmanship. It has a leg up on the UT model by featuring a swing-open trunk in addition to the hood and doors. Both models feature a steering wheel that turns the front tires. |
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| Not satisfied with watching a display model collect dust? Tamiya once again steps up to the plate and offers their 1:10th scale Radio Controlled M roadster. Read all about it here! |
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| Let's not forget you slot-car enthusiasts out there. A company in Spain named Cartrix offers a 1:32nd scale Z3. It's available in red, white, blue and silver with its top down or top up in some cases. There's also a special all-chrome version. It's been decades since I've seen a 1:32nd scale slot-car track, but whether you're an afficionado or not these cars would make an interesting addition to a display collection. A few of these occasionally gets listed on eBay. |
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| Z3 fascination has extended into cyberspace through a computer game from BMW called CyberRace. (part #99 00 0 001 835) This Windows-based game is in actuality a customized version of Electronic Arts' Need For Speed: High Stakes. NFS:HS has been around long enough to find its way into the bargain bins of most computer stores. If your computer has the horsepower to rise up to the challenge, it's a GREAT game that allows online racing between one or more players. The BMW CyberRace version strips out all cars except the BMWs (Z3, M5, M roadster, M coupe) so there's not much reason to pay more to get less. With the Electronic Arts version, additional cars can be downloaded here for free. |
| I hope you've had fun rummaging through my virtual toy chest. If you're assembling a collection of your own, I think I've provided all the leads I'm willing to divulge. Remember, it's YOUR search, so I'm not going to play e-mail guide to additional locations or vendors. The chase, after all, is part of the fun... so get out there and start hunting for your OWN trophies! Good luck! |
— Carter |
