The BMW M1 is one of the most significant sports cars in BMW’s history. It is the first production car developed entirely by the BMW Motorsport division and also the first production BMW with a mid-engine layout. Its original purpose, however, was not to create a luxury supercar, but to lay the groundwork for BMW’s successful entry into professional motorsports.
The design was created by Giorgetto Giugiaro, and the bodies were manufactured by Baur. The result was a low, wedge-shaped silhouette that combined Italian design with German engineering.
Under the hood is a 3.5-liter M88 DOHC inline-six engine with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. The engine produces 277 koní and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.
At first glance, it catches the eye:
- mid-engine
- with a low, wedge-shaped body
- with pop-up headlights
- the distinctive BMW double-spoke wheels at the rear
- a simple, driver-oriented interior
BMW produced only 399 road-going M1s, making it an exceptionally rare model. In addition to the road-going models, approximately 50 race cars were built, which also gained fame in the legendary Procar series, where specially modified M1s competed against each other with Formula 1 drivers behind the wheel.
This particular vehicle, with chassis number 4301011, also has an exceptionally interesting history. It is the eleventh M1 ever produced, and BMW kept it as part of its press fleet. It was completed in late 1978 and arrived at the press department in early January 1979, even before the first vehicles were delivered to customers.
It was also the only one of the three M1 press cars originally painted blue, and it appeared in contemporary articles and BMW promotional materials during its service.
The BMW M1 thus represents a fusion of Italian design, German engineering, and the ambitions of BMW Motorsport. Even after more than four decades, it remains one of the most distinctive and sought-after BMWs in history.
