BMW M1
| Produced: |
1979-1980, 456 produced. |
|---|---|
| Types: |
Coupe,2 doors,2 seats |
The BMW M1 is a supercar automobile, and was the first and only mid-engined BMW. It employed a twin-cam M88/1 3.5 L 6-cylinder engine, a version of which was later used in the E24 BMW M6/M635CSi and E28 BMW M5. The engine had six separate throttle butterflies, four valves per cylinder and produced 277 PS (204 kW) in the street version, giving a top speed of 260 km/h (162 mph). Turbocharged racing versions were capable of producing around 850 hp.
The M1 coupe was hand-built between 1978 and 1981 under the Motorsport division of BMW as a homologation special for sports car racing. The body was designed by Giugiaro, taking inspiration from the 1972 BMW Turbo show car. Originally, BMW commissioned Lamborghini to work out the details of the car's chassis, assemble prototypes and manufacture the vehicles, but Lamborghini's financial position meant that BMW reassumed control over the project in April 1978, after seven prototypes were built. Only 455 production M1s were built[1].
Though the car never saw a great deal of racing success, the M1 is remembered as a refined and civilized supercar in the true BMW tradition, with great handling and stellar build quality. In 2004, Sports Car International named the car number ten on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s.
| Capacity | Config | Model | Bore/Stroke | CR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3453cc | S6 DOHC | BMW S6 OHC |
| Drivetrain | Steering | Front Suspension | Rear Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Speed | 0-60 | SQM | MPG | Engine Pwr | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 162 mph | 5.5 s |
| Lot Num |
Description | Auctioneer | Date | Hammer Price | Hammer Price (inc premium) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 235 | BMW M1 Group 4 Procar Rally | Coys | 14 Jan 2012 | Not sold | |
| 170 | BMW M1 Pro-car Competition Coupé | Bonhams | 1 Oct 2011 | Not sold | |
| 15 | BMW M1 Pro-car | Bonhams & Butterfields | 18 Aug 2011 | - | $854000.00 |
| 64 | BMW M1 Coup� | Bonhams | 11 Oct 2010 | $220000.00 | $264000.00 |
| 552 | BMW MI | RM Auctions | 7 Oct 2010 | - | $137500.00 |
| 242 | BMW M1 Coupe | Bonhams | 18 May 2009 | €120000.00 | €138000.00 |
| 157 | 1980 BMW M1 Coupé | Bonhams | 20 May 2006 | €71000.00 | €81650.00 |
| 79 | BMW M1 'PROCAR' | Christies | 11 Feb 2006 | Not sold | |
| 348 | 1981 BMW M1 | Coys | 14 May 2005 | - | €68033.00 |
| 422 | BMW M1 Coupe | Bonhams | 2 Oct 2004 | CHF70000.00 | CHF80409.00 |
| 030 | BMW M1 | Artcurial - Briest - Poulain Le Fur | 15 Feb 2004 | Not sold | |
| 548 | BMW M1 Coupe (1980) | Bonhams | 11 Jul 2003 | £26500.00 | - |
| 029 | BMW M1 (1980) | Christies | 17 Jun 2000 | - | £70500.00 |
| 311 | BMW M1 (1980) | Brooks | 10 Mar 2000 | Not sold | |
| 726 | BMW M1 (1980) | Brooks | 18 Jun 1999 | Not sold | |
| 789 | BMW M1 Coupe (1980) | Brooks | 2 Dec 1998 | Not sold | |
| 269 | BMW M1 Coupe (1980) | Brooks | 8 Aug 1998 | Not sold | |
| 043 | BMW M1 (1980) | Poulain LeFur | 22 Jun 1998 | Not sold | |
| 041 | BMW M1 (1980) | Christies | 25 Apr 1998 | - | $96000.00 |
| 025 | BMW M535i (1980) | H&H Sales Limited | 5 Jun 1996 | Not sold | |
| 221 | BMW M1 Competition (1980) | Brooks | 24 May 1995 | Not sold | |
| 037 | BMW M1 (1980) | Coys | 1 Dec 1994 | £43000.00 | - |
| 081 | March-BMW M1 (1979) | Coys | 30 Jul 1994 | Not sold | |
| 062 | BMW M1 (1980) | Brooks | 17 May 1993 | Not sold | |
| Title | Pages | Options | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article |
A mountain to climb |
74 |
 |
|
| Publication | Classic Cars September 2008 | |||
| A mountain to climb - BMW's M1 had one of the most traumatic births in motoring history. Thiry years on we stress-test it again on a trans-Alpine journey from Italy to its birthplace in Germany. | ||||
| Article |
Attention please |
54 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Cars November 2006 | |||
| Attention please - As if BMW's ultra-rare M1 supercar isn't striking enough, this uniquely painted Maurer version is guaranteed to stand out in the car park. Take a closer look. BMW M1 | ||||
| Article |
Fragile vs Ego - BMW M1 vs Lotus Esprit S2 |
76 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Cars August 2004 | |||
| Fragile vs Ego - BMW M1 vs Lotus Esprit S2 - It’s hard to imagine rational BMW and brilliant but fragile Lotus competing head-to-head. That the M1 and Esprit had so much in common is a bigger surprise. | ||||
| Article |
Out of the cold - BMW M1 takes on the Alpes |
74 |
|
|
| Publication | Octane March 2010 | |||
| Out of the cold - BMW M1 takes on the Alpes - Thirty years ago, BMW shocked the world by launching its first supercar. Buyers weren't ready and it bombed, but now the M1 is recognised as one of the greatest driver's cars to have come from Munich. We pay tribute. | ||||
| Article |
M1 - Part 2 |
54 |
|
|
| Publication | Car July 2008 | |||
| M1 - Part 2 - 30 years on from the original M1, the BMW supercar is back. Georg kacher gets the inside story for CAR> | ||||
| Article |
BMW M1 |
134 |
|
|
| Publication | MotorSport March 2008 | |||
| BMW M1 - After a traumatic birth and instant redundancy, it was saved by a clever business plan and a brilliant promotional idea. | ||||
| Article |
Flat-out on the M1 |
92 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic & Sports Car March 2004 | |||
| BMW's only supercar remains the fleetest of its breed even a quarter-century on: Richard Heseltine and David Evans try some brute power in Bavaria. | ||||
