 1980 E26 M1 |
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1981 BMW M1 news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Coupe Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro Chassis Num: WBS59910004301336 |
| Sold for $147,800 at 2009 Bonhams. | |||
 |  |  | Coupe Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro Chassis Num: WBS599100004301429 |
| Sold for $91,000 at 2006 Bonhams. | |||
The car has been modified by Dinan Cars of Morgan Hill, California with a M6 fuel injection system and catalytic converter. The M1 now passes the emission tests and has an increase in horsepower and improved durability. Other non-factory enhancements include Phillips xenon headlight bulbs and a Nakamichi AM/FM/CD stereo system. The exterior is finished in white and the interior is black leather.
The road-going versions of the M1, introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1978, came equipped with a 277 horsepower engine and were capable of speeds of 160 mph. Production of the M1 ceased after just 456 examples were produced. The homologation requirements of 400 for Group 5 'Silhouette Formula' had been satisfied.
At auction, this car was sold for $91,000.
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2007
 |  |  | Coupe Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro |
The BMW M1, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and powered by a Paul Rosche-designed 3.5-liter, twin-cam 6-cylinder engine, mounted amid-ship, debuted at the 1978 Paris Auto Show tot eh admiration of the world's motoring press. The only problem was that delays with outside contractors caused its appearance to coincide with the demise of the racing category for which it was built. The quick thinking solution was the fast and furious ProCar Series which preceded European Formula One races, pitting the top-five qualifying Grand Prix starters against 15 talented local drivers in identically prepared M1s. The ProCar Series ran in 1979 and 1980 with championships by Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet, respectively.
This M1 Group 4 racer was campaigned in the 1981 IMSA GTO Series, seeing action at the 24 Hours of Daytona, Watkins Glen and Mosport. Drivers included David Hobbs, Mark Surer, and Dieter Quester. M1 ProCars are now prized collector items and can be seen on vintage race tracks around the world.
 |  |  | Coupe Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro Chassis Num: WBS59910004301154 |
| Sold for $242,000 at 2012 Gooding & Company. | |||
This BMW M1 is among the last of the 456 examples built. It was imported by BMW specialist Hardy & Beck of Berkeley, California, and entered the United States on April 29th of 1981. It has spent much of its life in the care of two California collectors. The current owner is a Chicago, Illinois resident.
This car is finished in white over a black leather interior with checked fabric inserts. The odometer currently shows just over 30,000 miles. It has a tool roll, a five-speed manual ZF transmission, and 4-wheel vented disc brakes.
In 2012, this car was offered for sale at the Pebble Beach Auction presented by Gooding & Company. The car was estimated to sell for $175,000 - $225,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $242,000 including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012
 |  | Coupe Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro |
Although the original intent was racing, almost half the initial year's production were race prepared cars, the car was not eligible for Group 4 and 5 competition because of slow production. By the time production volume requirement were met, the car was no longer competitive.
This car #402 of 450 built was originally delivered to Ital Design. In 1981, it was sold to a customer in Virginia, who sold it to another individual in 1989. The current owner has enjoyed the car since 2005.
The M1 was a radical departure from the front-engined, rear-wheel drive configuration of its prior vehicles. It also had to compete with the legacy of the vehicle it was replacing, the highly successful 3.0 CSL. The M1, also known as the 'Mid-Engined BMW M1 Project E26, was started in 1976 and completed four years later. The development of the M1 supercar was very costly; its design and development included some of the greatest individuals the industry had to offer. Giorgio Giugiaro of Ital Design was tasked with creating the design while Lamborghini handled the construction and manufacturing.
Racing efforts were slowed when the car failed to meet homologation requirements for Group 4 and 5, which stated 400 vehicles needed to be produced in 24 months. So the BMW M1 began racing in the Procar series instead. David Cowart and Kenper Miller won the IMSA GTO category in 1981. When BMW had sold enough cars to comply with Group 5 homologation requirements, the vehicle was no longer competitive for that group. Production of the BMW M1 ceased in 1981 after 455 examples were created, with 56 created for racing.
In 1979, 79 examples were created with 38 being race-prepared, and the remaining 41 intended for road-use. In 1980 and 1981, 188 vehicles were constructed per year. 18 were constructed for racing while the remaining were made road-worthy.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2006
Racing efforts were slowed when the car failed to meet homologation requirements for Group 4 and 5, which stated 400 vehicles needed to be produced in 24 months. So the BMW M1 began racing in the Procar series instead. David Cowart and Kenper Miller won the IMSA GTO category in 1981. When BMW had sold enough cars to comply with Group 5 homologation requirements, the vehicle was no longer competitive for that group. Production of the BMW M1 ceased in 1981 after 455 examples were created, with 56 created for racing.
In 1979, 79 examples were created with 38 being race-prepared, and the remaining 41 intended for road-use. In 1980 and 1981, 188 vehicles were constructed per year. 18 were constructed for racing while the remaining were made road-worthy.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2006
As racing regulations evolved in the mid seventies, BMW Motorsport saw an opportunity to beat arch-rival Porsche in a new series by designing and manufacturing a purpose-built car and offering it for sale to the public, as a stipulated by the rules. The BMW M1, designed by Giugiaro and powered by a Paul Rosche designed 3.5-liter, twin-cam six-cylinder engine mounted mid-ship, debuted at the 1978 Paris Auto Show to the admiration of the world's motoring press. The only problem was that delays with outside contractors cause its appearance to coincide with the demise of the category for which it was built. The quick thinking solution was the fast and furious ProCar Series which preceded European Formula One racers, pitting the top-five qualifying Grand Prix stars against 15 talented local drivers in identically prepared M1's. The ProCar Series ran in 1979 and 1980 with championships by Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet respectively.
Road going M1's like the one shown, were sold in Europe and imported to the United States through the secondary market. These cars are now prized collector items. Racing ProCar versions of the M1 can be seen on vintage race tracks around the world.
Road going M1's like the one shown, were sold in Europe and imported to the United States through the secondary market. These cars are now prized collector items. Racing ProCar versions of the M1 can be seen on vintage race tracks around the world.
| Andy Warhol'S 1979 Bmw M1 Art Car To Be Center Piece At Saratoga Automobile Museum | |
 | • BMW History and Heritage on four wheels and two on display from May – November, 2013 Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 17, 2013… Andy Warhol's 1979 BMW M1 Art Car will be the center piece of the exhibition 'BMW – The Ultimate Driving Machine', which opens this weekend at the Saratoga Automobile Museum. The exhibition will also feature the BMW 3.0 CSL which won the Daytona 24 Hour race in 1976. The exhibition, which features a retrospective of BMW cars and motorcycles, will run until ...[Read more...] |
| BMW of North America Adds Support to RRDC Evening with Brian Redman | |
 | HILLIARD, Ohio (April 16, 2013) - BMW of North America, LLC, will support the RRDC Evening with Brian Redman presented by Firestone at the Road Racing Drivers Club's fifth annual West Coast banquet on April 18, held prior to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (Calif.). Redman raced for BMW in 1975 and '76, winning the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1975 (with co-drivers Hans Stuck, Sam Posey and Allan Moffat), the first year of BMW's official foray into American sports-car racing. He also won...[Read more...] |
| BMW TO BE FEATURED AT SARATOGA AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM | |
 | • BMW History and Heritage on four wheels and two on display from May – November, 2013 Woodcliff Lake, NJ – March 8, 2013… BMW's rich heritage will be showcased at the Saratoga Automobile Museum in an exhibition called 'BMW – The Ultimate Driving Machine.' The exhibition, which will feature a retrospective of BMW cars and motorcycles, will run from May 6 – November 3, 2013. The array of BMW automobiles will include road cars and race cars, both from the modern era, as well as p...[Read more...] |
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| LE MANS CLASSIC 2012. BMW MOTORSPORT ICONS RETURN TO THE STAGE. | |
 | In just a few days – from 6 – 8 July 2012 – the global classic motor sport community will once again descend on Le Mans, France. Held every other year since 2002, the event etches delight onto the faces of drivers and spectators in equal measure and has become a firm fixture on the classic motor racing calendar. BMW involved as a key partner. BMW is a Le Mans Classic partner this year, and BMW France has teamed up with BMW Group Classic to offer an extensive programme of attractio...[Read more...] |
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| 1980 E26 M1 |
