Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
The BMW M1 was produced in limited numbers from 1978 to 1981. It was essentially a homologation special that was virtually hand-built. It had a tube frame and a 24 valve, fuel-injected 277 horsepower engine with six separate throttle butterflies, four valves per cylinder.
The M1 was designed by ItalDesign's Guigiaro. BMW had originally commissioned Lamborghini to work out the details of the car's chassis, assemble prototypes, and manufacture the vehicle. BMW would later resume control over the project in April 1978, after Lamborghini's financial position meant they were unable to proceed with the project.
Commissioned by mid-eastern royalty, and shipped back to Munich, this car was converted into a street-legal pro-car. It is a well-documented car with many interesting features.
In 2007 this 1979 BMW M1 was brought to the Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $120,000 - $140,000. It is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-cam six-cylinder engine rated at 277 horsepower. There are a five-speed manual transmission and four-wheel vented disc brakes.
There were a total of 456 examples of the M1 created; 41 road-going examples were created in 1979 (38 Race versions). In 1980, there were 188 cars produced with 178 being road-going examples - 10 were race versions. For 1981, there were 188 cars built with only eight being race versions.
This example is of those 41 road-going cars created in 1979. It was delivered in 1980 by Styling Garage Spezialkarosserien of Hamburg featuring many aesthetic upgrades to bring it in line with the racing versions of the M1. Its first owner was the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani. It was sent back to Germany in the 1980s and then to the US shortly thereafter.
This car features BBS wheels, extensive bodywork finished in the typical blue and red BMW racing striping, white leather interior, and matching red, white, and black patterns.
At the auction, the estimated value proved to be accurate as the lot was sold for $121,000 including buyer's premium.
In 2009, this M1 Sport Coupe was offered for sale at the Houston Classic Auction presented by Worldwide Auctioneers and held in Seabrook, Texas. The lot was estimates to sell for $90,000 - $120,000. Bidding reached $70,000 but was not enough to satisfy the reserve.
The M1 was designed by ItalDesign's Guigiaro. BMW had originally commissioned Lamborghini to work out the details of the car's chassis, assemble prototypes, and manufacture the vehicle. BMW would later resume control over the project in April 1978, after Lamborghini's financial position meant they were unable to proceed with the project.
Commissioned by mid-eastern royalty, and shipped back to Munich, this car was converted into a street-legal pro-car. It is a well-documented car with many interesting features.
In 2007 this 1979 BMW M1 was brought to the Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $120,000 - $140,000. It is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-cam six-cylinder engine rated at 277 horsepower. There are a five-speed manual transmission and four-wheel vented disc brakes.
There were a total of 456 examples of the M1 created; 41 road-going examples were created in 1979 (38 Race versions). In 1980, there were 188 cars produced with 178 being road-going examples - 10 were race versions. For 1981, there were 188 cars built with only eight being race versions.
This example is of those 41 road-going cars created in 1979. It was delivered in 1980 by Styling Garage Spezialkarosserien of Hamburg featuring many aesthetic upgrades to bring it in line with the racing versions of the M1. Its first owner was the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani. It was sent back to Germany in the 1980s and then to the US shortly thereafter.
This car features BBS wheels, extensive bodywork finished in the typical blue and red BMW racing striping, white leather interior, and matching red, white, and black patterns.
At the auction, the estimated value proved to be accurate as the lot was sold for $121,000 including buyer's premium.
In 2009, this M1 Sport Coupe was offered for sale at the Houston Classic Auction presented by Worldwide Auctioneers and held in Seabrook, Texas. The lot was estimates to sell for $90,000 - $120,000. Bidding reached $70,000 but was not enough to satisfy the reserve.
2017 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale, AZ
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $390,000-USD $440,000
Lot was not sold
2009 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Houston Classic Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $90,000-USD $120,000
High Bid (Lot was not sold)
USD $70,000
2007 Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $120,000-USD $140,000
Sale Price :
USD $121,000
1979 BMW E26 M1 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the BMW E26 M1
(Data based on Model Year 1979 sales)
1979 BMW M1 Pro-car Chassis#: 9430-1053 Sold for USD$854,000 2011 Bonhams - Quail Lodge Sale | |
1979 BMW M1 Sold for USD$178,365 2011 Rétromobile | |
1979 BMW M1 Coupé Chassis#: 4301 166 Sold for USD$264,000 2010 Bonhams - Royal Mirage, Dubai | |
1979 BMW E26 M1 Sold for USD$121,000 2007 Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction | |
1979 BMW M1 Roadgoing Procar Sold for USD$105,840 2007 The Florida Collector Car Auction | |
1979 BMW M1 COUPE Sold for USD$60,500 2002 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2002 |
BMW E26 M1s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1979 BMW E26 M1's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1979 BMW M1 | WBS00000094301068 | 2024 Artcurial : Retromobile | $500,000 | $600,000 | |
1979 BMW M1 | WBS59910004301231 | 2017 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale, AZ | $390,000 | $440,000 | |
1979 BMW M1 Groupe 5 Le Mans | 94301059 | 2015 Rétromobile by Artcurial Motorcars | $700,000 | $900,000 | |
1979 BMW M1 Pro-car Competition Coupé | 4301 066 | 2011 Bonhams Power by BMW BMW Powered Motor Cars, Motorcycles & Related Automobilia | $450,000 | $500,000 | |
1979 BMW M1 Pro-car Competition Coupé | 4301 066 | 2011 Bonhams Power by BMW | $450,000 | $500,000 | |
1979 BMW E26 M1 | WBS59910004301231 | 2009 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Houston Classic Auction | $70,000 | $90,000 | $120,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $263,951 range.
1957 Ford Thunderbird F-Code Chassis#:F7FH395552 Sold for $263,200 2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia | |
1990 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E 2.5-16 EVOLUTION II Chassis#:WDB2010361F734267 Sold for $263,200 2024 Gooding : Amelia Island Concours | |
1967 Aston Martin DB6 Sport Saloon Chassis#:DB6/2834/L/N Sold for $263,200 2024 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | |
1974 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 2.7 MFI Chassis#:9114600947 Sold for $263,200 2024 Gooding : Amelia Island Concours | |
1966 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 Coupé Chassis#:0658 Sold for $265,517 2024 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde a Paris | |
2016 McLaren 675LT Spider Chassis#:SBM11SAB0GW675715 Sold for $261,886 2024 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
1955 PORSCHE 356 SPEEDSTER Chassis#:80289 Sold for $264,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1968 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#:136378A161013 Sold for $264,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 427/435 COUPE THE DESERT RAT Chassis#:194377S107371 Sold for $264,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#:j58s101627 Sold for $264,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda Chassis#:bs23j0b308428 Sold for $264,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1969 Dodge Super Bee A12 Chassis#:wm21m9a271344 Sold for $264,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1922 Bentley 3-Liter Short Chassis Tourer Coachwork by Park Ward Chassis#:166 Sold for $263,200 2023 Bonhams : Audrain Concours Auction | |
1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 327/360 FUEL-INJECTED COUPE Chassis#:30837S111297 Sold for $263,200 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
2023 BUGATTI BABY II Sold for $262,500 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1934 Packard 1107 Twelve Coupe Roadster Chassis#:739-49 Sold for $263,200 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | |
1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet Chassis#:111.027.12.001031 Sold for $265,066 2023 RM Sothebys : The Carrera Collection | |
1995 Porsche 911 GT2 R Chassis#:WP0ZZZ99ZTS393074 Sold for $265,066 2023 RM Sothebys : The Carrera Collection | |
1970 Chevrolet El Camino LS6 Chassis#:136800b131181 Sold for $264,000 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1967 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500E Chassis#:AZ389997 Sold for $264,000 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach |
1979 BMW E26 M1
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other BMW E26 M1 model years