More than forty years have passed since the introduction of the BMW M1 series, and we still can't get over its design. Supercar (and BMW) enthusiasts absolutely adore the specs and styling that come with this famous race car. Why wouldn't they? The 1980 BMW M1 is a legend that took turns in the IMSA, among other recognized championships.

The M1 holds a special place in the BMW engineering history and remains celebrated for many reasons, starting with the rich design and racing background. But how much do you know about the M1, except what we already mentioned? Do you know that it came to be because of Jochen Neerpasch's desire to beat the Porsche on track?

There's much more to the 1980 BMW M1 race car than it meets the eye. Today, we take a closer look at its history, design, and performance. Read on to learn more exciting information about the M1. Even if you're a long-time and passionate BMW fan, you may find our review compelling and rich in some new facts.

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The BMW M1 sports car made for the streets.
Via: BMW M

Before the famous M1 was launched and hit the tracks, the street-legal variant appeared in 1978. It was sold to the public until 1981 and was the first mid-engine sports car produced at a scale. Needless to say, the first M1 gained incredible popularity since the very start, which hasn't changed much over the years.

Generally speaking, the 1978 BMW M1 was as famous as the 1980 M1 race car, boasting a powerful six-cylinder engine and featuring the exceptional styling that will become legendary soon enough. But it was made for public use, while the latter was more suited for aggressive road handling. We'll cover the details about both models' styling a little later on.

For now, it's important to mention that the M1 was a challenging yet prospective project pushed by the BMW Motorsport GmbH. It thrilled the sports car and racing enthusiasts who could afford to enjoy the new racing experience on the city streets.

However, the original plan of the BMW team was to use this very first M1 version for racing. Due to the long development and regulation issues, though, the first M1 didn't see the track. It was its successor that took the role of a purely racing vehicle.

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The Birth Of The Legend: The 1980 BMW M1 Race Car

The 1980 BMW M1 racing on the track.
Via: BMW M

Back in the day, Jochen Neerpasch was the head of the M1 development program, and he wanted a car that would beat Porsche on the track. We don't have to tell you details about how tough was (and still is) the rivalry between the German automobile giants. Understandably, both parties looked for ways to overthrow one another.

That's why the M1 was a mid-engine car with a lightweight fiberglass body designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, a famous Italian automobile designer. Neerpasch needed a perfect blend of power and design to surpass the competition, and he found it in the M1 design.

As a result of the thorough styling, various BMW M1 racing versions competed on Le Mans and several national championships such as the IMSA GTO and the German Automobile Racing Championship. They did quite well, but the biggest success was the BMW Procar Series designed to wow the motorsport world with races that featured identical M1 cars.

The BMW racing series gathered the most prominent names in the racing world at the time. Even the European Formula 1 drivers from the Grand Prix raced against each other in the identical BMW M1 cars. None other than Niki Lauda won the first season of the series, and Nelson Piquet scored first the next year (and then some). The public was overjoyed by the spectacle, to say the least.

But what made the 1980 BMW M1 racer such an appealing race car that it attracted drivers of all experience levels to the track? Find out in the following section.

A Closer Look At The 1980 BMW M1 Race Car

The 1980 BMW M1 race car on display.
Via: BMW M

There's no other way to put it – the 1980 BMW M1 was an aggressive race car. The BMW division did exceptional work on these samples. All the M1s in the Procar series had 3.5-liter straight-six engines with 470-hp, massive wings and flared arches, sharp lines, and much more. Not to mention all M1s were incredibly lightweight, hitting the top speed of 193 mph.

In terms of power, the 1980 BMW M1 race car was definitely superior to its street-legal sibling. When it comes to styling, things weren't that different, but the race car did have larger spoilers, mudguards, and a front apron. That made it look more aggressive, especially on the track.