The BMW M1 is considered one of the most important models in BMW’s history because of its state of the art engineering, performance numbers, and design. The M1 was built to compete against Porsche in the Group 5 Motor Racing classification, for which BMW had to produce at least 400 street-legal M1's to qualify. Between 1978 and 1981, 453 M1's were produced, and only 400 of those were street legal. Now, if you have $624,900 lying around, one of those 400 M1's can be yours. Let's take a look.
A Little History
The Motorsport division of BMW, headed by Jochen Neerpasch, wanted to compete with arch-rival Porsche in Group 5 racing, so BMW reached out to Lamborghini. In the late 1970s, Lamborghini agreed with BMW to manufacture a racing car in sufficient quantities for homologation. Still, due to several conflicts between the two automakers, BMW decided to produce the car themselves. In April 1978, after seven prototypes were built, the production of the BMW M1 started. It was hand-built in Munich, Germany, and featured a fiberglass body designed by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro taking inspiration from the previous 1972 BMW Turbo Concept car.
Under The Hood
This mid-engine vehicle packs a 3,453 cc (3.5 L) petrol six-cylinder engine developed by Paul Rosche, combined with a Kugelfischer-Bosch mechanical fuel injection and a Magneti-Marelli ignition system. This engine was also used on the E24 M6/M635CSi, as well as in the E28 M5.
This engine has six separate throttle bodies, twin-cams, and four valves per cylinder, allowing it to generate 273 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 243 lb-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. The performance numbers were outstanding for its time, with a top speed of 162 mph and a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds.
Mint Condition Example
In a two-and-a-half-year period, BMW produced 400 E26 M1 road versions, while 53 were competition versions. Out of the 400 road going M1's, many have been destroyed, making this vehicle one of the rarest BMWs ever made. At $624,900 this mint condition example, with only 6,184 miles on the clock is for sale in Riedering, Germany, but it can be legally imported to the US with the 25-year law.
Source: BMW