Manufactured by BMW between 1978 and 1981, the M1 E26 was a truly revolutionary car for the brand. The model demonstrated a large departure from anything BWW had produced so far, with a sleek wedge design and mid-engined setup. The objective was to develop a car that could compete within the FIA Group 5 racing category.
Getting the car manufactured resulted in a number of setbacks that had to be overcome, delaying the car's arrival. During the M1's production run, just 453 examples were produced, making it a rare beast indeed. Here are 10 things you might not know about this unique car.
9 It Was The First Mid-Engined BMW
The BMW M1 was one of the first mass-produced mid-engined sports cars and the first for BMW. In the engine compartment, a 3.5-liter inline-6 cylinder unit producing 274 hp could be found.
The power output provided the car with enough potency to propel itself from 0-60 mph in just 5.6s, before going on to a 163 mph top speed.
8 The Car Was Built For Racing Homologation
One of the main objectives of the BMW M1 project was to produce a Porsche rivaling race car. In order to compete in Group 5 racing, a certain number of cars needed to be produced to allow FIA homologation
Unfortunately, a slow development process hampered this process and BMW had to devise alternative racing opportunities.
It Was Styled By The Italians
The distinctive and celebrated wedge design of the M1 was designed by legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The man is responsible for devising some of the greatest-looking cars ever made, from the Lotus Esprit to the Maserati Ghibli, he certainly knew what he was doing.
The BMW Turbo concept car of 1972, built on the BMW 2002 platform, provided a lot of inspiration.
7 Lamborghini Failed On The Production
As BMW did not have the production facilities required, head of motorsport Jochen Neerpasch commissioned Lamborghini for the purpose. Lamborghini was unable to fulfill this and part-produced cars were consequently sent to Baur in Germany.
Lamborghini's financial constraints were the main barrier to production, and following a year of delays, BMW had no choice but to cancel the contract.
6 The Body Is Made From Fiberglass
In order to achieve the sleek design, the car's body was composed of reinforced fiberglass. This construction material ensured the car was lightweight while maintaining structural integrity.
An Italian company called Trasformazione Italiana Resina were awarded the contract to build the fiberglass bodies, in their factory in Modena.
5 The M1 Competed In Le Mans
Few races are as legendary as the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Hosted on the Circuit de la Sarthe in France since 1923, the race winner is the competitor which has traveled the greatest distance in 24 hours.
The BMW M1 featured in the race between 1979 and 1986, but was never a standout performer. In comparison to many fellow competitors, the M1 was rather heavy and had a lower power output.
4 The Interior Was A Disappointment
While there is nothing wrong with the inside of the M1, in comparison to the rest of the car, it feels rather lackluster. The exotic exterior was hiding a more Germanic and sensible interior.
Certain parts were borrowed from other BMW models of the time, and this did create a fairly business-like feel. The seats were covered with a split leather and fabric combination.
3 Handling Was Exceptional
Having been built around a steel space frame chassis, the car could easily handle the engine's power output. The mid-engined layout results in great weight distribution and improves stability during cornering as all four wheels are equally loaded.
Additionally, the car was relatively lightweight, tipping the scales at around 1,300 kg.
2 The Car Didn’t Come Cheap
As you might expect from a car in its class, it was not exactly what you would call affordable. The M1 attracted a price tag around the $90,000- $100,000 mark.
Buyers today would absolutely leap at these prices, however, as the car has appreciated so much in recent years. According to the Hagerty valuation tool, an M1 in "good" condition would fetch around $440,000 should it be sold today.
1 It Supported Formula One Races
As a consequence of the production delays at Lamborghini, the car was unable to meet the requirements for Group 5 competition. A regulation change in the interim meant at least 400 road legal models needed to have been produced for Group 4 ratification.
To be considered for Group 5, manufacturers needed to satisfy those of Group 4. As the delays had meant this was not achievable, and BMW still wanted to compete in motorsport, a solution was required. Co-director of BMW M, Jochen Neerpasch came up with an entirely new series known as "Procar, " which consisted of an all BMW M1 competitor line-up, and supported European Formula One races.