The Legendary BMW M1 Goes for a Track Day at Mosport
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The BMW M1 is one of the most legendary cars in the brand’s history. Not only was it BMW’s first true M Division product, it was also BMW’s first supercar (some would argue that it’s BMW’s only supercar). What makes the M1 truly special, though, is that it wasn’t just a supercar but it was actually a homologated race car for the road. Unfortunately, it never raced in the series it was designed for, as regulations changed, but it did end up being used in a few different, smaller racing series’.
If you know me even a little, you’d know that the BMW M1 is one of my absolute favorite cars. It’s a car I’m not shy about loving. At parties, I’ll tell people that the BMW M1 is not only one of my favorite cars but actually invented the everyday supercar segment but, mysteriously, they all seem to walk away from me after that… But I digress.
I know I’m not alone in loving the BMW M1; it’s one of the most revered and beloved Bavarian products of all time. Its gorgeous Giugiaro styling, its Paul Rosche-designed and motorsport-bred 3.5 liter inline-six, and its everyday supercar usability all make it one of the most iconic cars of its era. But did you know that there was actually a rally car version?
Those who are in the market for one of the few surviving examples will need at least half a million bucks to spare. Take this 1980 M1, for example. Currently up for auction on Bring A Trailer, this 4,000-mile M1 is currently in California and received a series of modifications way back in 1980. A German BMW dealer called AHG performed the work with its Studie package consisting of a Procar-style body kit, custom BMW Motorsport livery, three-piece BBS wheels, a custom exhaust, and full-leather upholstery instead of the original half-fabric, half-leather.
Later exported to the US, it passed through a series of private collections until 2011 and ultimately ended up as part of actor Paul Walker s garage called AE Performance that he co-owned with Roger Rodas. Both Walker and Rodas perished in a tragic car accident in November 2013. As of this writing, the highest bid already reached $350,000 with the auction ending on January 31.