Inspired by the Paul Bracq-designed radical, gull-winged BMW Turbo concept from 1972, the production M1 made its debut in 1978 at the 64th Paris Motor Show, stunning the public with its low-slung, Italian-wedge design mixed with traditional BMW kidney grilles. Since then, the M1 (model code E26) is widely celebrated as BMW’s first true supercar and the foundational icon that launched the legendary BMW M Division.
Originally designed to dominate Group 4 racing, a tumultuous development history turned it into one of the rarest, most sought-after, and uniquely international German sports cars ever built. It almost never happened, however, as BMW's initial partnership with Lamborghini to engineer the chassis and build the car for racing homologation was abandoned when Lamborghini's parlous financial state forced BMW to abruptly cancel the contract and piece together a new, complex supply chain across Italy and Germany.
Legendary Italian stylist, Giorgetto Giugiaro, was responsible for the overall design, the tubular steel space-frame was built by Marchesi, and the lightweight fibreglass body was moulded by Trasformazioni Italiana Resine (TIR) in Modena. Naturally, there was considerable potential for confusion so a group of former Lamborghini engineers formed 'Italengineering 1978' to handle the marriage, coachbuilders Baur in Stuttgart installed the drivetrain, and BMW completed the final inspection in Munich.
At its heart was a masterpiece of engineering: a mid-mounted, naturally-aspirated, 3.5-litre straight-six (M88) designed by Paul Rosche and offering 277bhp through a five-speed manual ZF gearbox with the M1 in road-going form (Strassenversion). Only 453 total units were ever built, including 399 road cars and 54 race cars and today they are prized by museums and serious collectors.
Our enthusiastic, Midlands-based, private vendor acquired this exciting BMW around 25 years ago and has put it to good use during this time. He has enjoyed several trips down to Paris, mainly to take part in the ”Vendome” tour, and many excursions around the UK and Europe to circuits and cities on various holidays and adventures, resulting in the car having covered some 69,800km during its life. This is no trailer queen, it has enjoyed an active life and drives all the better for it.
Originally supplied in 1980 by Hammer BMW of Monchengladbach in the colour scheme inside and out that it wears today, it arrived on UK shores sometime during 1986 and has been here ever since. The history file shows steady and consistent maintenance throughout its life, with significant bills for an engine rebuild in 2009 and a complete re-paint in its original Inka Orange by Surface and Design in 2013. Surface and Design are fibreglass specialists and provided at the time a complete CD Rom recording the whole painting process and that is included in the history file.
Our vendor has a small specialist Collection including a Porsche 911 R, Subaru 22B, mid-engined Renault 5 etc., but it is this car that's his favourite to drive and also his favourite to arrive in. After all, it was one of the first real 'Supercars' and put BMW firmly in the high-performance specialist sector of the market, establishing the ‘M’ Division which went on to build so many outstanding cars that continue through to today.
Following a recent period in storage, it has just benefitted from £2,000 expenditure on a service and light recommissioning with highly regarded specialists, NCB Autokraft, and so will come to the sale ready to be driven and enjoyed. A rare and exciting opportunity that Iconic are proud and grateful to represent.
