BMW M1 Motorsport
The BMW M1 is the most exotic and valuable BMW ever built. It was conceived as a racing car — BMW wanted a Group 4/Group 5 homologation special to compete with Porsche's dominant 935. The project involved an extraordinary collaboration: Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the body, Lamborghini was contracted to engineer the chassis and build the cars, and BMW Motorsport developed the legendary M88 inline-six engine.
The plan fell apart when Lamborghini's financial troubles made them unable to deliver. BMW had to take over production, with bodies built by TIR/Marchesi in Italy, then shipped to Baur in Stuttgart for painting, and finally to BMW Motorsport in Munich for final assembly. This convoluted process meant that only 453 M1s were ever built — far fewer than the 400 needed for Group 4 homologation.
The M88 engine was the foundation of BMW M's reputation. A 3.5-liter inline-six with DOHC, 24 valves, and individual throttle bodies, it produced 277 hp in road-going form and up to 850 hp in turbocharged Procar racing spec. This engine's DNA lived on in the M5, M6, and even the McLaren F1 (whose BMW S70/2 V12 was designed by the same engineer, Paul Rosche).
Giugiaro's design was a masterclass in wedge-era styling. The low, wide proportions, angular lines, and dramatic rear louvers created a visual presence that was unmistakably exotic yet unmistakably BMW. The kidney grilles were there, but transformed into a supercar context.
Because homologation for Group 4 was never achieved, BMW created the M1 Procar Championship (1979-80) as a support series for Formula 1 events. The five fastest F1 qualifying drivers would race identical M1 Procars against dedicated M1 racers — creating one of the most exciting support series in motorsport history.
Today, the BMW M1 is a million-dollar collector car. It represents the birth of BMW M as a performance brand, the only mid-engined BMW supercar, and the starting point for an engine lineage that ultimately powered the McLaren F1 — often called the greatest car ever made.
BMW M1s are museum-quality cars. They rarely appear on the open market — perhaps 2-3 per year at major auction houses. Every M1 is documented through BMW Classic and the BMW M1 registry. Authentication is straightforward due to the tiny production number. The M88 engine is robust when maintained but requires specialist servicing (BMW Classic or authorized M1 specialists). Check for chassis corrosion (the tubular space frame can rust), body panel alignment (the fiberglass body panels were hand-fitted), and complete service history. Procar race cars are worth 2-3x road cars.
Total M1 production: 453 units (1978-81). Of these, approximately 399 were road cars and 54 were Procar race cars. The Procar had the turbocharged M88/1 engine producing 470-850 hp depending on boost level. Production was supposed to be 400 units minimum for Group 4 homologation, but delays and the convoluted production process meant this was barely achieved.