1982 BMW M1

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When BMW decided in the late nineteen seventies to develop a car directly derived from motorsport, the result was a project unlike anything the company had undertaken before. Rather than adapting an existing coupe, the car was conceived from the very first design line around a single principle: a mid engine configuration. The result appeared as the BMW M1, internally designated E26, and to this day it occupies a unique position within BMW history.

Development of the M1 began under the leadership of BMW Motorsport, then headed by Jochen Neerpasch. The objective was clear. To create a car suitable for international racing homologation. In order to achieve the required production numbers, BMW initially partnered with Lamborghini for chassis development and prototype construction. When circumstances at the Italian manufacturer changed, BMW assumed full responsibility for completing the project.

The design was created by Giorgetto Giugiaro, immediately recognizable through its low profile, sharp lines and functional proportions that clearly reference the experimental concept cars of the early nineteen seventies. The fiberglass bodywork was produced in Reggio Emilia, while the tubular chassis originated from Modena. Final assembly was carried out by coachbuilder Baur in Stuttgart, after which every car received its final inspection at BMW Motorsport in Munich.

*A car developed entirely by BMW M* The BMW M1 represents the first automobile developed entirely under the responsibility of BMW Motorsport. Mounted centrally is the 3.5 liter M88 inline six engine designed by Paul Rosche. Equipped with mechanical Kugelfischer fuel injection and dual overhead camshafts, this powerplant produces 277 horsepower and is paired with a manual ZF gearbox and limited slip differential.

The technical layout remains faithful to the original concept. Independent suspension on all four corners, rack and pinion steering and ventilated disc brakes deliver direct mechanical feedback without electronic intervention. Solutions perfectly aligned with an era in which engineering precision defined the driving experience.

*Hand built and produced in limited numbers* Between 1978 and 1981 only 453 examples were produced, of which 399 were road cars. This makes the M1 one of the rarest production models ever built by BMW. Each example was largely hand assembled.

The example offered here is finished in Alpine White combined with a black interior that remains in original condition. This M1 has been carefully maintained throughout its life, something immediately evident upon inspection. Documentation includes invoices dating back more than twenty years, complemented by an extensive history file and a BMW Classic certificate.

Once seated inside the M1, the purpose driven character of the interior becomes immediately clear. Clear instrumentation and a cockpit fully oriented toward the driver underline the Motorsport origins of the car.

Even today it is evident that the BMW M1 was never intended to be a conventional model within the BMW range. The combination of Italian design, German engineering and Motorsport heritage gives the M1 a distinct and permanent place in the evolution of high performance sports cars.

*Contact* You are warmly invited to visit our showroom in Brummen for a personal viewing. Should you reside outside the Netherlands, we will gladly assist with international sales and export arrangements. Since 1975 Gallery Aaldering has been a family owned company with worldwide experience in exceptional and carefully selected automobiles.