1979 BMW E26 M1 Group 4 - Images, Specifications and Information

Click here to download printer friendly version

Conceived to replace the aging 3.0 CSL in GT racing, the M1 was a giant leap forward in design for BMW. With the Giugiaro / Italdesign designed M1 BMW instantly entered the supercar market, previously dominated mostly by Italian and British manufacturers. Although its appearance was unlike any other production BMW, its heart, the straight 6 engine, was derived straight from previous models like 3.0 CSL. For homologation purposes a minimum of 400 M1s had to be built.

BMW's lack of experience with high performance, mid-engined cars forced them to seek third party help for the M1's construction. What better partner to pick than Lamborghini, who had been constructing mid-engined road car since 1966. Lamborghini was responsible for the construction of the spaceframe, which was then shipped to Bauer for the fitting of the glassfibre body.

Production was hampered by this third-party setup. Especially the Italian link in the chain slowed production down; Lamborghini did not have experience with production of the large quantities BMW needed them to do. This meant homologation of the M1 for GT racing was still quite some time away so BMW initiated a completely new series for the race version of the M1 to race in. The one-make series, dubbed Procar, was coupled to the F1 calender and the races were run before each Grand Prix. The first five places on the grid were taken by F1 drivers, driving BMW supplied M1s, the rest of the field was filled with privateers.

The M1s entered in the Procar series were modified both externally and internally. Bigger wheel arches were fitted to make room for the big slick tires fitted and a huge wing was mounted to ensure enough downforce was generated. Under the body the most noticable difference was in engine performance, output was increased from 277 bhp for the stock to 470 bhp for the Racer. Turbos were fitted on a small number of later racers, increasing power to over 800 bhp!

With Lamborghini lagging behind, BMW outsourced production of the Procars to other companies; Osella in Italy and Ron Dennis' Project Four were commisioned to build fifteen cars each. Eventually Project Four built another ten M1 Procars and ran the 1979 Championship winning Marlboro sponsored M1 for Niki Lauda.

After two years the Procar series was scrapped and this effectively ended the racing career of the M1. With GT homologation not reached yet, the M1s were forced to run in the prototype class against purpose-built racers. Best result of an M1 outside of the Procar series was a sixth place finish in the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans. Eventually over 400 M1s were constructed, but it was to late for the M1 to be a force in GT-racing.

Featured are a number of M1s participating in the 2006 Le Mans Classic.