The BMW M1 (model code E26) is a mid-engined sports car produced by German automotive manufacturer BMW from 1978 until 1981. In the late 1970s, Italian automobile manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car in sufficient quantity for homologation, but conflicts arose that prompted BMW to produce the car themselves. [2][3] The resulting car was.
The BMW M1 Procar remains a central component of the history of BMW M. Boasting a powerful six-cylinder in-line engine and a striking striking wedge shape created by renowned vehicle designer Giorgio Giugiaro, the M1 instantly became a major player in the automotive world when it debuted as a road-legal racing car in 1978. When a race series was created specifically for the model, however, its.
BMW M1 Procar #1066 | radicalmag Classics Collection
The dream of sending the M1 into Group 4 and 5 didn't quite materialize, so BMW went in a different direction with a spec series: M1 Procar. Meet the ultimate, 1000 horsepower BMW M1 Turbo that never raced The story of the BMW M1 and the subsequent Procar Championship is one of motorsports' greatest. Or most disappointing, depending on the point of view.
Welcome to the Jägermeister-liveried, turbocharged Group 5 racer that writes the M1 saga's last chapter. The race engine is a more highly tuned version of the DOHC, four-valve-per-cylinder M1 street engine, itself a derivative of the healthy single-cam BMW six used in 5-, 6-, and 7. The BMW M1 is a legend.
The M1 was the first BMW Motorsport car in the Eighties
It's mere existence was green lighted specifically for road racing. The wedge shaped body was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro who also designed the 3200CS, the Delorean DMC-12. The mid engined, rear wheel drive layout of the M1 is the only one produced by BMW for the road.
The engine was developed by the BMW Skunkworks that later became BMW Motorsport division. Read. The BMW M1 Procar championship opened the doors to the company as an engine supplier for Brabham and in 1980 they finally homologated the vehicle for Group 4.
The production of the BMW M1 - BMW M1 Club e. V.
BMW eventually pulled over from Group 5, still, some cars competed in various championships around the world (including the American IMSA GTO Championship and Germany Automobile Racing. A great example is the BMW M1, introduced at the 1978 Paris Motorshow as the German company's latest GT racing weapon. Problem was that before the M1 could race in the intended Group 5 class, 400 road cars had to be built and sold.
It would go a little far to describe these as street legal racing cars, but they offered supercar equaling. Generally speaking, the 1978 BMW M1 was as famous as the 1980 M1 race car, boasting a powerful six. The first mid-engined BMW which may have never achieved its goal of competing in Group 5 racing, but is still considered a legend even today.