We’ll examine why 2022 is the ideal year to purchase a vintage BMW E26 M1.
The iconic BMW M1 is a sports automobile that helped to popularize racing in the 1980s. To compete in the motorsports series against the vintage Porsche and other sports rivals, BMW developed the M1 racing car. The firm took sure to top off the M1 with distinctive characteristics to surpass its rivals.
The end outcome exceeded expectations, even though it was originally intended as a Group 4 homologation special. It had a mid-engine design, which did a good job of evenly dispersing the weight. Additionally, the BMW M1 featured a more powerful and durable engine that was created by renowned engine builder Paul Rosche. Its fiberglass body made it lighter and more responsive on the drag strip.
From 1978 through 1981, BMW sold the E26 M1 brand-new for about $87,000. Only 453 BMW M1 cars were produced by the company. A few BMW M1s are still on the market today, despite being one of the rarest classics.
In This Article...
What is the price of a 1981 BMW M1?
A 1981 BMW M1 has been placed for sale by DuPont Registry for the hefty sum of $499,000. The car, which is one of just 456 ever made, is serial number 348 and has spent the last 30 years in a private collection in Japan.
The M1 was the first thing the M division ever produced, and it debuted at the 1978 Paris Motor Show.
The M1 coupe was hand-built as a homologation special for sports car racing between 1978 and 1981. Giugiaro created the body, drawing inspiration from the 1972 BMW Turbo display vehicle.
It was one of the quickest and most dynamic automobiles available at the time of its launch. It had a 3.5-liter straight-six engine with 277 horsepower, and it was capable of exceeding 160 mph. The M1’s redline was at 7,000 rpm, and it had a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 5.6 seconds.
The BMW M1 is it rare?
Italian company Italina Resina, with headquarters in Modena, produced the M1’s fiber glass body. Marchesi, another Modenese company, produced the chassis. Italdesign finished the interior and body of the car at their Turin-based manufacturing facility.
German specialty producer Baur used hand labor for final assembly. BMW from Munich provided the hand-built M88/1 engines that were fitted in the vehicles. The finished vehicles were transported to BMW Motorsport in Munich for delivery and final inspection. One of BMW’s rarest models, only 453 production cars were made. 53 of the 453 were built specifically for motorsport, while 399 were road-going vehicles.
What is the price of a BMW M1 Procar?
The price of the common road vehicles is already very high, so it makes sense that the extremely rare and exquisite Procars are practically priceless.
Given their significant historical significance and creation by some of the most prominent individuals (and institutions) in the automobile industry, it wouldn’t be a leap to refer to these vehicles as automotive works of art. Prior to being up for auction, it was estimated to be worth between $600 and $800,000. The ultimate sale price was $913,000.
When was the BMW M1 released?
The cleverly called BMW M1 supercar was the first BMW road vehicle to be given the now-iconic BMW M emblem. The 1978 M1 is the only mid-engined M vehicle ever produced. It cost about PS2,000 more than a Ferrari BB12 from the same era and had supercar performance, appearance, and price. The 273bhp M1 had a top speed of 161 mph and could reach 62 mph in under 5.6 seconds.
While hardly supercar-quick now, the M1 had more than enough power to make some of the elite supercar drivers look bad in the late 1970s.
By the way, Lamborghini was supposed to produce the BMW M1, but they backed out of the deal due to other financial commitments. Consequently, BMW M created the M1, their first ever M vehicle. What follows is history.
Why isn’t the BMW 1M the M1?
The BMW 1 Series M Coupe was created by BMW’s Motor Sport Division BMW M and was released as a high-performance version of the BMW 1 Series Coupe. Instead of calling the car the “M1,” as per BMW naming convention, to avoid confusion with the original BMW M1, the name “BMW 1 Series M” was used. The 1M Coupe was and still is a work of automotive genius since it had a noticeably wider track and larger body than the standard E82 Coupe and had spectacular M power and remarkable grip. This remarkable, now-classic BMW M was one of only 450 vehicles offered when it was first produced, so as time goes on, these outstanding M cars will only continue to grow in interest and collectability on a global scale.
Although it has an incredibly low mileage applied, this perfect three-keeper example was first registered in December 2011 by Cooper BMW Chelmsford. It has an excellent past BMW service record, with services logged at 1158, 11323, 15305, 19670, 21132, and 24301 miles. The next service is scheduled for either 14000 miles or in March 2018. A fully cleared HPI certificate, the original BMW factory build card, a full and complete key set, and the entire booklet pack set will also be included when the car is delivered.
How many more BMW M1s are there?
How many more BMW M1s are there? With race vehicles included, BMW produced about 450 M1s, with little under 400 being used on the road. The vast majority of these vehicles, if not all of them, are still believed to be in use.
Which motor powers a 1981 BMW M1?
All of the models made up to 1978 were based on pre-existing BMW models, but the BMW M1 was the first to be built entirely from the ground up. The chassis was made by Marchesi in Italy, the body by T.I.R, and the interior was put together by ItalDesign.
BMW was forced to work with Lamborghini since they could not produce 400 street-legal vehicles on their own in the required amount of time. In Stuttgart, the mechanical components were mounted. The M1 was also known as the E26 and had a coupe body design.
The 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder M1, the first BMW model with a center-mounted engine with 277 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque, was created to compete in Group 4. The engine was installed in this manner to allow for future racing tuning. The BMW i8, a vehicle more relevant to modern times, was the next BMW model with a center-mounted engine.
The BMW M1 is still one of the most coveted and successful race cars the company has ever produced. There were just 453 units produced. From 1978 to 1981, the M1 was only offered for sale for 3 years.
A BMW M1 Hommage Concept was introduced 17 years later to commemorate the sports car’s 30th birthday. The idea sparked speculation about whether BMW might produce a contemporary M1.
Amount of BMW M1 Procars produced
The M1 was an ambitious undertaking from the beginning because it was the first car that BMW Motorsport GmbH had ever created. The race car was initially intended for use in the German Racing Championship. The BMW M1 eventually made an appearance in the especially constructed Procar series and other competitions as a result of its protracted and difficult development process as well as a change in regulations. On the basis of homologation requirements in accordance with Group 4 regulations for the road and the racetrack, 460 BMW M1s were created. Each model was built by hand.
The BMW 1M is so excellent, why?
The classic BMW 1M is regarded as a wonderful car because of its layout that emphasizes performance, appealing short wheelbase, and excellent handling. Any other car in its class cannot compare to the true driving sensation provided by the twin-turbocharged 3l engine and the six-speed manual gearbox.
Upon release, it soon gained cult status and garnered numerous accolades from renowned automotive journals, including Richard Hammond’s “Car of the Year” award in Top Gear Magazine.
It wasn’t only about how much power they could get out of the 1M; it was also about making a fun automobile to drive. In a world where automobiles continue to grow in size with each passing year, BMW made the decision to create the 1M, an antiquated, small-engine performance vehicle.
One of the most exhilarating drives is made possible by the size, power, and precise 50:50 weight distribution in combination with the limited slip differential. It enjoys being pushed to its limits, and for any owner of a 1M, driving on the edge is a rite of passage.
M fans generally agree that BMW pulled off a masterful maneuver with this one despite all odds. It’s already being compared to iconic M vehicles from a bygone era despite only being constructed in 2011 and 2012.
We spoke with Anthony Mason, the 1 Series and London Chairman of the BMW Car Club GB, to learn about his ownership of a 1M.
How many BMW 1Ms are produced?
One of the most exclusive vehicles ever created by the magicians in Garching is the BMW 1M Coupe. It originated from a covert effort that few of the company’s executives were aware of. According to folklore, certain BMW M engineers sought to create the ultimate track vehicle and utilised the majority of E92 M3 components for the 1M. A great sports coupe was the end result, and it debuted in 2011 and quickly sold out in most regions.
The 1M was initially scheduled to be a 2,700-unit limited edition car by BMW. The company then lifted the cap in response to the tremendous demand, producing a total of 6309 vehicles up until the end of manufacturing in June 2012. Nevertheless, after selling 740 units in the US and 220 more in Canada, production of the 1M Coup ceased in June 2012. Globally, 6309 automobiles were sold.
The engine took extremely little time to develop; engineers started working on it in October 2009 and finished it in less than a year. The choice to construct the 1M was taken in December 2009. The development and testing of the automobile took around a year. M vehicles conduct extensive testing on the Nurburgring track. Before the terrible weather started, all of the testing had to be finished in the spring and summer.
The N54 3.0 liter I-6 twin-turbo engine powers the BMW 1M. Although 369 pound-feet of torque are briefly accessible in overboost mode, the turbocharger, exhaust system, and ECU have all been updated to deliver 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque for the 1M. Redline is at 7000 revs per minute. The N54B30TO engine’s engine mapping can be changed by pressing the M button on the steering wheel to provide a more forceful throttle response.
The Porsche Cayman S was likely the closest rival in 2011, although BMW claimed at the time that no rivals were taken into account while designing the vehicle because the goal was to create vehicles that customers would like to drive. That is precisely what they did.
How much is the BMW i8?
You belong to a distinct cat breed. Hard-working. unconventional thinking Some people could even describe you as revolutionary or rebellious. Your spirit animal in the guise of a luxurious hybrid sports automobile may be the 2021 BMW i8. It’s a forward-thinking, unorthodox Coupe and Roadster. Sports hybrid vehicles are no longer so unique. But this one is special because it was designed specifically to harness amazing hybrid power and was expertly made to provide a driving experience unlike any other. With plenty of visual sex appeal due to its hardtop coupe or convertible roadster’s opening dihedral doors. Additionally, it has a powerful plug-in powertrain that is quicker than weaker hybrids. All of these factors combined to provide a comfortable, interesting, and user-friendly driving experience. The 2021 i8 offers brilliance for your daily life or that once-in-a-lifetime cross-country road trip, starting at $147,500. You can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and top out at 155 mph. Choose a convertible if you like to drive with the top down. It has just one motor and comes standard with all-wheel drive. Every model comes standard with heated front seats, a head-up display, a Harman/Kardon audio system, and Apple CarPlay compatibility. That certainly qualifies as a non-standard list of standards. The Tera World option, which adds ceramic controls, black brake calipers, blue seatbelts, and a special brown interior, may be just what your rebel needs to turn the heat up even higher. We know you don’t do things halfway or conventionally.
Call our sales staff at 760-469-4242 if you are looking for a new BMW i8 Model in Palm Springs, California, want to lease one, or have questions regarding price. Alternatively, if you’re ready for a test drive, stop by our BMW Dealership. In addition, we have customers from cities like Ontario, Riverside, and Murrieta, California. No matter where you’re from, BMW of Palm Springs will make you feel at home.