In two weeks, during the auction block Grandes Marques à Monaco, Bonhams will sell this splendid 1980 BMW M1 Coupé for about $700,000.
History of the BMW M1 Coupé
The M1 Program started in the middle of 70's to compete against Porsche in the World Sportscar Championship and Le Mans. Firstly, the development was contracted with Lamborghini and ItalDesign, Italian development services for the transportation industry with the Italian designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro for the bodywork in glassfibre.
But Lamborghini abandoned the project complicating the production process. The body and interior was assembled in Italy and Karosserie Baur added the engine at Stuttgart (Germany). Despite this complication, the BMW M1 was presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1978. M1 is standing for the first car built by BMW Motorsport GmbH, subsidiary of German car manufacturer BMW founded in 1972. Only 453 examples had been built.
Technical Specification
The 3.5-litre six engine with a twin-overhead-cam and four-valves-per-cylinder delivered 277 hp for a top speed 260 kmh, the fastest German sport car at this time.
The interior was exceptionally well equipped for a sports car with Recaro seats, air conditioning, electric windows.
Sources
Auction at Bonhams
BMW M1 Son Wiki
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