The M1 was conceived as a way for BMW to compete in FIA Group 4 sports car racing, which was then dominated by Porsche’s turbocharged 911. With 400 homologation units necessary, the M1 was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and his team at Italdesign, with a mid-engine, tube-frame chassis developed by Lamborghini. Inspired by the 1972 BMW Turbo concept, the M1’s fiberglass aerodynamic wedge shape was more Italian than Teutonic, but retained BMW’s iconic “twin-kidney” grilles. It featured a driver-focused interior, unique Campagnolo wheels, and was powered by a sublime 3.5-liter engine derived from the legendary 3.0 CSL.

This wonderful 1980 example, chassis 442, remains in its original colors of white over a black leather interior with white and black cloth seat inserts – a stunning combination that highlights the purity of Giugiaro’s design. One of the last few M1s built on November 5, 1979, it was imported into the US on April 16, 1981, by Hardy & Beck Performance Inc. of Berkeley, California. Copies of the original importation documents and EPA and DOT paperwork accompany the car, as does an importer’s tag on the driver’s side door. Included correspondence and copies of the M1 Registry put the car with Michael Greenstein of San Francisco in 1997, prior to the consignor’s purchase in 2001.

Kept in a climate-controlled environment among a fine collection of European exotics, 442 was driven sparingly over the last two decades. At 11,176 miles, the M1 was sent for a major service by noted BMW specialist The Werk Shop, of Libertyville, Illinois, completed April 2022, with receipts in excess of $50,000. The car has accumulated less than 300 miles since that service.

Today, the M1 remains in highly original, unrestored condition. The consignor confirms that no paintwork was performed in his ownership, and the M1’s cosmetics display the inviting and charismatic patina of an unrestored car. The interior remains very well preserved, still fitted with the Becker Mexico cassette player present upon the consignor’s purchase in 2001. Numerous factory BMW and German-language stickers remain. Accompanying the car at auction are important factory-delivered accessories such as the tool roll, spare tire, jack, emergency roadside equipment, and first aid kit.

As the M1 has seen a resurgence of popularity in the last decade, most examples have found themselves in prominent collections, making the opportunity to acquire a car recently discovered in long-term, single family ownership all the more enticing. Authentically presented and recently serviced, this limited- production BMW begs for your closest inspection, and deserves consideration from any fan of landmark 1980s supercars.

*Please note that this vehicle will not be sold for use or resale in California or to a non-dealer California resident.