The Sensational BMW E26 M1 Is The First BMW M Car With Italian Roots

10. First Beemer with a mid-engine layout

E26 M1 BMW Rear - Source: order_242 from Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The M1 is the first mid-engine car from BMW that was designed to be a race car. To compete with Porsche in Group-5 racing, the then-head of BMW's motorsports division, Jochen Neerpasch, came up with the idea of a mid-engine race car.

9. Is a German car with Italian roots

BMW E26 M1 Front - Source: BMW Media

The M1’s design was penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Italian automobile design legend. Furthermore, the car’s space-frame chassis was developed by Giampaolo Dallara, another Italian designer-engineer. Also, Lamborghini was given the responsibility to produce the car which was later taken on by BMW itself. As such, we can say, the M1 is secretly an Italian car at the core with a German badge with a total of 460 units rolled off from the production line.

8. It Was Intended To Be A Race Car

1978 BMW M1 Race Car - Source: Clemens Vasters from Viersen, Germany, Germany, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The M1 was designed and developed to be a race car for Group-5 racing. Keeping that in mind, the car was made with less focus on comfort and more focus on keeping the weight in check. Neerpasch introduced a one-make car racing series, Procar, and there the M1A was equipped with bigger fenders, a massive rear wing, and exhaust systems shooting flames. Due to complications arising in the production process, and the change in FIA’s rules of homologation, the M1 never raced in Group 5 and was allowed to race in Group 4.

7. Lamborghini Produced The First Few Units

While the M1’s design was developed by Guigiaro, the production contract was given to Lamborghini. A few prototypes were also built by the Italian brand before it was hit hard with a financial blow. After that, BMW took full control of the further development and production process of the car in April 1978.

6. The Car Wasn’t And Isn’t Cheap

The 1978 BMW E26 M1 is a classic supercar that no one would deny to have one for themselves. But it's also a rare car, which could be a piece of bad news for your question “How much is a BMW M1”. An M1 BMW cost around an average of $543,776 in 2024. However, even if you are capable of paying that amount, we do not want you to have your hopes high as BMW only produced 453 of these.

The M1 BMW price is only going up with each year in. This year in Miami, RM Sotheby's sold a 1981 BMW M1 for $742,000. The car is said to be one of the three finished in original silver paint and has 10,688 miles on the odo. Given the high demand and rare sellers, the price hike of a 1978 BMW M1 does not seem to stop anytime soon, making 2024 a good year to have one for yourself.

5. Has A Fiberglass Body

BMW E26 M1 Side - Source: BMW Media

Back in the 70s and 80s, sports car manufacturers had an affinity towards building the body of their cars from fiberglass. And the precious M1 also followed the same path. To keep the weights in check, the entire streamlined body was constructed out of fiberglass. At present, while going for a used M1, thorough checks are required for any cracks and damages to the outer body since fiberglass tends to develop cracks over time and the M1 is old now.

4. BMW’s First Supercar

BMW E26 M1 Side - Source: BMW Media

BMW built some well-known sports cars even before the M1 came into existence. But thanks to the brand’s motorsports division, the M1 was made into a reality. The M1 was the first car solely developed by the BMW M. Since the car was meant for racing, it came with performance-focused craftwork, with adequate performance on tap to be in the leagues of supercars in its time.

3. Has Disappointing Interior For The Price

E26 M1 BMW Interior - Source: nakhon100, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yes, the M1 was built to be a race car. However, Beemer did not bother to make the interior of the M1 better to suit the car’s premium price tag. While the cabin is decently equipped, it gives the feel and looks of an economical car at the most. Also, several bits and pieces of the cabin were borrowed from other less expensive cars of that time.

2. Had an unsuccessful run at Le Mans

BMW E26 M1 Rear - Source: BMW Media

Between 1979 and 1986, the BMW M1 was sent to participate in the iconic Le Mans race. While the car took part in several races, it did not manage to have a single successful run, and neither did its timings appreciable. The car proved to be heavier and slightly underpowered than the rest of the competitors out on the track.

1. Its Handling Is Exceptional

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n0YFOFWOCA

BMW E26 M1 POV - Source: Winding Road Magazine Youtube

To make it race-worthy, the M1’s handling was of utmost focus during its development. The mid-engine layout and the steel space-frame chassis make it an exceptional corner-carving machine. Even with an RWD layout, the car’s handling was right on point.

1. BMW E26 M1 Specs

E26 M1 BMW 3.5L Inline-6 Engine - Source: nakhon100, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The BMW E26 M1 carries a 3.5L DOHC Inline-6 engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The 3.5L better known as M88 was the first production engine from BMW with a Dual Overhead Camshaft valvetrain. The motor featured six independent throttle bodies and a Kugelfischer-Bosch mechanical fuel injection system was employed as well.

Specs Sourced From BMW M Official

The E26 M1 was the fastest road-going German car of its time with a top speed of 164+ MPH and a 0 to 60 MPH of 5.8 seconds.