1980 BMW M1

Description

Inka Orange with Black Leather Interior
M88 3.5L Inline 6 Cylinder Engine
5 Speed Manual Transmission
24 Valve
Twin Cam
18,409 Miles
RWD
Upgraded Alpine Stereo
A/C and Heat Blows
Only mid-engine BMW ever built
BMW’s famous super car
1 of only 399 street examples built
Matching numbers with only 3 owners from new

The BMWM1 or E26 (engineering concept 26) would be designed by Giugiaro and his Ital Design staff around the proven CSL racing engine. Lamborghini was to build 400 cars, making the design eligible for Group 4 racing. Once homologation was completed, a turbocharged version of the CSL six-cylinder would be fitted to the factory race car. Lamborghini’s financial problems postponed the start of production beyond the original 1977 deadline. Although the M1 was formally announced soon after(January 1978),Lamborghini’s imminent bankruptcy finally forced BMW to cancel its contract on April 20, 1978. BMW subsequently had to break into the Lamborghini facility a confiscated its chassis that would otherwise be sold for scrap. Under a new plan, Marchese would build the car’s tube frame, TIR would mold the fiberglass, and then Ital Desgin would mate the two and install the interior. The cars would then be shopped from Italy to Stuttgrat, where Baur, long a builder of BMW production prototypes, would install the BMW hardware. BMW Motorsports would do the final preparation in Munich-in fact; the car would carry a BMW manufacturing plate. Chassis 01191 was the 191^st of 399 M1’s produced, and it was delivered to its first owner in April 1981 by Autohaus Weissenfel BMW in Montabaur, Germany to a local gentleman who drove the car for approximately 30,000 miles and had it serviced at BMW Munich for his ownership from 4/81-1/84. It was subsequently sold by Kert Tweesmann BMW in Horn-Bad Meinberg Germany to a US enthusiast that imported it to Grand Rapids Michigan in July of 1984. During the conversion the speedometer was replaced to US specs. The Michigan physician that purchased the car was its custodian for the next 30 years. A collector of other BMW’s he enjoyed and drove this car for most of its life. Complete with original, airbox(removed to expose the velocity stacks), spare tire, first aid kit, owner’s manual, and lots of documentation going back to the original ownership. As a dedicated collector he kept each and every record of repairs and maintenance from Prestife Exotics in Grand Rapids. During his 30-year ownership the doctor did cosmetic and engine improvements including a complete exterior and interior restoration, rebuilt engine by the well known Korman Autoworks, rebuilt transmission, new clutch and many, many other enhancement for drivability. He put the majority of the 19,000 miles showing on the US odometer today. The car was then acquired by its third owner who imported 01191 to California where he kept it in storage and only used it sparingly. Despite only using the car occasionally, he ensured that ir was still serviced during his 6-year custodianship including recently replaced the water pump, fuel lines and belts.