The race-derived German icon has been driven a touch over 17,000 km but almost presents like a new car
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by Brad Anderson
4 hours ago
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One of just three BMW M1s to leave the factory painted in silver is heading to the auction block next month and is expected to sell for between $750,000 and $950,000. Is this the ultimate 1980s supercar?
BMW‘s M division conceived the M1 with racing in mind, necessitating the production of 399 road-going examples to meet homologation requirements. While every M1 is special, RM Sotheby’s says that this particular one stands out as the sole model painted in a unique Polaris metallic silver, distinct from the two other silver M1s with a slightly different hue.
Manufactured on 23 February 1981, it was initially delivered in France, where it remained for two years. In 1983, the car was exported to Japan and remained there for more than 20 years before returning to Europe in 2006. The original odometer with 11,103 km (6,899 miles) was replaced in 2007 and since then, the car has been driven a further 6,046 km (3,756 lbs). It was also resprayed in the original silver color in 2014 and acquired by the current U.S.-based seller in 2016.
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Read: We Ride Along In A Classic 1981 BMW M1 IMSA Group 4 Race Car
The exterior of the car looks immaculate and not only does the paint look to have been well maintained over the years but the original black plastic parts also look pristine. RM Sotheby’s has not yet released any additional photos of the car’s exterior or interior.
Like all other road-going versions of the M1, the bimmer is powered by a 3.5-liter six-cylinder petrol engine with individual throttle bodies. This engine is good for 273 hp at 6,500 rpm and 243 lb-ft (330 Nm) of torque at 5,000 rpm while mated to a ZF five-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels.
By modern standards, these figures may not seem all that impressive but the M1 is relatively light at ~1,300 kg (2,866 lbs) and given that it’s from the 80s, it’s void of any of the pesky safety systems of modern sports cars that often get in the way of having fun.
The new owner will receive a treasure trove of accompanying items, including the original manuals, tool kit, copies of photos documenting its time in Japan and Europe, an original M1-branded suitcase, and a comprehensive history file complete with BMW Classic certification. If you’re interested, RM Sotheby’s will auction off the M1 at the Moda Miami event on March 1, 2024.
