sunrunner_pei
01-01-2008, 01:40 PM
Filed under: Time Warp (http://www.autoblog.com/category/timewarp/), Videos (http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/), Supercars (http://www.autoblog.com/category/supercars/), BMW (http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/bmw-m1-reflect1.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/)
BMW's performance division has made such a name for itself that the letter M has become synonymous with high-performance German sedans and coupes. But the vehicle that started it all was about as Italian as any Teutonic sports car could ever be: a low-slung, mid-engined machine designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign and built in cooperation with Lamborghini as a homologation special.
The only mid-engine BMW ever made, the roadgoing M1 featured the naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter 279hp twin-cam six later used in the 635CSi and M5. Like a great many short-lived supercars, we have homologation regulations to thank for the M1's existence: 456 examples were built between 1978 and 1981 in order to qualify for Group 5 competition.
Although the turbocharged 850-horsepower version was never a great success in Group 5 racing, it was later entered in the Procar series in support of Formula One races in the late seventies, in which a Marlboro-sponsored Niki Lauda took the title in 1979. The M1 went on to win the IMSA GTO title in 1981.
Follow the jump to check out the video action.
[Source: Carscoop]
Continue reading VIDEO: BMW M1 (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/)
Read | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1074752/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/bmw-m1-reflect1.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/)
BMW's performance division has made such a name for itself that the letter M has become synonymous with high-performance German sedans and coupes. But the vehicle that started it all was about as Italian as any Teutonic sports car could ever be: a low-slung, mid-engined machine designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign and built in cooperation with Lamborghini as a homologation special.
The only mid-engine BMW ever made, the roadgoing M1 featured the naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter 279hp twin-cam six later used in the 635CSi and M5. Like a great many short-lived supercars, we have homologation regulations to thank for the M1's existence: 456 examples were built between 1978 and 1981 in order to qualify for Group 5 competition.
Although the turbocharged 850-horsepower version was never a great success in Group 5 racing, it was later entered in the Procar series in support of Formula One races in the late seventies, in which a Marlboro-sponsored Niki Lauda took the title in 1979. The M1 went on to win the IMSA GTO title in 1981.
Follow the jump to check out the video action.
[Source: Carscoop]
Continue reading VIDEO: BMW M1 (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/)
Read | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1074752/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/01/video-bmw-m1/)