This 1980 BMW M1 is one of approximately 400 road-going examples built during two and a half years of production and was completed on August 11, 1980. It was delivered new to Hartge in Beckingen, Germany, and was later moved to the UK, where it remained until being imported to the US in 2009 by the seller, who manages the North American M1 Registry. The car retains its factory color combination of red over black upholstery and is powered by a fuel-injected 3,453cc M88/1 inline-six paired with a ZF five-speed manual transaxle. Additional equipment includes a limited-slip differential, ventilated disc brakes, staggered-width Campagnolo alloy wheels, a Stebro muffler, and a custom-made twin-disc clutch. The seller has added 22k of the 43k kilometers (~27k miles) shown while participating in track days and driving events, including 4,500 miles on the 2016 Roads to Monterey celebration. The car has also won awards at Concours events such as Legends of the Autobahn, ItalianCarFest, and Autos in the Park. This M1 is now offered with a set of Louis Vuitton fitted luggage, a BMW Classic Certificate, service records, EPA importation paperwork, factory literature, a tool kit, removed parts, and a clean Oklahoma title in the seller’s name.
The M1 was developed by BMW’s motorsport division as a homologation model for FIA Group 5 sports car racing, and construction was intended to be carried out in partnership with Lamborghini before the contract between the two manufacturers dissolved. The Gianpaolo Dallara-designed spaceframe was instead built by Italian firm Marchesi, while Giorgetto Giugiaro-styled fiberglass bodywork was manufactured by Trasformazione Italiana Resina. Bodies were completed by Italdesign in Turin before being sent to Baur in Stuttgart for final assembly by hand. Road-going and racing variants were produced simultaneously, and around 450 units were built in total.
This example received a repaint in its original shade of red (Glarusit 208) between 2015 and 2016, with glass removed for the work. An area of corrosion on the bottom inner frame of the right door was repaired during the project, and other cosmetic imperfections were addressed, including fiberglass patch panels on the rockers. A new windshield and seal were installed at that time, along with other body seals.
Campagnolo alloy wheels measure 16×7” up front and 16×8” at rear and are wrapped in 205/55 and 225/50 Pirelli Cinturato P7 tires that were mounted in 2015. Braking is handled by ventilated discs all around with new calipers installed in 2016 and resealed in late 2017. The suspension comprises unequal-length A-arms, height-adjustable gas shock absorbers, and coil springs.
The cabin is trimmed in black leather with checkered cloth accenting the adjustable seats, door panels, rear firewall, and headliner. Standard amenities include power windows and air conditioning, the latter of which was evacuated and recharged with R12 in May 2021. The air conditioning compressor and dryer were replaced in 2014. A new set of M1 floor mats was installed in 2016, and a custom mat has been fitted inside the trunk compartment.
Framed by a leather-wrapped steering wheel, instrumentation includes a 280-km/h speedometer and a 9k-rpm tachometer accompanied by gauges monitoring oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel level, and coolant temperature. The six-digit odometer shows 43k kilometers (~27k miles), approximately 22k of which were added by the seller. A Becker Mexico cassette player is situated in the dash and feeds three speakers through a fader.
The mid-mounted 3,453cc M88 inline-six features dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, dry-sump lubrication, Kugelfischer-Bosch fuel injection, Magneti-Marelli ignition, and six individual throttle bodies. Factory output was rated at 277 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. An oil change was performed in May 2021. The seller states that, under his ownership, oil changes have been performed annually, with other fluids changed every two years. The air filter housing has been removed and is included in the sale.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a ZF five-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential. A custom-made twin-disc clutch from Clutch Masters has been added along with a custom flywheel. A new BMW clutch will be included in the sale. A Stebro muffler has also been added under the seller’s ownership, and the removed muffler is included.
A five-piece set of M1 fitted luggage made by Louis Vuitton accompanies the car, and a brochure for the luggage is pictured in the photo gallery below. Also included and shown in the photo gallery are a tool roll, a first-aid kit, and a space-saver spare tire.
The BMW Classic Certificate lists the original colors as well as delivery to Hartge on November 25, 1980. A factory service booklet is stamped with entries dating back to 1981, and invoices from the past 20 years are included in the sale. Also included are owner’s manuals, repair manuals, an M1 brochure, and a copy of BMW M1: The Story.
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