Record-setting BMW supercar that's extremely rare was found just sitting in a barn
- This is a modified version of the rare BMW M1
- BMW only produced 453 units of this
- This model produces 400+ horsepower
Published on Sep 12, 2024 at 6:53 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Sep 13, 2024 at 11:41 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
A rare, almost one-off, record-breaking BMW M1 was recently uncovered in a garage in London.
BMW only produced a handful of these cars between the late 1970s and early 1980s, and this one is special for a very specific reason.
It was originally modified to achieve a speed record.
The record is unconfirmed, but that’s still enough to make this care truly valuable and rarer than rare.
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The story behind the record-breaking BMW M1
BMW produced 453 M1s between 1978 and 1981.
The shape of the car may be unusual, considering BMW has rarely made mid-engined cars, but the engine itself isn’t.
It’s a 3.5-liter inline-6, a staple for BMW, producing 277 horsepower.
The ‘standard’ model was capable of reaching 165mph (265km/h), but this one was modified to produce 400+.
The goal was to hit 300km/h – or 186mph, a record allegedly set in October 1981.
To be honest, details about the record are a bit hazy, but that doesn’t really change the historical significance of this rare find.
What lies ahead for this model?
Due to the unusual shape and layout, the M1 is probably not in line with what we consider a BMW today.
But, possibly exactly for that reason, the M1 is on every collector’s radar.
A couple of years ago, Paul Walker’s BMW M1 headed to auction, and it ended up selling for more money than expected.
The BMW M Vision Next was unveiled as a potential testbed for future new models, including an M1 successor, but that hasn’t materialized yet.
We should also point out that now that everyone is making electric cars, talking about engine layout has somehow lost its meaning.
BMW still has time to make something reminiscent of the M1.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
