By Speedhunters

Car Culture At Large

This footage to me, seems a bit inconceivable, as I’m only used seeing F1 cars hammering around the streets of Monaco…. not a field of M1s! The race was won by a certain Niki Lauda BTW…

By Rod Chong

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Two weeks ago I showed you the pics, now here’s the video!

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

When Matt at Munich Evolution told us he was getting the BMW M1 that John blogged about last year, we knew we had to check it out. This is a one-of-a-kind 1979 M1 coach built by Spezialkarosserien in Germany for the former Prime Minister of Qatar. It’s got flared fenders, a big rear wing and a front spoiler from the race spec M1 Pro Cars. It also has a wild custom pearl white paint job with the BMW M tri-colors. And of course it has some custom BBS Racing wheels.

So we just got back from driving, taking photos and shooting video. We’ll have the video ready in a week or so, but for now, here are the pics. It’s got old tires and we were just in the park near the zoo, so we didn’t get too crazy with it. But man, what a car!

More pics after the jump!

Continue reading "Munich Evolution's BMW M1" »

By Ron Honig

WaytooFurious

And the award for sexy beast at this years Melbourne International Motor Show goes to the BMW M1 “Hommage.” Designed as a tribute to the original M1 using modern styling, the new M1 is a fantastic looking machine. The proportions of the car are just perfect. From the extra dark windows to the kidney shaped grill, the designers have left nothing to chance and have come up with a car that looks great from every angle. More pics after the jump.

Continue reading "M1 Hommage at the Melbourne Motor Show" »

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

I like BMW race cars and I like Andy Warhol, but do they really belong together? This 1979 BMW M1 Group 4 racer painted by Warhol is one of four BMW “art cars” traveling around the country right now. Warhol spent all of 23 minutes painting the car, and it went on to be raced just once, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979. With the Warhol paint job I doubt that this M1 will never be driven on the track again. Kind of a shame. More on the traveling BMW collection at Autoblog.

You know the best thing about coming back to work after a three-day weekend? Realizing that it’s going to be a short week! How’s that for a glass-half-full perspective? Anyway, here’s the news:

• Here’s a question: How many white-collar Ford employees does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer: 12% less than it did yesterday. Detroit News
• When pictures of the BMW M1 Concept surfaced, there was audible drooling from the automotive press. So will we see a similar-looking production model? At least one mag thinks so we just might. World Car Fans
• The quality of Hyundai’s cars has been exceptional in recent years, but the Genesis sedan is the company’s first real effort to break into the luxury market. Will it fly? Well, the guys from Winding Road just got their hands on one, and it sounds like they were impressed. Winding Road
• Should Danica Patrick go to F1? Personally, I’d like to see her take the checkered in some more IRL races, and raise open-wheeled Stateside profile first. But others aren’t so patient. Top Gear
• Consumers want small cars, and they want them faster than anyone could have predicted. Sounds like more bad news for Detroit. Auto Observer

It should be noted that the concave spoke curve that I particularly love about some aftermarket wheels (GT-R Fitment TE/CE Volks, Various Advans, etc.) has been getting a lot of love by OEMs in recent years. Ever notice the side profile of the BMW M5’s factory wheels? On this M1 concept they don’t play around–the concave spoke design is at an extreme. I think it’s a good look (even on an strangely designed wheel like this which I don’t know if I love or hate). Concave spokes are like having a deep lip without actually having a deep lip. Continue reading…

Concave shaped spokes showcase the width of the rim and its low offset in a classy and integrated way that 3pc wheels with deep lips just cant offer. I’ve always been a fan and continue to be (even on 14? rims like these Top Secret limited TE37s for the AE86).

Great angle of an otherwise ugly concept car.

When it comes to its heritage, BMW seems to have a flair for the dramatic. Instead of waiting for a regular old auto show, the company unveiled the it new M1 concept at a private party during the prestigious Villa d’Este Concours. Just so folks didn’t forget the car’s roots, the concept was parked next to an original M1, along with the 1972 turbo concept that inspired it. The purpose of all of this hoopla was to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the M1, and possibly, gauge if there’s enough interest to warrant resurrecting the dormant model. Technical specs are scarce—the concept was void of engine and interior—but for those wondering, the headlights worked. Here’s hoping BMW takes some styling cues from this gorgeous brain storm. Think there’s room for another supercar in the already flooded market? Two more pics after the jump.

If you’re wondering why the BMW M1 looks so incredibly hot, it’s because on the design of this model, the sensible German’s had some help from Lamborghini—and famed designer Giugiaro. This isn’t one of the original cars the company campaigned in Group 4 and 5 racing, but the Prime Minister of Qatar had it built to resemble one, and it certainly does look the part. Check out the full description and a ton more pics after the jump.

1979 BMW: Other M1

An already rare and collectible automobile, the BMW M1 has begun a steady rise in value as more collectors recognize its significance and scarcity. The M1 on offer here is even rarer, as it was coachbuilt by Styling Garage Spezialkarosserien in Germany for the former Prime Minister of Qatar. The body has been reworked to incorporate the flared fenders, rear wing, and lower front spoiler from the race spec M1 ProCars. The paint and interior were refinished at the same time, both using the BMW M tri-colors as a contrast to the pearl white paint finish. Custom BBS Racing wheels were built for the car, and finished in matching white. We have thoroughly checked the car over mechanically, and it is sound and ready to be driven.