CyberSnippets

BMW M1
Written by Martin Wollny

cc	Power	Torque	Top speed	0-60	Brakes	Length	Weight
3,453	277 bhp	240 lb/ft	160 mph	5.6s	disks all round	4,359 mm	1,300 kg

BMW M1 homologation special was built in 457 units in order to meet requirements for participation in Group 5 Silhouette races. The BMW's Motorsport department managed by Jochen Neerpasch commissioned Lamborghini to do the chassis. People responsible for it were Lamborghini's Technical Director Baraldini and Consultant Engineer Gianpaolo Dallara. Styling was done by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Ital Design and later, due to problems with Lamborghini, the coachwork production went to Giugiaro as well before finally going to Bauer.

The engine was BMW 24 valves twin-cam straight six. Maximum power of the road version was 277 bhp, racing model had 470 bhp and the ultimate twin turbo racer boasted 850 bhp. Unfortunately, the racing career of the M1 was not very bright. Because of the new homologation rules which required production cars to be sold before a car could be homologated, M1 came too late into Group 5 racing and was outperformed by the opposition. In 1979 and 1980, it ran in the Procar series where it was driven by Formula 1 drivers in 470 bhp Group 4 cars.

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