Toward the tail-end of the 1970s, BMW was in talks with Lamborghini to codevelop a homologation special for racing, though eventually various disagreements and internal disputes resulted in the two marques going their own separate ways, leaving the Bavarian brand to make its own race car, ultimately giving way to the M1.
In total 453 units were produced, with 50-55 of those earmarked for racing in the M1 Procar Championship (though M1’s were later campaigned at other elite events such as Le Mans and in the American IMSA GTO Championship). The German brand recruited some of the day’s best race car drivers to helm the E26 racers, reportedly including race legends, Niki Lauda, James Hunt, and Mario Andretti. Now, four-decades after the final checkered flag was waved at the M1 Procar Championship in Autumn of 1980, Mario Andretti’s M1 Procar racer has surfaced for private sale. Sporting its original full factory race configuration, this ex-Andretti specimen is in immaculate condition for a used race vehicle. Further sweetening the deal is this M1’s classic M livery. The ex-Mario Andretti 1980 BMW M1 Procar racer is currently on offer through Japan’s BH Auctions’ private sales, where the price is available upon request at the link below.
