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The one and only BMW M1 (pictures)

BMW only ever made one supercar, the M1.

Drew Stearne
For over 16 years Drew has been producing video content on technology, video games and entertainment but now spends his days looking at, talking about, or indeed driving, fast cars.
Drew Stearne
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Super

The M1 is the only supercar BMW has ever made.
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One of a kind

Despite frequent calls for a successor, one has never appeared.
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Looks familiar

It's a midengined wedge, a la '70s Lamborghini.
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No wonder

Which is no surprise because it was developed by said Italian firm...
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Taking it back

...for a while. Then it went bust and BMW had to get its stuff back.
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Modifications

Its 3.5-litre straight six was modified and used in future BMW models...
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Small number

...because the M1 was a bit of a flop. Only 456 were ever made.
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Race car

It was designed to be homologated to race in the various sport car races of the late '70s.
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Now what?

Sadly, just as the M1 was ready to rock, the rules were changed, leaving BMW in something of a pickle.
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Not all was lost

So, rather than bin the M1 project off and put it down "to experience," BMW created Procar, a one-make M1 race series.
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Turbo action

While the road-going M1 had around 270 bhp, the race cars had around 800 bhp thanks to turbos. Really, really big turbos.
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Destination

The M1 did eventually make its way to the sports car races it was designed for.
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Supercar

It did rather well, too. So it wasn't all a wasted effort.

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