10 Reasons Why The BMW M1 Will Be The Last Great BMW Supercar

Any automaker can design an exotic-looking car, slap an extremely powerful engine into it, and call it a supercar. There are hundreds of different supercars roaming the streets and byways all over the globe, offering the wealthy buyer many options to choose from. However, this does beg the question: In a world with so many, what needs to be done in order to make a supercar great?

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Each automaker, even if they specialize in high-performance cars, only has one or two truly great supercars. A great supercar needs maniacal speed, gorgeous looks, and (most importantly) a soul. Every car has its quirks and unique details that give it a personality, as well as a story that makes it one of a kind. Mass production has taken the soul out of many cars today, some of the victims being supercars.

Back in 1978, however, BMW made a supercar that was full of soul, luxury, and speed. The BMW M1 is what comes to mind when the topic of “great BMW supercars” enters the conversation, and with the changing automotive landscape, it may be the only car that comes to mind. Let’s look at 10 reasons why the M1 was so great, and why BMW won’t be making anything that comes close anytime soon.

RELATED: This 1980 BMW M1 Is a Firm Reminder of the Good Ol’ Days

10

The BMW M1 Ticks All The Supercar Boxes

BMW

Front shot of a red BMW M1 in a white studio

In order to make a supercar, you have to follow a specific recipe. The car needs to be incredibly fast, be able to turn heads and be street-legal. BMW made sure that all of these key ingredients were included in the M1. The BMW M1 has a powerful 3.5 L six-cylinder engine, a body that makes your jaw drop, and a suspension system that made every drive smooth and comfortable.

It’s also incredibly rare, having never been exported to the US officially, and only 453 examples were produced overall. When considering all of these factors, as well as the origins and legacy of the car, it becomes clear that BMW knew exactly what it wanted when it made the M1: an instant classic.

9

The M1 Is BMW’s First Mid-Engined Supercar

BMW

Three-quarter shot of an orange 1980 BMW M1 in a studio

Unique details can certainly make cars desirable, and nowhere is this more true than in supercars. In most cases, a mid-engined supercar is not very unique, but an important consideration to make when making this assumption is the manufacturer. BMW realized this and used it to its advantage. The BMW M1 was the only mid-engined car the German car company produced until 2014

This made it an extremely desirable trait that only cements the M1 further into the history books. Even after 2014, when BMW introduced the mid-engined hybrid i8, there are those that look back to the M1 as the only true mid-engined BMW. The engine in the M1 was fantastic as well. While a 3.5 L six-cylinder doesn’t sound like much, it was all the M1 needed to fly up to 165 MPH.

RELATED: This Alpina Green BMW M1 Procar Looks Absolutely Fabulous

8

The M1 Was A Blend Of Italian Elegance And German Engineering

BMW

Three-quarter shot of a black 1980 BMW M1

With BMW producing the internals of the M1, continuing a tradition of German engineering excellence, there was also a group of Italian design firms working on the supercar as well. The beautiful fiberglass body of the M1 was designed by Italina Resina, while the chassis was manufactured by Marchesi.

The gutless M1s were then given an interior by Italdesign before being shipped to Germany in order to be given their hearts and souls. Because of the M1’s racing origins, the interior was simple but effective, and it came with air conditioning and power windows. Handstitched leather shows the Italian’s characteristic attention to detail, while every control the driver could need is within easy reach despite an unadjustable driver’s seat.

7

The Story of the M1 Has Plenty Of Twists And Turns

Bavarian Legends Collection/RM Sotheby’s

Three-quarter shot of a silver 1980 BMW M1 in a showroom

The M1 was designed to win at the racetrack, and look great while doing it. More specifically, it was designed to be a silhouette car. These cars were all the rage when BMW designed the M1 in 1975, and there were even competitions to determine which car had the best silhouette. In fact, the M1 was nearly designed by Lamborghini, but the Italian company’s financial instability at the time forced BMW to terminate the contract.

By the time the M1 actually rolled off the production line, unfortunately, the public’s attention was turning away from Silhouette cars. Scrambling to keep the M1 relevant, BMW entered the M1 into the world of motorsport. Unfortunately, bad luck dogged the car wherever it went. The M1 simply couldn’t perform well enough to stand out among the crowd of competitors throughout its production, mostly due to mechanical problems.

RELATED: BMW XM: How the World’s Love of SUVs Killed the BMW M1’s Successor

6

The M1 Has Only Become More Popular With Age

nakhon100 via Flickr

Three-quarter shot of a white BMW M1 in a field.

Even with its initial failures, the M1 is easily one of the most sought-after BMWs of all time. The beautifully designed body is enough to make anyone turn their head, while it makes true BMW fans drool. Here in the 21st century, fans and collectors overlook the M1’s originally lackluster reputation and choose to focus on the design of the iconic BMW, as well as its rarity.

Only 453 of them were produced before being discontinued, which has only increased the M1’s desirability. Along with its limited availability as it is, the M1 was never officially imported to the United States, making collectors from America particularly ravenous for the German supercar. These factors have all contributed to the M1’s near-manic desirability among fans, resulting in M1s being sold for lucrative prices all over the world.

5

The M1 Can Be Driven On The Road, As Well As On The Track

Alden Jewell via Flickr

Three-quarter shot of a white 1979 BMW M1 in a field

A common complaint with supercars is that, while they are incredibly fast, nimble, and agile on a racetrack, they can often be uncomfortable driving on public roads. Multi-million dollar supercars don’t like stop-and-start traffic, potholes, and speed bumps. Suspension components in these cars are often tuned more for track use, creating a choppy ride that can certainly be uncomfortable. The BMW M1 is different.

Drivers have stepped out of the German supercar and agreed that the M1 handles just as well as any street car. This compliment, incredibly rare for a supercar, is founded by unassisted rack and pinion steering, as well as a double-wishbone suspension system. There are also sway bars, gas shocks, and control arms that were inserted into the M1’s chassis for the sole purpose of making the supercar a delight to drive.

RELATED: BMW Hasn’t Written Off an Electric M1 Successor Quite Yet

4

The M1 Was Completely Developed by BMW’s M Division

peterolthof via Flickr

Three-quarter shot of a white 1979 BMW M1 in a garage

BMW’s M Division is universally known among car lovers. However, in 1978, the German Performance branch wasn’t even on the map. That all changed once the M1 hit the streets. The now-beloved BMW supercar was the first car designed entirely by the M Division, marking an important milestone that started the tuning house on a fast track to success and prestige.

Now, the BMW M Division is responsible for the immensely popular M line of cars. The M series of BMWs instantly warrants a nod of respect from any fan of the German car manufacturer and continues to push the boundaries of performance as new BMWs roll off the assembly line year after year.

3

The M1 Was Designed With Motorsport In Mind

Jaeger-Meister via flickr

Side shot of a blue and white BMW M1 with racing livery parked on a racetrack

The M1 is a gorgeous car, having been designed to look good on bedroom posters, but BMW also designed the M1 for another purpose: motorsport. BMW was absolutely dominating the motorsport scene in the 70s, and wanted to continue its victory streak into the 1980s. Eager to show the world that they weren’t going anywhere, BMW announced that several M1s had been bought into Formula One and would be racing in 1979.

Other cars were entered into endurance races like Le Mans and Watkins Glen. Unfortunately, the supercar’s motorsport debut was another failure in its long story. Reports of early engine issues came after the races, and the M1 wasn’t able to finish any of the long endurance races it was placed in.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why The BMW M1 Was Awesome

2

Fans Adore the M1, And Dream About A Revival

Jim Hoagland via Flickr

Three-quarter shot of a red BMW M1 parked on a film studio

Despite failure after failure, the M1 is perhaps the most revered car in all of BMW’s lineup, past or present. The smooth handling, vintage looks, and engine placement make it a thing of beauty. While the M1 may not have been on the cutting edge when it was new, we now look back at it for what it is: A luxurious supercar.

There is no better description, as it fills every single one of the requirements that make a car special. The failure of the M1 only adds to its mythos, making it an underdog that has only come back into the world more relevant than ever. BMW has released concepts of new M1s, redesigned to stick out in the modern era, but nothing concrete has ever been in the works for a new and improved M1. There’s no doubt that, if BMW did recreate the M1, it would make the car community go crazy.

1

BMW Is Eventually Going Electric

Iain Cameron via Flickr

Three-quarter shot of a black 1979 BMW M1 parked in a field.

Much like the exit of silhouette cars in the late 1970s, new trends, and technology dictates what comes down the automotive assembly line. In 2023, electric cars are becoming more and more relevant, with some companies committing to making their entire fleet of cars electric within five to ten years. BMW is one of those companies.

The German manufacturer is slowly introducing more and more electric cars across all of its platforms, including BMW, Mini, and even Rolls-Royce. With this change to Evs, there are certainly going to be some fast cars that come out of Germany. Some will be labeled as supercars, while others will simply be blindingly-quick sports cars. However, no matter what new wonders come from BMW, none will match the personality, story, and soul of the legendary BMW M1.