The famous BMW roundel has led the field in many disciplines of motorsport, and the Munich marque’s motivation to build the M1 was born out of its competitive endeavours.

By the end of the 1970s, its CSL cars were losing an edge against Porsche’s new 935, and BMW needed a mid-engined chassis to fit its twin-cam 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine.

BMW’s Motorsport division first contacted Lamborghini for help needed but by April 1978 the project had been taken in house.

The wedge design was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro and built in Italy along with the chassis, prior to final assembly taking place at Karosserie Baur in Stuttgart.

The resulting product—badged as the BMW M1, and sold from 1978 to 1981—is widely coveted to this day as a rare piece of BMW history.

The example offered here was completed by the factory on 9 October 1980 and delivered to BMW France S.A.

four days later.

Originally finished in Blau over a Schwarz interior, the M1 now presents in Brillantrot with a black leath...