{"id":83151,"date":"2025-08-11T19:42:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T23:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=83151"},"modified":"2025-08-11T19:42:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T23:42:21","slug":"1980-bmw-m1-procar-monterey-auction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=83151","title":{"rendered":"1980 BMW M1 Procar in Original Condition Heading to Monterey Auction"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of only 54 BMW M1 Procars ever built will go under the hammer during Broad Arrow\u2019s Monterey Jet Center auction on August 14, 2025. Broad Arrow estimates the car will bring between $1.45 million and $1.85 million. Chassis number 94301057 is a rare survivor. It has never been raced, has remained in original, as-delivered condition since new, and still wears its factory paint and interior. For a purpose-built competition car, that level of preservation is highly unusual.<\/p>\n

BMW Motorsport\u2019s First Ground-Up Creation<\/h3>\n

By the late 1970s, BMW Motorsport GmbH \u2014 established in 1972 \u2014 had already built an impressive racing r\u00e9sum\u00e9. The lightweight BMW 328 had claimed victory at the 1940 Mille Miglia<\/a>; the BMW 700RS brought success in the early 1960s; and the BMW 2002 and 3.0 CSL \u201cBatmobile\u201d became touring car legends. The M1 was different. It was the first car entirely conceived and engineered by BMW Motorsport, designed to meet FIA Group 5 regulations and take the fight to Porsche in international sports car racing.<\/p>\n

Power came from the M88\/1 3.5-liter DOHC inline-six \u2014 a dry-sump, 24-valve engine producing around 470 horsepower in Procar trim and capable of revving to 9,000 rpm. Power was sent through a ZF five-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels. Weighing just over 2,200 pounds, the Procar-spec M1 could reach nearly 190 mph. Brakes were four-wheel ventilated discs, and suspension was by unequal-length wishbones at all four corners. Compared to the road-going M1, the Procar version featured wider track, aggressive bodywork, integrated air jacks, and racing-specific cooling and exhaust systems.<\/p>\n

The Procar Championship<\/h3>\n

Production delays \u2014 caused in part by a failed partnership with Lamborghini \u2014 forced BMW to rethink its racing program. Group 5 homologation required 400 examples for Group 4 competition before further development. This prompted BMW Motorsport boss Jochen Neerpasch<\/a> to create a new racing series to showcase the M1: the BMW M1 Procar Championship.<\/p>\n

The Procar series ran in 1979 and 1980 as a Formula One support event. The format was unique: the five fastest F1 drivers in Friday qualifying earned seats in factory-entered Procars for the Saturday race, lining up against privateer teams.<\/p>\n

The racing quickly became a fan favorite. Niki Lauda won the inaugural 1979 championship, with Nelson Piquet taking the 1980 crown. The grids featured a mix of F1 stars \u2014 including Alan Jones, Jacques Laffite, Clay Regazzoni, and Hans-Joachim Stuck \u2014 and seasoned sports car drivers. The cars were equal, the talent pool was deep, and the racing was often closer than the F1 main event.<\/p>\n

You can hear Neerpasch talk about these past times in our exclusive video:<\/p>\n