BMW M1

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BMW M1

Manufacturer:	BMW
Production:	1978–1981
Class:	Super car
Body style:	2-door coupé
Platform:	MR
Engine:	3453 cc I6 M88/1, 204 kW

The BMW M1 is a supercar automobile, and was the first and only mid-engined BMW. It employed a twin-cam M88/1 3.5 L 6-cylinder engine, a version of which was later used in the E24 BMW M6/M635CSi and E28 BMW M5. The engine had six separate throttle butterflies, four valves per cylinder and produced 277 PS (204 kW) in the street version, giving a top speed of 260 km/h (162 mph). Turbocharged racing versions were capable of producing around 850 hp.

The M1 coupe was hand-built between 1978 and 1981 under the Motorsport division of BMW as a homologation special for sports car racing. The body was designed by Giugiaro, taking inspiration from the 1972 BMW Turbo show car. Originally, BMW commissioned Lamborghini to work out the details of the car's chassis, assemble prototypes and manufacture the vehicles, but Lamborghini's financial position meant that BMW reassumed control over the project in April 1978, after seven prototypes were built. Only 456 production M1s were built.[1]

Though the car never saw a great deal of racing success, the M1 is remembered as a refined and civilized supercar in the true BMW tradition, with great handling and stellar build quality. In 2004, Sports Car International named the car number ten on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s.

[edit] External links

http://www.bmwm1.com/

[edit] Reference Links

BMW BMW M MINI Rolls-Royce engines	Road car timeline, 1960s-present - edit
	Type	Series	1960s										1970s										1980s										1990s										2000s										2010s
			0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Compact	1 Series	LS/700																																												E87
		3 Series							1602,2002											E21							E30							E36								E46						E90-E93
	Mid-size	5 Series		1500,1800,2000												E12									E28							E34								E39							E60/E61								F10/F11
	Full-size	7 Series									E3										E23										E32							E38							E65/E66							F01/F02
	Coupé	6 Series						2000CS				E9							E24																												E63/E64
	Roadster	Z Series																													Z1								Z3							Z4							Z2
	Supercar																	E26															E31									E52									Z10
	Crossover	X3																																													E83
		X5																																									E53							E70