There were just 40 vehicles built for the BMW M1 Procar Championship and this 1979 model is number 31. And, having just undergone a full restoration, it is now for sale in California in the United States.
This particular competition example was originally prepared at the factory as a spare racecar, but never saw the track. It would later be assembled as a road-car by BMW and delivered to the BMW AG Niederlassung dealer, where it was sold as a series production car.
Its first owner from Mainz, Germany, purchased the car in November 1979. After changing hands a couple of times, the vehicle ended up at the German BMW dealer AHG in May of 1983, which fitted the car with its special AHG M1 Studie package.
Peter Gartemann, the owner AHG, had the idea of creating a limited-design study that was based on the look of the Procar M1 but was intended for the street. Only ten would ever be built.
An American collector then purchased the vehicle in November 1983, although it was not street legal in California. After appearing at many shows, the M1 was eventually put into storage as a long-term collectable in the 1990s. And in 2012, it was re-awakened…
That’s when the car arrived at Canepa, where a complete restoration was started. Upon confirming its Procar history, the decision was made to build the M1 into a Procar. The only twist would be that this Procar would be for the street.
The M88 engine was sent to VAC Motorsports for a rebuild and is now fitted with period Motec electronic fuel injection. The ZF five-speed manual transaxle, meanwhile, was rebuilt by Vintage Racing Motors.
So, how much? Well, if you have to ask…
