Sublime, midnight blue BMW M1 for sale

Why? Because in reality the M1 completely failed to achieve what it was designed to do. Nowadays it’s hard to imagine an M accident, but almost 50 years ago BMW’s motorsport division was still finding its way. The desire to compete in the upper echelons of sports car racing was a great idea to boost the brand, but bringing Lamborghini on board to help proved unwise. As the Italians plummeted towards bankruptcy, the M1 project was delayed; the final production process took a very long time (and therefore expensive), but the required number of cars for homologation made it out of BMW’s door. By this time the Group 5 rules had changed and the M1 was uncompetitive.

So the 280 hp road car cost more than a Ferrari 512BB, and the racer couldn’t win – not a promising start for the first fully built BMW Motorsport car. However, salvation was at hand thanks to Procar, the one-make series for M1s that supported Formula 1. And, amazingly, F1 drivers behind the wheel. It was a breathtaking spectacle, the sight and sound of motorsport spec M1s on Grand Prix circuits thereby winning many hearts and minds. Even though in the end only a few were sold.

Still, not quite delivering as intended didn’t make the M1 any less compelling. It was beautiful in a way that no BMW had ever been (or was since) thanks to Giugiaro’s input, the M88 six-cylinder was glorious, and it brought mid-engine glamor to a somewhat dowdy BMW range that could have little else. The M1 was proof that BMW could make a halo car as well as anyone, and became the ultimate M collectible.

There were only 399 road cars, this 1980 example was one of the last and one of 59 in Nachtblau. It has lived a lifetime and has been in collections in Canada, Belgium, Switzerland and Great Britain. Interestingly, the selling dealer has had it in their own portfolio for 15 years, so it is exceptionally well known to them. Because it has rarely been used recently, it is getting the full pre-sale work – all rubber replacement, new clutch, brake caliper rebuild and so on – to ensure that “this car not only drives great, but can be taken with confidence on road trips without any nasty surprises.” What a privilege that would be.

As BMW M enters its sixth decade, the very first M car is arguably more desirable than ever. Its historical significance, rarity, beauty and very special drivetrain meet the requirements of an automotive asset. So it’s half a million pounds. But if a 2.7 RS can also do the same, and a Countach can sometimes do twice as much, that might not be the craziest asking price you’ve ever seen. After all, it is the genesis of perhaps the most famous motorsport offshoot of them all. The fact that it looks like this doesn’t hurt either…