Galleria di Tom Automobili

A Bold Idea

In the early 1970s, BMW was gaining momentum in motorsport with its CSL “Batmobile” coupes, but the brand lacked a true mid-engined supercar that could challenge Ferrari
and Porsche on the road and track. To fast-track the project and gain access to expertise in exotic car construction, BMW sought help from an unexpected partner: Lamborghini.

The BMW-Lamborghini Agreement

In 1975, BMW Motorsport GmbH, under the direction of Jochen Neerpasch, began working on a mid-engined supercar for Group 4 racing homologation. The car would need to be built
in at least 400 road-going units within 24 months. Lamborghini was contracted to engineer the chassis, assemble the cars in Sant’Agata Bolognese, and use its experience in
composite materials and small-series production.
The project looked promising. Lamborghini designed a tubular steel spaceframe chassis, and the striking body was penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign, drawing inspiration
from the 1972 BMW Turbo concept by Paul Bracq. The M1 was to be powered by a BMW-developed 3.5-liter inline-six engine with dry sump lubrication and up to 277 hp in road trim.

Trouble in Sant’Agata

Unfortunately, Lamborghini was experiencing severe financial difficulties during this time. Internal management issues, labor strikes, and lack of funding led to massive delays.
Lamborghini was simply unable to fulfill its production commitments. After multiple missed deadlines, BMW had no choice but to take control of the project.

BMW canceled the agreement with Lamborghini and transferred the assembly process to Germany. The chassis production was reassigned to Marchesi in Modena, the fiberglass bodies were
built by TIR in Italy, final assembly was handled by Baur in Stuttgart, and quality control was completed at BMW Motorsport in Munich.

The Final Result

Despite the rocky start, the BMW M1 was finally unveiled in 1978. It was a striking and capable machine — the only true supercar BMW has ever built. The M1 featured:

 A 3.5L M88/1 inline-six engine producing 277 hp (204 kW)
 A top speed of over 260 km/h (162 mph)
 A timeless wedge design by Italdesign
 Exceptional handling thanks to its mid-engine layout and racing pedigree

Only 453 units were built between 1978 and 1981, making the M1 a rare collector’s item today.

Legacy and Curiosities

The BMW M1 never achieved great racing success due to changing FIA homologation rules, but it gave birth to the iconic Procar Championship — a one-make series where Formula 1 drivers
raced identical M1s during F1 weekends.

As for Lamborghini, the M1 project was one of several abandoned or failed ventures during a turbulent period. Still, it left an intriguing mark on Lamborghini’s engineering legacy,
showing what could have been had the partnership flourished.

A Missed Opportunity

The story of the BMW M1 and Lamborghini is a tale of ambition, innovation, and the complications of cross-border collaboration. It’s a rare example of two iconic carmakers
intersecting, — briefly, chaotically, but memorably. Though Lamborghini never got to finish what it started, its fingerprints remain subtly embedded in one of BMW’s most revered cars.

Note:A racing version of the M1, known as the BMW M1 Procar, was developed for a one-make championship that supported Formula 1 events in 1979 and 1980. These cars
featured modified M88/1 engines producing up to 470 hp, extensive weight reduction, and track-specific aerodynamics.