Car of the Day - BMW M1 Hommage

Car of the Day - BMW M1 Hommage

BMW presented the M1 Hommage at the 2008 Concorse d’Elegance Villa d’Este to mark the 30th anniversary of the original M1. Spawned from the 1972 BMW Turbo designed by one of my favorite designers, Paul Braq, the original M1 was a seminal design by Giorgio Giugiaro. The Italian influence did not stop with Giugiaro for the original as BMW partnered with Lamborghini to help develop their first mid-engine exotic. Built between 1978 and 1981 the M1 was a huge marketing success for BMW, being used in one of the earliest one make race series supporting the F1 Championship in the guise of the M1 Procar.

Naturally with such a successful and high profile design each ten year anniversary should be a time to celebrate it. With just 457 of the original M1’s built it’s importance to BMW does not relate to profits but rather on going prestige. The hope for enthusiasts is that one day BMW will follow through and deliver a “new” M1.

This is actually a “not quite” a Car of the Day as BMW did not release any specifications or possible specifications and as can be seen from the images there appears to be no interior. That being said and important aspect of Car of the Day is automotive design, of which this is an outstanding example.

Rod Halligan