[Photos] One-Off, Basalt Blue BMW M1 Procar

Check out this Basalt Blue BMW M1 Procar that has an interesting story behind it. The BMW M1 is the German automaker’s first attempt at a supercar and it remains to be legendary. Because of it, the M Division was born, and we couldn’t be more thankful that happened. The M1 was originally intended for the race track so they used homologation, which luckily, paved the way for brilliant M1 roadcars. It took BMW a while before they finished the car and by then, the racing series was over. That’s when the BMW M1 Procar series was born. It was a racing series of just BMW M1s that lasted for two seasons.

In the two seasons it operated, there were 40 BMW M1 Procar chassis developed. However, only 39 of them raced on track because one was sold to a German customer in 1979. This car had the chassis number 31. This car now made its way to California where it was stripped down and rebuilt. It was only during the reconstruction that the owner discovered it was chassis number 31. And boy, was that a nice surprise!

The new owner then decided to turn it back into the BMW M1 Procar it originally was. It received Procar suspension, body kits, hubs, wheels, brakes and interior. Other parts were not available anymore but this is still as close to the original as it can get.

The engine has been rebuilt by VAC Motorsports who fitted it with electronic fuel-injection, so its brilliant 3.5 liter inline-six engine now makes 470 hp and 357 lb ft. It also got Brembo brakes and slightly larger BBS wheels, that mirror the design of the originals, to accommodate those larger brakes.

The car was then painted in Basalt Blue which was used to paint M1s for BMW board members. It looks like a real icon!

Source: Top Gear