Homologation Specials: 1980 BMW M1

The scope of BMW’s competition history is a wide one. It includes victories at events as diverse as the Dakar Rally and the Mille Miglia, as well as the production of the most powerful engine Formula 1 has ever seen, to say nothing of the brand’s record in touring cars.
And in the very beginning, in 1972, long before the name change to BMW M, BMW Motorsport began translating some of its prowess for racing into production cars. Homologation specials like the E9 3.0 CSL and E30 M3 that supported championship-winning machines are rightfully praised, but none to date have been as ambitious or singular as the BMW M1.
Spurred by the success of the CSL and E21 3-Series racing programs in Europe and the United States in the 1970s, BMW Motorsport director Jochen Neerpasch decided to take a different and more direct approach to the next car to carry the tricolor stripes. Rather than using an existing road car model as a basis for the racing version, the M1 was designed for the track first and foremost. The car was unlike any BMW had ever built, and in order to do so, the Bavarians teamed up with the Italians to tap into their experience with mid-engine supercars. BMW partnered with Lamborghini to produce the cars at first, with Gian Paolo Dallara designing the chassis and Giorgetto Giugiaro in charge of styling. It was a gathering of great ingredients.
And in hindsight they produced a great car, but the delays and complications with the M1’s production in-period stunted its chances at reaching whatever potential it may have had in Group 4 and 5 sports car racing against the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, Lancia, Chevrolet, and the others that ended up defining the series in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. Neerpasch greatly salvaged the car’s racing reputation in the form of the one-make, two-season ProCar series, but no matter what happened on track, the road-going BMW M1 is a special car to drive, as our host Sam Hancock can surely attest after spending a day with one in the mountains in Germany.
More films, articles, and photos: www.petrolicious.com
Petrolicious Membership: Premium films, Drive Tastefully Quarterly, events & more: www.petrolicious.com/membership
The best automotive gear and goods: www.petrolicious.com/shop
Like us on Facebook: / petrolicious
Follow us on Instagram: / petrolicious
Always Drive Tastefully®

[@telegraphkid]

Who else misses having the actual owner of the car doing the driving and taking? It used to be so special listening to the details and history of each car and it’s owners personal journey to acquiring the car. This new format does not really work for me, not because it’s any bad but simply because the older format was just so much better.

[@marko3296]

Now its just another car show...

[@douglasb.1203]

The actual owner probably wouldn't sit on the fender.

[@brettself]

I like both. I've enjoyed good automotive journalism since the 80s, when the M1 was so under-photographed that we had to fill in the blanks with imagination. I love the owner-host and the journalist-host. First and foremost, I love the cars. Maybe that's why it doesn't matter that much to me.

[@cam8569]

What happened to this great channel, this presenter is absolutely annoying.

[@onlyhuman7420]

100% agree.

[@Lucarocks92]

What not to do. Dump the clutch of a 500k car on the gravel. Sit on the car.

[@Runoratsu]

Well, this collaboration between Germany and Italy was definitely more charming than the one a couple decades earlier.

[@happychappers8311]

The lack of thumbs up shows not enough people have a dark sense of humor anymore.

[@siegfriedbarfuss9379]

Who cares?

[@sjchundreddays]

Well if they’d called it the BMW M Fascism it probably wouldn’t have sold all that well!😂😂

[@aaronie3230]

Can we have the old format back: owner-car relationship. We dont want a classic car review, we want a video that's full of emotion and story. I didn't watch this channel to watch reviews.

[@C345OFR]

So don't click on Homologation Specials. It's not rocket science.

[@garrenturk4093]

@@C345OFR no need to be rude..... I wish it was like before as well.... but Covid-19 ruined it..... their not doing owner interviews for safety....... Homologation specials are irrelevant..... besides this car HAS BEEN ON THE CHANNEL ALREADY...... A red one to be exact....

[@C345OFR]

@@garrenturk4093 If 'Homologation Specials are irrelevant', why are you clicking on them? The series has its own logo and is stated in the title. Very easy to avoid.

[@1983dmd]

@@garrenturk4093 Petrolicious was recently sold and the new owner lost the essence...Sad...

[@finkployd4047]

@@garrenturk4093 to call them irrelevant is a bit daft. Me along with many others, judging by the like to dislike ratio, fancy the homologation specials. With that said hopefully they'll bring back the old format while keeping the homologation specials too.

[@rashedsasmr6648]

4:19 dude rlly dumped the clutch on gravel with a 500k+ classic supercar. Hope the owner is fine with that

[@raygotz1069]

Thought the very same thing

[@ShawnD1027]

That was definitely a cringeworthy moment.

[@Venlaw]

Sure the camera guy was thrilled too.

[@revolutronic]

i yelled at the screen

[@por964]

Its a BMW Museum owned car, judging by the plate, but yes, stupid to treat it like that.

[@randomoto928]

"This is a rare car. Only 453 examples were produced." "Watch me as I do a gratuitous burnout off this gravel shoulder and snap an axle!"

[@tomnewmanrotta]

Probably the last time anyone lends him a car.. I'm all for giving a hire car the odd bit of abuse, but my god this is hard to watch in places... The fuckin rally start on gravel for one!!

[@thethresh]

"let's lean on this fender...what could happen?"

[@achintyaaatreya]

What could possibly go wrong?..... that's what they thought. Like Jeremy Clarkson.

[@humanbeing1675]

Absolutely. Acting like a teen in a historic car.👎

[@martinmoran89]

the gravel made me sad, it was unnecessary

[@Sean-if7rp]

No respect

[@rivenmotors7981]

stopped after seeing this guy again

[@MPPelli]

Oh yes. That's my dream car, along with the Lotus Esprit, another one of Giugiaro's wedges.

[@AxLWake]

I love the styling of the cars of this period. BMW M1, Lotus Esprit, DeTomaso Pantera, Ferrari GT4 Dino, Maserati Khamsin, etc. Or even the infamous DeLorean . I don't know how good to drive these cars are but man do they look cool.

[@philclarke7712]

The M1 is a bit more special in its elusiveness. I'm tripping over Esprits, they're definitely more obtainable.

[@JunixZzHD]

I'm sure Sam is a nice guy but the way he talks when presenting is just too much, too artificial.

[@Samson518]

Car 👍🏻 Guy presenting 👎🏻 Should be in a Drakkar cologne commercial.

[@carltoncotter2614]

Yes, but needs to cut a bit more weight from lower carbs and cross fit training - presumably another topic where he knows just enough to be dangerous.

[@pacoelizalde8491]

Not this dude again

[@alencek182DS]

what is this guy's problem? Sitting on the car, dumping the clutch on the gravel, narrating like this is a football match... feels bad man.

[@ovenorway]

Who the hell sit on a car ?

[@1down5up426]

Sounds like he’s reading a brochure in iambic pentameter

[@rodrikes]

Why does the presenter sit on the car? Just can't imagine why one should do that...

[@waiwong1304]

And that clutch dump on gravel.....

[@aconstantdread5677]

I drive a clapped out e30, but if some other dude sits on my car I’m throwing hands.

[@bogfinken]

I used to enjoy Petrolicious videos What is this?

[@dondalle86]

That peel away made me smile and wince at the same time, ultimately not sure how I feel about that! What a fantastic machine though.

[@waiwong1304]

Yea that clutch dump on gravel and rocks was not ok

[@fjahnhogler]

Guess that he consider cars as being best used when used hard, as intended :) And looking up his CV, he has some serious skill and knowledge, especially around historic race cars

[@herbie53opf]

It's a sports car. It's meant to be used hard. Just because it's worth a lot and old doesn't mean you shouldn't use it as intended

[@rynofourie183]

@@herbie53opf use it then as intended and hard on the road surface. Not on gravel which all of these cars avoided during races.

[@herbie53opf]

@@rynofourie183 it's not like he drove through the gravel at 200km/h. He just spun the wheels for a meter or two. It's not like the car would be severely damaged by this

[@johnnybgoode4778]

'80s bmws are whole different level of aesthetic.

[@maxmoughal5183]

What happened to the car-owner relationship story, that was the USP of this channel and you've ruined it.

[@fjahnhogler]

Perhaps corona is the reason?

[@deltamedia7566]

It seems like the new owners of the channel do not read the comments so the only way to make them listens is to give their video the thumbs down and unsubscribe.

[@misomojzita]

I dont like this format. What got me to these videos was the stories of the owners. Many times they kind of steal my thoughts and words. I loved it.. These recent videos are just empty reviews. Dear Petrolicious team, please bring us some more owner tales with their cars.

[@fjahnhogler]

Probably due to the pandemic?

[@myou6675]

Fantastic lockdown lunchtime viewing. What a car, what a location.

[@mohamedayari1014]

Saw one in BMW museum, absolutely STUNNING CAR!

[@MULTIPLESHOTSFIRED]

Douchey dumping the clutch on gravel ruins what could have been nice review. Might as well do a cold start and pump it to redline repeatedly. What the hell were you thinking? Please share the VIN so buyers can avoid.

[@MrFuriousliquidity]

Please bring back the old format. Also, no offense to Sam Hancock, I’m sure he’s a great driver and just doing his job but imo, he comes across as trying too hard.

[@dennisng4627]

The chance of ever seeing one of these rare bird in motion is never. Thank you for a wonderful glimpse & ride for us mere common scribes.

[@MrNew122]

We just saw it in motion

[@1983dmd]

This guy has no place here....Spinning such a historic car in gravel is totally stupid ...Please get rid of him...sooo boring....and show off...Also, we all know the BMW M1 story.

[@paulkrapp]

He thinks he's Magnum PI, WTF man?! Completely unnecessary!

[@tommyvercettygt]

I've seen it in real life and i can say it's as beautiful and charming as from a monitor Sadly i don't have 500.000 euros to buy it

[@ronin84]

Beautiful car but DON'T SIT ON IT

[@sergeantsqueaker]

A beautiful video. The fact these masterpieces are given to us for free is not lost on me. Thank you.

[@johnhyoutube]

Why do you have to sit on the car? And is it really necessary to churn up gravel when you take off? Pathetic!

[@trapmav]

Love the videos, but please get another presenter or another screen writer please!!!! This videos are lacking passion feeling. This feels more like top gear then a classic car channel. Thank you for your effort , i know that this takes time money to do.

[@oleglakhno]

Old format with ex owner of Petrolicius was way more interesting and true and unique. New team does everything without this passion

[@OnlyARoadtripAway]

This was all done under the old ownership behind the paywall. This film is over two years old.

[@medicropper]

In March of 2003 I was in Bellagio, Italy on Lake Como and there was an M1 owners meet up at the hotel. I have never heard of this car until that day when I saw 5 of them together at once. So cool and exotic.

[@silverbullet1979]

I love it when you guys review a car from yesteryears... such a treat to the eye and a time well spent watching it... 👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼

[@alex_sophie]

why does he try to sound like richard hammond?

[@pieter-jozuaerasmus4686]

If you borrow my very valuable, rare vintage car, and you spin up gravel with stones flying everywhere, I would slap you silly. What a nob! Bring back the Owners to tell the story please

[@GlennEverittMasterofMachines]

It's a huge responsibility to drive such a car, great care and respect are required. People often tell me I have the best job ever on my channel, driving such rare cars. Truth is it's a combination of both, sensational but also stressful to ensure the car returns to the loving owner in the exact order it was before you turned the key.

[@brettself]

Love the production quality of your presentations. Never disappointed when I stop by your place.

[@StaffandStormcloud]

Dare you say first executive super car?! You dare not!! You dare never!! You are but a galavanting jackaneenee, dare I say! And a good day to you sir, indeed!!!

[@JustinJaiC.]

Can someone please give me the definition of "Homologation" in layman's terms? Thanks in advance.

[@derstrohmann7450]

A specific numbers of said model but for the Street. If you want to take part in specific races, you need to bild said car "for the public to buy" so to speak. Lets say 200 "Homologation Models". Mostly those cars loose their racetrack look (here for example the aero body kit) but have technical simularities. There are exceptions like the Dodge Daytona. The car you could buy was nearly the same as it was used on the weekend raceevents.

[@NewmanRacing]

Homologation is defined as "the process of certifying or approving a product to indicate that it meets regulatory standards and specifications". In racing terms that means having a race car that meets the criteria allowed by the rules of the racing series. In a production based racing series they do not allow prototype or one off race cars. A production race car must be a modified version of a street legal "production" car. So in order for your race car to be homologated (approved) for racing, there is generally a minimum number of street based cars that are required to be built in order for it to be considered a production car. In the 80s and 90s this number was pretty low (400 in this example), so plenty of manufacturers made low production run "homologation special" cars that were designed for racing but made legal for the street. Thus allowing them to build much more advanced race cars and still be legal under the rules.

[@derstrohmann7450]

@@NewmanRacing Thanks for clearing that up. Since English is not my native language, i sometimes struggle to bring over the point.

[@DriversSide]

Fantastic video as always! The dimensions of this car are bonkers!

[@brendanthebdog]

That engine sounds great

[@AbandonedRaven]

If I ever had one these, I would need to get an M1 Procar kit for it.

[@NicksGarage]

As always, the content is absolutely top notch. Inspirational level of production quality. Thank you all for your passionate work to capture these automobiles.

[@ruyaninoyundunyasi]

I live in Turkey, my English may not be very good, sorry. You are the best car channel I follow. The editing of the videos, the shooting techniques, the use of music, everything is very good. You can convey the emotions of the car, which is the subject of the video, very well. After all, what we call a car is not just about top speed, acceleration, fuel consumption values. For me, automobile means emotion and feeling first and foremost.

[@RbNetEngr]

Great video. I like the historical account of the car’s development.

[@amalitsky]

What a story! Thanks a lot

[@BaruKz]

This car represents the one and only supercar ever produced by BMW, more curious even there was no plan ever thought to bring up this M1. As the first product normally is the best and in this case it applies perfectly.

[@RCRitterFPV]

being born in 75, that was a spaceship to me. this was the first supercar I remember seeing, probably 7 years old at BMW Dealer stand at LimeRock. I Probably stared at a Road and Track for months before seeing it in person. but I really always felt more drawn the the Porsches, the 959 was the first supercar I knew EVERYTHING about. that said,... have a e90 M3 now... the 911 is next... If I can find one I can afford... but It might be a Miata and a Cyber Truck next.

[@andeleputo89]

The e90 M3 is an excellent driver’s car still

[@ionacjohnj.59]

Beautiful masterpiece! ❤️

[@loucostabile]

Car = 10 + Editing & Photography = 10 + Mid roll ads = 0 (as it stinks anytime it comes up in the middle of your masterpiece video) for the combined score = 66.6 (That's not a good # now is it!) IF ONLY YOU CAN JUST LEARN TO SHUT OFF THE MID ROLL ADS and give your Viewers what they want, and uninterrupted wonderful video you could get a A+

[@unfollowmanuelle1622]

Just Amazing!

[@Ayeobe]

Love it! the engine makes beautiful music, and the music was also beautiful. I always look forward to the next Petrolicious video. Such care and attention is not often put into such short peices, but it makes them easy to watch at any time.. any time you need a fix of Automotive art

[@hasantopcu2213]

Giugiaro is just a wonderful genius, to say the least...

[@franzhuber7361]

How dare you to sit on it?

[@SupperUpper]

Nice vintage GMT Master!

[@rizwanrafeek7139]

Absolutely beautiful! ♡

[@jfkwindowanddoor8263]

Ill be the Lone Gunman here and express my appreciation for a car being driven as it was intended. The remaining lot o' you can enjoy cars behind glass with white gloved presenters.

[@mercoid]

I don’t think the people complaining are as prissy as you make them out to be. There’s a difference between use, even spirited use, and abuse.

[@samuelkim1827]

one of the most underrated bmw of all time along with the 2002 turbo and the 3.0 csl. no one that i know talks about it

[@uliwehner]

i actually like this one better than some of the prior videos. This time it felt like he was having some fun

[@widewinger1454]

Going from a dig in loose gravel in an M-1, poor car.

[@poovaneswaransupramaniam19]

An absolute masterpiece....respect BMW for doing this

[@GadgetyMV]

Very nice images, on that curvy road, lovely sounding straight six. The music distracts. Perhaps today it's hard to get acceptance for interviews in these Covid days, hence the new format for Petrolicious?

[@kevinalarcon9389]

Such a legend

[@biffbifford402]

If I was going to do a cannonball run with a car, this is the one I always suspected I would do it with.

[@mellowgh0st]

Makes me think what the Fiero could've been if GM had some faith (larger budget) in Pontiac when making it.

[@Noble_Oak]

Looking this video , i am proud to be a german ! 🥰👍🏼 Chris , from Bremen / Germany

[@hildand.arifwirayudha]

Outstanding film maker

[@roeffaersmichel7971]

Legendary car! Futuristic

[@harrisonswincer1862]

There are a few people in this comment section that are a bit up their own you know what. Just relax, accept change and enjoy it for what it is. Keep doing what youre doing with the channel and as always; drive tastefully.

[@corteman]

At 1:43 into the video, is it pissing some sort of fluid on to the ground? As the owner of 3 BMWs I would expect it to be losing fluids, any fluids, looking for a chance to escape...

[@SaiKumar-wd4hj]

very rare model car

[@keithsclassicgarage1133]

A perfect hybrid for sure!

[@ilyaavakov]

Super!

[@videodrom1]

This guy is really excited about this car.

[@mercoid]

Gorgeous maaaastaa pieces of exquisite beauty

[@randalfarnsworth1781]

Saw the previous comments of the gravel, I haven't come to that part............but just have>>>>>>>>>>>>Really? I wouldn't do that in a shitbox let alone a M1.

[@93455Driver]

Real enjoy the mix of videos. Understand that the pandemic makes it difficult to do the owner videos, but the few that are shown are most welcome.

[@roadmantop3769]

Excellent work 👏

[@pratikschannel6075]

What happened to the old format? It was way way better.

[@gabillionaire]

I like your sunnies mate what brand are they?

[@1946jeeplover]

#1, bring back the format of the owners talking about their own car - way more special, #2 don’t ever park your ass on someone else’s car. Ever.

[@elcasho]

Brilliant video!

[@dillanmistry]

They had the same engine in the e28 m5

[@TomasCage]

Same but different same with the M635CSI/M6

[@1983dmd]

@@TomasCage More powerful in M635CSi and e28 euro M5...286HP

[@dritan3020]

Damn now i need an M1

[@lucianolizana446]

0:45 a world war?

[@kyungjaemin]

It's sad to see what BMW has become

[@achintyaaatreya]

Might sound a bit odd but I'd have a black BMW M1 over a Countach, it's that good.

[@halexic1]

What is that leakage at 01:30?

[@sadubone]

The only good thing in this video is the car.

[@simmersonwheels7724]

I used to froth, waiting for the latest Petrolicious on Tuesday morning, how did it become so boring?

[@TheDoosh79]

I'm surprised that given the era (lack of excess safety equipment/regulations) and the plastic panels that it isn't lighter than 1300kg, it looks like quite a sparse interior and there isn't much else going on for that sort of weight!

[@Hiiwiii]

He tries to make it sound more exciting than it actually is. Thats what ruins this video.

[@Reuterli]

Absolutely. The car itself creates plenty of emotion, not that overdone narrative.

[@Hiiwiii]

@@Reuterli True 👍🏽

[@mercoid]

Super Kaaa

[@gianpaologliori3604]

Nice! I don’t normally like to live in the past but this does rather underline the extent to which BMW have lost the plot recently. This is a lovely car...didn’t realise how the nose anticipates the 8 series design (another masterpiece). Presenter a bit of the Tiff Needell gentle hysteria mould however 🤣 And I think they didn’t shut the rear hatch properly??

[@komradkolonel]

I've never really been into BMWs very much except for the 2002 and this. You can see and hear the Lamborghini influence all over the M1. It sounds almost identical to the Jalpa. The M1 might struggle in a drag race vs a Mazda Miata and would get eaten alive by a Mustang GT but I don't care. I would still love to have one of these. Performance numbers are at least somewhat important but they aren't everything.

[@justanotherinternetmusicia1248]

Motoring masterpiece

[@cesarefiderio1634]

Un gioiello così bello non poteva farlo nulla altro all infuori della B M W.

[@KS-gv8jy]

Enjoy it as neither BMW or others will build cars this beautiful ever again thanks to safety nuts and tree huggers