The BMW M1 (internal designation E26) was a super sports car from BMW with a longitudinally mounted mid-engine and rear-wheel drive. From autumn 1978 to the end of 1981, just 453 vehicles were produced. Originally, the BMW M1 was planned for use in motorsport, with only a homologation series to be built in small numbers for public road use. However, changes in the international regulations even before the BMW M1 was presented made it practically superfluous as a racing car. BMW chief designer Paul Bracq’s futuristic styling study set the tone for the BMW M1 development that followed in 1976. This was carried out according to BMW’s specifications at Lamborghini in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy. The vehicle was originally also to be manufactured there, but there were later problems at Lamborghini, so the vehicle was produced by Baur in Stuttgart. Giorgio Giugiaro was responsible for the body design, making the BMW M1 more businesslike than the prototype BMW Turbo and dispensing with the gullwing doors. The BMW M1 was presented in 1978 and was classified as a superlative car. Car tester Gerold Lingnau attested to the car’s “sophisticated technology and superior driving characteristics.” BMW founded BMW Motorsport GmbH specifically for development and production; the M in the model name thus stands for Motorsport.