One of only 54 BMW M1 Procars will go under the hammer on August 14, 2025 during the Monterey Jet Center auction. Broad Arrow estimates that the car will bring in between USD 1.45 million and 1.85 million US dollars. The chassis number 94301057 is a rare survivor. It has never been driven before, has remained in the original, argumented state and is still wearing its factory color and interior. This conservation level is very unusual for a specially built competition.
BMW Motorsports First basic creation
In the late 1970s, BMW Motorsport GmbH, which was founded in 1972, had already built an impressive race trunk. The light BMW 328 had requested the victory at Mille Miglia from 1940; The BMW 700RS achieved success in the early 1960s; And the BMW 2002 and 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” became Touring Car Legends. The M1 was different. It was the first car that was completely designed and developed by BMW Motorsport that fulfilled the FIA Group 5 regulations and fought the fight against Porsche in the international sports car race.
The power supply took place from the M88/1 3.5-liter dohc inline-six-a-sump, 24-valve engine, which produced around 470 hp in Procar trim lamp and was able to revise to 9,000 rpm. Electricity was sent to the rear wheels by a ZF five-way manual transmission. With a weight of a little more than £ 200, the Procar-Spec M1 could reach almost 190 miles per hour. Brakes were all-wheel-level-ventilated slices, and the suspension was carried out by unequal wish legs on all four corners. Compared to the road M1, the Procar version contained wider route, aggressive body, integrated air sockets and racing-specific cooling and exhaust systems.
The Procar championship
Production delays – partly through a failed partnership with Lamborghini – forced BMW to rethink his racing program. The homologation of Group 5 required 400 examples of group 4 competition before further development. This prompted BMW Motorsport boss Jochen Neerpasch to create a new racing series to present the M1: BMW M1 Procar Championship.
The Procar series was executed in 1979 and 1980 as Formula -1 -Support. The format was unique: the five fastest F1 drivers on Friday qualifying achieved seats in a factory introduction for the Saturday race and faced private teams.
The race quickly became a fan favorite. Niki Lauda won the first 1979 championship, with Nelson Piquet taking over the 1980 crown. The grids showed a mixture of F1 star-darunter Alan Jones, Jacques Laffite, Clay Regazzoni and Hans-Joachim, and experienced sports car drivers. The cars were the same, the talent pool was deep and the race was often closer than the F1 main event.
You can hear Neerpasch in our exclusive video about these past times:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyptirdojn4
CHASSIS 94301057: By Vasek Polak to this day
On May 9, 1979, the chassis 94301057 was completed by BMW and was ready to proclaim specifications from Osella from Osella in Italy. It was delivered to Vasek Polak, a racing driver born in the Czech Republic and renowned Porsche dealer based in Hermosa Beach, California. Polak’s motorsport career extended from pre -war motorcycles to the preparation of profit cars for Ken Miles, Roger Penske and Wolfgang von Trips. His car dealership became a large Porsche racing point in the USA, but he was not only Loyal – and the M1 Procar was an opportunity to take part in a new international series.
The car was shaken down on the Riverside International Raceway for burglary. However, the FIA rules ended its authorization before Polak was able to enter the competition. He put it in warehouse without immediate outlet for the car.
In 1989 the M1 was sold to its second owner, who still wore its original, no longer white color. The mechanical specification remained unaffected: the 3.5-liter M88/1 engine, tubular chassis, fiber optic body panels and factory racing equipment were intact. The current owner acquired the car in 2021 and commissioned a service in the workshop in 2022. Since then it has only experienced easy exercises on private route days.
Why this example is noticeable
Many of the 54 -built procars have been driven hard, crashed, rebuilt or changed over the years. Very few retain their original body, color and interior – and even less have avoided the use of competition. CHASSIS 94301057 is essentially a new Procar from 1979. It remains an authentic representation of how these cars left the BMW Motorsport workshop and its mechanical components of period correction.
For collectors, this level of originality offers several options: conservation at Concours level, museum exhibition or likeable preparation for vintage racing events. In view of the status of the Procar as one of the most famous racing cars from BMW and the only attitude that ever the best F1 drivers of his time contains their importance.
Auction details:
- Go: 276
- Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025
- Location: Monterey Jet Center, Monterey, California
- Estimate: $ 1,450,000 – $ 1,850,000
[Source: Broad and Arrow Auctions]
