BMW March M1 *the ultimate M1*

Description

Slideshow of pictures of the ultimate BMW M1, the BMW-March M1 Group 5/6. In the late seventies, BMW figured it needed something better than the M1 procar version to beat the reigning Porsche 935. They ordered March Engines in England to build them a totally new aluminum monocoque chassis, which was stronger and lighter than the chassis of the original M1. In 1979 testing started. With it's wild wheel arches, low, wide and long bodywork, the new car surely looked the lot. The test car was equiped with the engine of the procar's: the M88/1. A 3,5 litre six-in-line which developed 470 hp at 9000 rpm. This engine has an incredible sound, even compared to today's standards. This engine is what you hear now.(TURN IT UP!) Although 470 hp doesn't seem to be very bad, the M1 was very underpowered compared to the porsche 935, which developed in excess of 700 hp from it's turbo engine. That's why BMW was designing a turbocharged version of their M88, the M88/2. They claimed it would produce a whopping 850 hp. This engine though, was not ready for the 1979 season. The BMW-March M1 failed to qualify for the 1979 le mans, presumably because of a lack of testing and front-end lift at high speeds. In 1980 it became clear that the rules for Group 5 racing where going to be changed, and that the BMW-March wouldn't qualify for them. This meant it had to be raced in Group 6, the prototype class. BMW stopped testing of the new engine, and after 1980 the project was stopped. By the end of <b>...</b>

Keywords

March, M1, BMW, motorsport, procar, e26, m88, sound, turbo, porsche, 935, k3, crash, Le, mans, 1980, 1979, 24, daytona, 12, sebring, hours, prototype, group, racing, race, Bruce, Jenner, Jim, Busby, Rick, knoop, Bob, Gregg, Slideshow, pictures, Manfred, winkelhock, IMSA, GTP, Miami, 1984, road, atlanta, screaming, six, cilinder, max, rpm, power, youngtimer, ytcc, trophy, shorttail, longtail, tuning, bodykit, zandvoort, assen, spa, nurburgring

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