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One of 54: A Factory-Fresh BMW M1 Procar Arrives at Monterey
A remarkably original BMW M1 Procar, chassis number 94301057, is consigned to Broad Arrow’s Monterey Jet Center auction on August 14, 2025. Estimated at $1.45–$1.85 million, this example is extraordinary: one of only 54 Procars ever produced, it has never seen competitive racing and remains in largely as-delivered condition, retaining its factory paint, interior, and period-correct mechanical specification. For collectors and vintage-racing enthusiasts, a Procar preserved this way is a near-unique opportunity.
BMW Motorsport’s First Full Ground-Up Race Car
Designed and engineered by BMW Motorsport — the company founded in 1972 to spearhead BMW’s factory racing efforts — the M1 Procar was the marque’s first car developed entirely in-house as a competition machine. Unlike BMW’s earlier racing successes (the 328, 700RS, 2002, and the 3.0 CSL “Batmobile”), the M1 was conceived specifically to meet FIA Group 5 regulations and challenge Porsche on international sports-car grids.
Design and construction
The Procar used a tubular chassis with lightweight fiberglass body panels, a purposeful aerodynamic package, and racing-specific cooling and exhaust systems. Compared with the road-going M1, the Procar featured a wider track, aggressive bodywork, integrated air jacks, and upgraded cooling ducts — all optimized for sprint racing and ease of service during events.
Performance and Mechanical Specification
This Procar is powered by the famed M88/1 3.5-liter DOHC inline-six — a dry-sump, 24-valve engine developed for competition. In Procar trim it produced roughly 470 horsepower and could rev to about 9,000 rpm. Power is routed to the rear wheels through a ZF five-speed manual gearbox. With a race-ready weight just above 2,200 pounds, the M1 Procar was capable of approaching 190 mph in the right conditions.
Key specifications
- Engine: M88/1 3.5-liter DOHC inline-six (dry-sump, 24-valve)
- Power: ~470 hp (Procar specification)
- Transmission: ZF 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
- Weight: ~2,200+ lbs (race-spec)
- Top speed: nearly 190 mph
- Chassis: tubular frame with fiberglass body panels
- Brakes: four-wheel ventilated discs
- Suspension: unequal-length wishbones, adjustable for racing
The Procar Championship and Motorsport Legacy
Production headaches — including a failed early partnership with Lamborghini and homologation requirements — prompted BMW Motorsport boss Jochen Neerpasch to create the BMW M1 Procar Championship as a platform to showcase the car. The single-make Procar series ran as a Formula One support race in 1979 and 1980. Its unique format allowed the fastest five F1 drivers from Friday qualifying to jump into factory-entered Procars for the Saturday sprint, lining up against privateer entrants.
The series proved a hit with fans and drivers alike. High-profile winners included Niki Lauda (1979) and Nelson Piquet (1980), and the grids featured F1 stars such as Alan Jones, Jacques Laffite, Clay Regazzoni, and Hans-Joachim Stuck. The one-make format produced fiercely competitive, close racing that often rivaled the spectacle of the main F1 event.
Chassis 94301057: A Well-Documented History
Completed by BMW on May 9, 1979, chassis 94301057 was finished to Procar specification by Osella in Italy and delivered to Vasek Polak, the Czech-born racer and prominent Porsche dealer in Hermosa Beach, California. The car underwent initial shakedown testing at Riverside International Raceway but was rendered ineligible for competition after FIA rule changes — so Polak placed it into storage rather than campaign it.
In 1989 the car changed hands for the first time, still wearing its original unliveried white paint. Through successive ownerships the mechanical specification remained intact: the original M88/1 engine, tubular chassis, factory fiberglass bodywork, and racing equipment were retained. The present owner purchased the car in 2021 and had it serviced at The Werkshop in 2022. Since then it has seen only light, non-competitive track use.
Why This Procar Matters to Collectors and Enthusiasts
Of the 54 Procars built, many were campaigned aggressively, damaged, rebuilt or modified. Very few examples retain factory paint and interior, and even fewer avoided competitive use entirely. Chassis 94301057 is effectively a time-capsule Procar from 1979, offering a rare, factory-original baseline that appeals to concours purists, museums, and collectors seeking an unrestored benchmark example.
Its combination of rarity, provenance, and untouched specification makes it attractive from multiple perspectives: as a high-profile display car, a candidate for sympathetic restoration, or a low-mileage participant in vintage motorsport events. The M1 Procar’s status as one of BMW’s most iconic racing models — and the only one-make series that regularly featured top F1 talent — adds cultural and historical weight to its market value.
Market Positioning and Comparisons
In the classic car market the M1 Procar sits among the most sought-after BMW racing models and competes for attention with period Porsches and other late-1970s sports prototypes. Compared with contemporary Porsche racers (such as early 935 and 911-based entries), the Procar is more compact and purpose-built for sprint competition, delivering a pure, high-revving inline-six character in a lightweight chassis. Its limited production run and direct factory involvement position it as a blue-chip collectible for marque-focused and motorsport-focused buyers.
Auction Information
Lot: 276
Date: Thursday, 14 August 2025
Location: Monterey Jet Center, Monterey, California
Estimate: $1,450,000 – $1,850,000
For anyone seeking an exceptionally original piece of BMW racing history, chassis 94301057 represents a rare confluence of factory specification, provenance, and preserved condition. Whether destined for a museum, concours lawn, or selective vintage-racing program, this M1 Procar is a standout entry at Broad Arrow’s Monterey auction.
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