The BMW M1 Procar’s Liveries Were Half the Show—Pick the Best One

The BMW M1 Procar sequence solely lasted two years, but it nonetheless feels weirdly trendy: equivalent automobiles, absurd driver lineup, and racing that mattered as a result of no person had a mechanical excuse. BMW ran it as a assist present at European Formulation 1 weekends in 1979 and 1980—5 of the quickest F1 qualifiers dropped into matching M1s and went door-to-door with touring automobile aces and privateers. However right here’s the factor: ask most fans what they keep in mind first, and also you received’t get lap charts. You’ll get paint. The M1 Procar silhouette is already a poster—mid-engine wedge, field flares, large wing—so while you wrap it in interval sponsor graphics, it turns into motorsport pop artwork whether or not you meant it to or not.

So let’s do that correctly: essentially the most memorable, verifiably actual M1 Procar (and intently associated interval M1 race) liveries—plus one Nürburgring particular you simply jogged my memory deserves to be within the dialog.

The works look: BMW Motorsport stripes, plus peak-‘79 Marlboro

BMW’s personal Procar retrospective leans into the fundamentals: the manufacturing facility M1s in Motorsport colours, the “that is what BMW M appears like” blueprint that’s echoed for many years.

After which there’s the ultra-period punch of Marlboro on the works entries—a type of combos (white/purple/black on a pointy wedge) that merely can’t look dangerous. This entry was listed with Marlboro sponsorship on a works M1. These had been the times when promoting campaigns had no limits.

BASF: the goal graphic that made a chemical firm look cool

When you’re selecting along with your eyes, the BASF Procar is a front-runner. BMW Basic itself has highlighted the M1 Procar in “traditional BASF livery,” and it’s onerous to argue—these concentric circles appear like they had been designed across the M1’s angles.

Cassani’s two-car masterclass: UHER and Kreistelefonbuch

Manfred Cassani’s camp principally provided two reverse design philosophies and each landed. Hans-Joachim Caught’s automobile wore UHER in a stark, high-contrast scheme, and one other entry with “Sponsors: UHER” and black/white colours.

The sister automobile (Manfred Winkelhock) went full highlighter: Kreistelefonbuch in yellow with black accents black—documented in chassis historical past because the “yellow and black colours” of its backer.

Denim: blue-and-white, completely tailor-made to the wedge

Some liveries appear like they’re combating the form. DENIM appears prefer it’s following the crease strains with a ruler. Chassis historical past notes {that a} former Jim Beam-backed automobile later served within the staff’s “good-looking blue and white Denim livery” for 1980.

Jim Beam: the “booze racing” template executed proper

The Jim Beam automobile is peak Procar power—clear white base, daring coloration blocks, and sponsor placement that doesn’t muddle the physique. This 1979 Procar M1 was adorned with “Sponsors: JIM BEAM/WINNEBAGO” and the white/purple/inexperienced coloration format. And a separate chassis report confirms the identical automobile appeared in 1979 with Jim Beam backing (plus different interval sponsors).

Gösser Beer: Austria’s rolling flag

You requested for the inexperienced one—and sure, it’s an actual, correctly documented Procar look. Pushed by Dieter Queste, this BMW M1 Procar raced with the Gösser Beer sponsors in inexperienced/purple/white colours. (When you’ve ever wished a livery that appears prefer it got here with a passport stamp, that is it.)

Buler: the Swiss watch flex

Buler belongs on this listing as a result of it’s precisely what a one-make “everybody’s equal” sequence wants: a crisp, identifiable privateer scheme that appears costly with out being loud. The BMW Schweiz entry had white/purple colours.

Abel Lepitre: Monaco, champagne, and the correct of purple/white

Walter Brun’s Abel Lepitre sponsorship is a type of combos that feels inconceivable to separate from the period. The archives tie Brun’s M1 entries to Abel Lepitre sponsorship and the white/purple colours.

The Nürburgring map automobile: Caught/Piquet and “Ja zum Nürburgring”

In case your favourite M1 livery is the one that appears like somebody traced the Nordschleife throughout the bodywork, you’re not imagining it. BMW Motorsport entered a Procar-bodied M1 as automobile #201 for the 1980 ADAC 1000km Nürburgring, and it wore a “Ja zum Nürburgring” design whose graphics echo the circuit itself. With Hans-Joachim Caught and Nelson Piquet sharing the drive, the M1 completed third total and topped its class—an M1 that actually carried the ‘Ring on its pores and skin whereas it fought on the ‘Ring

French aptitude, Le Mans angle

BMW France “Carte de France” (usually linked with Antar). That is the livery for individuals who love particulars. The “Carte de France” M1 is actually a map-themed design tied to BMW France’s Le Mans efforts—an thought so French it nearly can’t be replicated elsewhere. Interval references additionally join the idea to Antar sponsorship within the BMW France orbit.

VSD

In order for you an M1 sporting correct endurance-racing identification (and a few very French staff power), the VSD/Zol’Auto automobile is a must-mention, full with that splendidly particular driver trio.

ALPINA and the “how did this exist?” class.

There are many trendy ALPINA greens and golds that look nice, however the black/white ALPINA-branded M1 competitors look is a special taste—extra graphic, extra aggressive, and surprisingly pure on the M1’s sharp surfaces.

Warhol: not Procar, however the M1 livery that transcends motorsport

The Andy Warhol BMW M1 Artwork Automobile isn’t a Procar-series entry—nevertheless it’s nonetheless a full-race M1 silhouette, and it’s the one which turned the automobile right into a touring museum piece. Le Mans’ organizers name it an “absolute icon” and be aware it completed sixth total on the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans.

And sure, there are extra (as a result of Procar is a livery rabbit gap). When you begin scrolling interval entries, you understand the grid was principally a rolling sponsor catalog. RacingSportsCars’ Procar listings present further flavors like AIR PRESS, MEMPHIS/SCHNITZER, ARVOR/TOTAL, and others. 

Your flip

Alright: choose one. No ties, no “is determined by the angle,” no “at the moment I really feel like…” Are you staff BASF goal, UHER Cassani, Kreistelefonbuch yellow, DENIM blue/white, Jim Beam, Gösser inexperienced/purple/white, Buler Swiss clear, Abel Lepitre Monaco, the “Ja zum Nürburgring” map automobile, or are you going full tradition with Warhol?