Classic Super Sports Cars High-Performance Machines Of A Bygone Era
The 1980 BMW M1 A street legal Race Car
Today I start a series on the Supers Sports cars of the past. I will feature, compare and analyze some of the most famous Sports Super Cars ever built. I will reach out to cover such topics as heritage, history and most important tradition. You see a sports car is much more than a machine, it represents so many other things on some many other levels. I mean the there have been times when the politics of a nation has rested solely on the shoulders of their sports cars. One of the first and still most popular competitions on an international level is Auto Racing. We may think that major league sports here in America is a big ticket item but truthfully we have more NASCAR faithfuls right here America than all major league events combined!
As a child I have the fondest memories of the sports cars that were around. I like to reflect on the year, make and model of a specific model and just think back on the history of the model. Some made it others didn't. In my opinion one of the best sports cars ever made (for one year) was the Delorean. But I mean the Delorean just goes to show the power of the Sports Car in today's society. Now most of these Super Cars have been relegated to collectors' items sitting in garages across America. So I decided to write about them hoping we can get em out and on the roads and highways this Summer!
So my 1st Super car fits the mold perfect designed "as a race car" this car has an amazing structure I mean it was BMW's mid-engine car ever. It ran off of a straight-six twin cam with a displacement of 3,453cc, pure power all controlled by a ZF 5-speed manual transmission which meant when you shifted into gear you felt it. As you can see it did have a very basic look about it almost deceptive to a point. I mean if you saw it parked on the side of the street it just doesn't look as fast as it is. It was one of the first Super Cars to make the transition away from an all metal body. This model here although seated on a steel chassis has a fiberglass body. This car safe to say featured a technology ahead of it's time as I said before built as a street legal Race Car the M1 came from the factory with race car styled "Double Wishbone Suspension" in the front and rear. Slow down, the street legal versions of the M1 had servo assisted brakes which appropriately was needed to slow down and stop the 3,122 pound Super Car.
Ironically no one could tell if this car was ahead of it's time or past it's prime. After only a year of production in 1981 production is halted only with 450 cars ever produced. The M1 a true German statement of engineering pride on a worldwide scale. And today a most coveted collectors item.
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