BMW M1

1978 to 1981 · Coupe · Limited edition · 453 built

A 1978 BMW M1 cost $100,000 new. Over the past 12 months, 6 have sold publicly at a median of $532,551. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $569,600. Across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $369,181 to $742,000, depending on mileage, color, and history.

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Shifty Estimate

$569,600

Medium confidence · $462K to $655K

Median · 12 mo: $532,551
Sales · 12 mo: 6
Market cap: $258M · 453 built
Original MSRP: $100,000Up 470% since new

Blue Chip

Sold$472,500 · Gooding & Company · Mar 2026

The market

Every recorded 1978 BMW M1 sale, by date and price

Mar 2026 · Gooding & Company

$472,500

See this car

Sold Bid to, not sold

15 sales · 2 unsoldmedian $533kupdated Mar 2026

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Latest results

The newest 1978 BMW M1 sales with photographs

Sold $542,500

1979 · Pearlescent white · 17,000 mi

Mar 1, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Sold $522,500

1981

Jan 29, 2026 · Gooding & Company

Sold $604,500

1980 · Blau (Code 207)

Jan 23, 2026 · RM Sotheby's

Sold $522,602

£398,750

1980 · Toprot

Nov 1, 2025 · RM Sotheby's

UK sales ran 20% below US sales for the same models over 3 years.

Sold $662,897

€567,500

1980 · White

Oct 18, 2025 · RM Sotheby's

Euro-zone sales of this model ran 4% below US sales over 3 years.

Sold $626,500

1980 · Red

Aug 16, 2025 · RM Sotheby's

Specifications

Engine: Naturally Aspirated I6, 3.5L
Power: 277 hp
Torque: 239 lb-ft
0 to 60: 5.6 s
Top speed: 162 mph
Transmission: Manual
Drivetrain: RWD
Curb weight: 3,010 lb
Production: 453 built
Original MSRP: $100,000
Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro

Common questions

How much does a BMW M1 cost?

What is a 1978 BMW M1 worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $569,600. We rate confidence medium: 6 public sales in a year is a thin market, and the spread between them is wide.

Is a BMW M1 a good investment?

It has appreciated 470% against its $100,000 list price. Only 453 were built. The caution is spread, not direction: across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $369,181 to $742,000, and mileage explains most of that.

How many BMW M1 have sold?

Shifty has 17 public sales of the BMW M1 on file. The earliest was on Dec 28, 2022.

What is the most expensive BMW M1 sold?

The highest public sale on file is $742,000, on Mar 2, 2024.

What has a BMW M1 sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

$472,500Mar 5, 2026
$542,500Mar 1, 2026Pearlescent white · 17,000 mi
$522,500Jan 29, 2026

About the 1978 BMW M1

BMW's only supercar remains one of the most coveted German exotics ever built. Born from homologation requirements for Group 5 racing, the M1 paired Giugiaro's stunning wedge design with BMW Motorsport's naturally aspirated 3.5-liter straight-six producing 277 hp. With just 453 examples built between 1978-1981, each hand-assembled in Munich, the M1 represents the pinnacle of 1970s automotive ambition. The mid-engine layout and lightweight construction delivered genuine supercar performance, hitting 162 mph and reaching 60 in 5.6 seconds. Today, the M1 commands seven-figure prices, with pristine examples exceeding $500,000. Its rarity, racing pedigree, and status as BMW's lone mid-engine production car make it the ultimate prize for serious collectors.