BMW copy Esprit!!!

[gold man]

Did anyone else think that the 1979 BMW M1 European Touring car and the Esprit look uncannily similar? I noticed it at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (p55 of the program, if you have one!). Comments/Explanations please all...

[Simonelite501]

Absolutely! It's the only BMW that I'd ever consider owning. Do you know what the prodution numbers were? Was it a road or purely race car?

>> Edited by Simonelite501 on Wednesday 17th July 11:08

[gold man]

I believe that it was only as race cars, supporting the F1 1979-80 championship.

[marki]

quote:
I believe that it was only as race cars, supporting the F1 1979-80 championship.

No, they supplied them in road trim , i dont know what the prices are like now but they were totally nutts a while back .

The race cars were driven by the F1 drivers on (i think) the day before the GP , incidentaly a certain Mr. Senna made his make in one of these races , at the start of his career by totally trounceing the field in the wet and winning by a huge margin

[Simonelite501]

Also see posts on General Gassing.

[ahonen]

The M1 Procar series had Lauda/Piquet et al in it and was fantastic.

Senna made his mark in a Mercedes 190 race, in the pouring rain, to celebrate the opening of the new Nurburgring. He was but a mere pup when the M1 series was around.

[marki]

quote:
The M1 Procar series had Lauda/Piquet et al in it and was fantastic.

Senna made his mark in a Mercedes 190 race, in the pouring rain, to celebrate the opening of the new Nurburgring. He was but a mere pup when the M1 series was around.

Thats what i was thinking of , thanks for reminding me

[gold man]

Thanks guys for the info. It was as I suspected. I'm surprised that there wasn't a major back lash about that design by us Lotus people then.
Sorry about the duplicate PetrolTed, just thought that more people seem to look at the general having already posted it here.
On the beers now!

[dsf3g]

The BMW M1 was designed by Giorgio Giugiaro, the same guy who designed the Lotus Esprit, thus the similarities in appearance.

BMW also involved Lamborghini in the production of the car.