A 1979 BMW M1, which is believed to be previously owned by the legendary Formula 1 driver Niki Lauda, is currently up for sale, according to a listing on Atlanta Craigslist.
The seller, who communicated with The Drive about this supercar, asserts that this Henna Red M1 was a gift from BMW to Lauda after he triumphed in the inaugural BMW M1 Procar championship in 1979, defeating notable competitors like Hans-Joachim Stuck, Clay Regazzoni, and Nelson Piquet. At that time, Lauda was launching Lauda Air, an Austrian airline, and he reportedly sold the M1 to an individual in Austria to help fund his new venture.
The seller claims to possess documentation to support this story, including a bill of sale from Lauda and letters from BMW confirming that this specific M1 was indeed owned by the three-time F1 World Drivers’ Champion.
Approximately three years ago, the Austrian owner sold the car to an American collector, who has since kept it in the same crate it arrived in from abroad. Despite having fewer than 11,000 miles (or about 17,000 kilometers) on the odometer, the seller notes that the vehicle has not been driven for several years.
Hagerty estimates the value of a 1979 BMW M1 at around $532,000. However, the seller is asking for $1,750,000. While the market for M1s might be experiencing a surge, the question remains: is Lauda’s previous ownership truly worth an extra $1.2 million?.
