BMW, a brand that prides itself on building the ultimate driving machine, doesn’t have a genuine supercar in its lineup. But this was not always the case because back in 1978 BMW launched its very own supercar. It was the mid-engined M1 homologation special, a car that made its debut more than 30 years ago at the 64th Paris Auto Show and went on to sell in several different variants until it was discontinued just three years later.

The M1’s body was based on a 1972 BMW concept car but was penned by Italian design house Giugiaro Italdesign and developed by BMW Motorsport with the help of Lamborghini. At the time of its launch, it was one of the fastest and most dynamic cars on the market. It featured a 277 horsepower 3.5-liter straight-six engine and could reach speeds in excess of 160 mph. The car's smooth six-cylinder revved freely to a 7,000 rpm cut-off and was capable of accelerating the M1 from 0-62 mph in 5.6 seconds.

Though the car never saw a great deal of racing success, the M1 remains BMW’s only mid-engined supercar and is remembered for its impeccable handling and build quality--traits that were hard to find in the supercars of that era. Only 456 M1s ever saw the light of day but despite its rarity, one of the cars is up for sale. Unfortunately the cost of entering the exclusive club of M1 ownership will set you back $250,000.

This particular model is a 1980 BMW M1 and it is up for sale in Scotts Valley, California. The best part is that it only has 26,999 miles on the odometer and looks to be in great condition.

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