Monday 2nd December 2024

Kith readies epic BMW M1 for Miami Art Week

Some will say a car can't be art - they've clearly never seen a Techno Violet BMW M1

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Once upon a time, Miami Art Week wouldn’t have meant much to many car fans apart from the most cultured among us. For 2024 it’s taken on a new importance, however, and not just because Jaguar’s new era kicks off in the small hours. It’s important because Miami will see the debut of just about the most beautiful BMW ever made. 

Sadly it’s not a new one, instead a rework of the legendary M1. It’s the result of a collaboration between BMW Classic and fashion brand Kith, which you might remember from its previous work with Bee-Em on limited edition M cars. Founder Ronnie Fieg is big into his BMWs (his collection will be shown alongside this M1 in Miami next week), and nothing makes your car brand look cooler than an association with a brand that sells £300 hoodies. Probably. This time instead of a limited run of production cars, Fieg has provided his input for a wonderful one-off classic. 

The paint is the most obvious change for this M1, the Techno Violet purple probably best known from the E36 M3 and looking just as cool as you’d hope on the classic mid-engined supercar. It’s back for the new plug-in M5 as well, remember; Kith suggests that this car ‘bridges BMW’s past and present through the Kith lens’. So that means a beautifully redone interior as well, complete with BMW Individual Black Merino leather and the Kith monogram throughout. Plus another boot badge on the M1’s busy behind. It wouldn’t be unreasonable, typically, to say that the M1 was beyond much improvement, but it arguably looks better than ever now. 

Though it is said to have been fully rebuilt using original parts, mechanically speaking this 1981 car is unaltered, which makes sense - this is an exhibit for an art week, after all. Plus, well, what could that famed M88 straight-six really benefit from? We’re told to expect more about the Kith BMW M1 when it’s fully revealed next Friday. Perhaps it’ll be auctioned, perhaps it’ll be another for the Ronnie Fieg collection - perhaps it’ll be headed to the BMW Museum. All we know is it’s already the greatest piece of art Miami will see for the next few days. 

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• M4 Competition ‘x KITH’ limited edition launched
• BMW M1/C | PH Secret History

[All pictures courtesy of Kith]

[Still Mulling]

Lens 1: lovely respray, well done.

Lens 2: that's not an art car, try harder.

[Dombilano]

Still my all time favourite car, probably because as a young boy I played with my matchbox M1 endlessly.

[Water Fairy]

I'm not one to go OTT over the M1 personally but I do like them. That color is lovely and that is one of the best steering wheels I've seen in ages.

[skylarking808]

Yes please!
The M1 was always in my favourite ever list. Although this example just looks like a good restoration.

Was there not an art M1 pro car by a certain Andy Wharhol?

The Futura 2000 car would also have been be a more appropriate exhibit imo.

[g3org3y]

Dombilano said:

Still my all time favourite car, probably because as a young boy I played with my matchbox M1 endlessly.

Had the same! (And in yellow iirc).

*nostalgic tear*

[LotusOmega375D]

I remember seeing a collection of many of the BMW Art Cars on show in Stavanger, Norway. This M1 is just a respray in a non original colour with a bit of a re trim. Both of which devalue this particular one.

Edited by LotusOmega375D on Monday 2nd December 16:32

[oedipus]

just about the most beautiful BMW ever made.

Not exactly a crowded field

[Rumdoodle]

g3org3y said:

Dombilano said:

Still my all time favourite car, probably because as a young boy I played with my matchbox M1 endlessly.

Had the same! (And in yellow iirc).

*nostalgic tear*

Had that pair as well, plus I think a white one too!

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

I like the BMW M1 and it is by all accounts one of the better 70s supercars to drive but would only rate it as a good design rather than a great one.

Just a little too generic supercar looking. Thought the Maserati Bora was far prettier....

[Vertical Drive]

The M1 looks lovely in any guise, but particularly gorgeous in that paint job.

[sidesauce]

oedipus said:

just about the most beautiful BMW ever made.

Not exactly a crowded field

Most beautiful?? I don't don't know about that. The M1 is just a car of the 70s, not particularly good looking to my eye. I think most would say the 507 is better looking and I'm not even a fan of old cars!

[Slowlygettingit]

LotusOmega375D said:

I remember seeing a collection of many of the BMW Art Cars on show in Stavanger, Norway. This M1 is just a respray in a non original colour with a bit of a re trim. Both of which devalue this particular one.

Edited by LotusOmega375D on Monday 2nd December 16:32

Yup. I’d still have one though

[GreatScott2016]

Doesn’t grab me. All I can see is a blend of early Lotus Esprit and DeLorean cars Each to his own I guess.

[Bencolem]

It’s funny; the standard M1 does little for me.

But the Pro Car makes me go weak at the knees:

[Nobody13]

LotusOmega375D said:

I remember seeing a collection of many of the BMW Art Cars on show in Stavanger, Norway. This M1 is just a respray in a non original colour with a bit of a re trim. Both of which devalue this particular one.

Edited by LotusOmega375D on Monday 2nd December 16:32

^^^ THIS.

I nice original one but restored would be nice in the EuroMillions Lotto dream garage.

[C69]

Bencolem said:

It’s funny; the standard M1 does little for me.

But the Pro Car makes me go weak at the knees:

As mentioned above, they let Andy Warhol loose on one.

[Abarth131]

Bencolem said:

It’s funny; the standard M1 does little for me.

But the Pro Car makes me go weak at the knees:

That's rather nice

[Firebobby]

Great looking car. I was stood in front of one in Bowkers Preston last week. They look even better in the flesh.

[Fetchez la vache]

article said:

Just about the most beautiful BWM ever made.

Almost...

[morgs_]

A core memory is standing above the pits at one of the earlier LeMans Classics, the first year the M1 was eligible. It was going into dusk, and watching and hearing a gaggle of M1s snarling and spitting flames as they headed up towards the Dunlop bridge will forever be etched in my memory.