Friday 9th November 2012

Pic Of The Week: M turns 40

BMW has been at the 'ring this week, celebrating 40 years of M - as does this week's POTW

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Every M car ever made, a few that weren't and the run of the Nordschleife and GP track. Quite a party but then 40 years of BMW M is quite a celebration. And PH man Dale Lomas has been there and we await his reports from Germany with eager anticipation.

In the meantime POTW has got in on the act and dug out some retro M BMW on the 'ring desktop delight in the form of Chris Amon and Hans-Joachim Stuck's 3.0 CSL racing at the Nordschleife back in 1973. An era when both trousers and wheelarches were flared it's also when the very foundations of the hot BMWs we've been enjoying for four decades since were laid down.

OK, it's a big leap from this to some pink and blue stitching on your M Sport steering wheel. But it's nice to think there's a link, no matter how tenuous.

More on Dale's adventures very soon - in the meantime enjoy!

Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone, etc)

 

[Mark-C]

First POTW that's floated my boat in a while - great car and great location

[Hellbound]

M turns 40?

She hasn't aged well has she?

[hesnotthemessiah]

WOW!

My favourite car ever!

[Birdthom]

Presumably that's the karussell or mini-karussell, but am I missing something or does the background/entry look very different from how it is now? I didn't think either of those bends had changed particularly since the 70's.

ETA, looks more like mini-karussell but I'm still confused...

[Cheburator mk2]

Birdthom said:

Presumably that's the karussell or mini-karussell, but am I missing something or does the background/entry look very different from how it is now? I didn't think either of those bends had changed particularly since the 70's.

ETA, looks more like mini-karussell but I'm still confused...

It is not the kleine-karussell... it is the proper one...

[Jasper Gilder]

The Batmobile - best car BMW ever made and most charismatic racer, before the Lamborghini Countach caught on spotty teenagers had pics of them on their bedroom walls, usually all 4 wheels off at the flugplatz.

With drivers like Stuck, Amon, Bell, Hezemans, Harald Ertl, 'Yogi' Muir, and ( to quote from Peter Scott-Russell commentating at Silverstone) an up and coming young Austrian called Niki Lauda who's showing a rare turn of speed..... you couldn't go wrong - unless there was a big Capri in the mirrors - the 1973 Tourist Trophey at Silverstone was a great example, lead swapping all the time...

When will we see their like again?

[PHMatt]

Hellbound said:

M turns 40?

She hasn't aged well has she?

Norks look younger than the rest.

[pSyCoSiS]

Stunning car.

Happy Birthday BMW 'M'.

[Craiglamuffin]

Great picture!

[adsvx220]

Love this pic! We used to run and race a luigi UFO jeans liveried csl a few years ago. Absolutely loved it.

Adam

[Agent Orange]

Hellbound said:

M turns 40?

She hasn't aged well has she?

But if you were in the market for a bit of 77 year old action you would though wouldn't you?

[falkster]

Hellbound said:

M turns 40?

She hasn't aged well has she?

I'd hit it.

[ZOLLAR]

falkster said:

Hellbound said:

M turns 40?

She hasn't aged well has she?

I'd hit it.

She'd probably order a hit on you

Awesome pic though!

[tommy vercetti]

Love all the M cars

[drpep]

Definitely the best POTW ever for me.

Absolutely brilliant car, location and Karousel entry point

Awesomeness.

[dinkel]

I'll try the 635 CSi this sunday. Very much looking forward to that. Hope it's raining!

[Alucidnation]

Oh, another BMW thread.

[Jellyman]

BMW AG sent this car to New Zealand at the end of last year (Chris Amon is from NZ). NZ Agriculture and Customs examined the car when it arrived in its container, forgot to strap it back up again. The front was damaged when the container was then moved. Imagine having to phone head office to tell them that one of its prized race cars had been pranged (it was insured for over 1.5m euros). It was repaired in NZ but don't know if the repairs were redone in Germany. The 3.0CSL is a top car, my all time favourite. I regret selling my 3.0CSi.

[Jellyman]

THis is the front of the CSL after the repair work.

[Agent Orange]

adsvx220 said:

Love this pic! We used to run and race a luigi UFO jeans liveried csl a few years ago. Absolutely loved it.

Adam

Wasn't this one I photo'd at Thruxton in 2008 was it?