It’s not every day that a perfectly restored 1979 BMW M1 Procar race car shows up at the BMW Welt in Munich, a place where usually brand new cars are picked up by their owners.
But this was a special day, as famous Japanese collector Masakuni Hosobuchi, the president of BMW Club Japan and owner of every BMW M vehicle ever built, came to pick up his 1979 BMW M1 Procar. The famous race car had been restored over the years by the BMW Group Classic customer shop and BMW M GmbH.
“BMWs are my great passion, and the Procar definitely will get a place of honor in my collection. It was very important to me to restore the car to its former glory after so many years of racing. And who could have done a better job than the manufacturers themselves? It also gives me great pleasure to pick up this classic car right here at BMW Welt, amidst all the new vehicles,” said Masakuni Hosobuchi.
The collector even drove the car on site for several laps on the “Premiere” platform, much to the delight of BMW Welt visitors. This event marked the start of the BMW Welt delivery program for classic vehicles restored by BMW Classic.
The BMW M1 Procar was used in 1979 and 1980 in a single-make racing series preceding Formula One events. Only 54 Procars were built, each with its own, individual style. Masakuni Hosobuchi’s car was baptized “Yes to the Nürburgring” and is painted with images of the famous race track. The car was driven by Nelson Piquet and Hans-Joachim Stuck to a class win and third overall in the 1,000-km race at the Nordschleife in 1980.
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