Andy
Andy Warhol – The BMW M1 group 4 racing version
- six-cylinder inline engine
- 4 valves per cylinder
- twin overhead camshafts
- displacement: 3500 cm³
- power output: 470 bhp
- top speed: 307 km/h
This work of art on wheels was employed in racing for the first and last time in the 24-hour race at Le Mans in 1979. The M1 designed by Warhol started on the grid with the number 76 and was driven by the German Manfred Winkelhock as well as Hervé Poulain and Marcel Mignot from France. They achieved a sixth place in the overall rating and second place in their class (source).
Image credits: konkyphotography.com, BMW AG
Motoring Con Brio 
What a waste…
Mike P said this on February 28, 2012 at 7:32 am
+1 to mike p. i think a bmw m1 with m sport stripes on a white base is as aesthetically pleasing as it gets.
The real art is that thing roaring for 24 hours straight at Le Mans.
tom d said this on February 28, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Certainly I’m not the only BMW fan who caught the erroneous claim that Andy Warhol ‘designed the M1!’ A simple and short Google entry will disclose the truth: Many artists were engaged to paint or otherwise ‘decorate’ the usually premier models, and Warhol was just one of them. I won’t list them or fill in any more blanks but this needed to be pointed out. Thanks, Drew, we needed to see this!
Barry Willis said this on February 28, 2012 at 10:44 am
barry, i am a bit baffled by this. i don’t think i’ve ever seen or heard that particular claim being made.
motoringconbrio said this on February 28, 2012 at 11:36 am
It’s in the caption. The caption reads:
“The M1 designed by Warhol started on the grid with the..”
Now, I know the wording is suspect, Drew. The caption would’ve been correct with something like:
The paint job that Warhol ‘designed’ is shown in progress….
That’s all. I think the caption needs to be cleaned up somewhat.
Barry Willis said this on March 1, 2012 at 2:14 pm
it’s not my caption, it’s BMW’s. i suspect clumsy translation from the german text that it was probably originally written in.
motoringconbrio said this on March 1, 2012 at 2:20 pm
more andy warhol art car over at the automobiliac:
http://www.automobiliac.com/automobiliac/2010/2/6/andy-warhols-bmw-m1-art-car-in-detail.html
motoringconbrio said this on February 28, 2012 at 11:34 am
i think warhol’s m1 is great !
truly art on wheels.
wm said this on February 29, 2012 at 1:15 am
Have to say this is probably my favorite of the BMW Art Cars. Did you get a chance to see it when BMW displayed them in Grand Central in 2009?
Kevin said this on March 1, 2012 at 7:42 am
i didn’t, unfortunately! did you get any shots from then?
motoringconbrio said this on March 1, 2012 at 8:17 am
Yes, I got a few!
Kevin said this on March 2, 2012 at 7:19 pm