The folks at AutoExpress have interesting lives. Not content with just sitting around the office, they conspired recently to put a new BMW i8 and a pristine example of BMW’s M1 mid-engine sports car from 1981 on track at the same time. Not your typical day at the office, in other words.

The M1 was originally intended to carry the BMW banner in international sports car racing. It featured a 3.5 liter twin cam, fuel injected 6 cylinder engine mounted behind the driver. In road going use, it produced 340 hp, which was rather a lot in 1978 when the first cars went on sale. In all, 453 M1 coupes were manufactured, and another 20 were specially prepared for racing and featured turbocharged engines making 850 hp.

Being one of the rarest BMWs ever made, prices for surviving examples of the M1 have soared over the years. A 1981 model in superb condition was offered on EBay earlier this year for $499,000.

Then there’s the BMW i8 is one of the most sought after new cars today. With its carbon fiber construction, swoopy styling and plug-in hybrid configuration, BMW is having trouble keeping up with demand. The question then becomes, what will a BMW i8 be worth in 35 years? If you are lucky enough to own one, should you take it out and drive it or lock it away as an investment until you retire?

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Tags: bmw i8, BMW M1, i8 vs M1

About the Author

Steve Hanley I have been a car nut since the days when articles by John R. Bond and Henry N. Manney, III graced the pages of Road Track. I know every nut, bolt and bullet connector on an MGB from 20 years of ownership. I now drive a 94 Miata for fun and the occasional HPDE track day. If it moves on wheels, I am interested in it. Please follow me on Google + and Twitter.

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