BMW M1 Art Car Andy Warhol – 24 Hours of Le Mans 1979 - photograph

Description

A superb and rare photo, made from what we believe is the original negative, of the magnificent 1979
BMW M1
Art Car
, as designed and turned into a riding artwork by
Andy Warhol
in
1979
, seen in action during the famous
24 Hours of Le Mans
of
1979
. Behind the steering wheel is German rider
Manfred Winkelhock
, who teamed up for the race with
Marcel Mignot
(
France
) and
Hervé Poulain
(
France
). They rode a total of 288 laps in 24 hours and finished the grueling long race in
6TH
position. According the spec. sheet that came with the negative, the photo was taken on
June 10, 1979
.
The
BMW M1
was produced by BMW from 1978 to
1981. In
the late 1970s, Italian manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car in sufficient quantity for homologation. The result was sold to the public, from 1978 to 1981, as the BMW M1. It was the only mid-engined BMW to be mass produced. It employed a twin-cam M88/1 3.5 L 6-cylinder gasoline engine with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. A version of this motor was later used in the South African version of the BMW 745i, of which 209 examples were built between 1984 and 1986, as well as the E24 BMW M6/M635CSi and E28 BMW M5. The engine had six separate throttle butterflies, four valves per cylinder and produced 277 PS (204 kW; 273 hp) in the street version, giving a top speed of
260 km/h
(
160 mph
). Turbocharged racing versions were capable of producing around 850 hp (634 kW). The M1 coupe was hand-built between 1978 and 1981 under the Motorsport division of BMW as a homologation special for sports car racing. The body was designed by Giugiaro, taking inspiration from the 1972 BMW Turbo show car. Originally, BMW commissioned Lamborghini to work out the details of the car's chassis, assemble prototypes and manufacture the vehicles, but Lamborghini's financial position meant that BMW reassumed control over the project in April 1978, after seven prototypes were built. Only 456 production M1s were built, making it one of BMW's rarest models. The spirit of the M1 lived on in the first-generation M5, as both models shared the same (though slightly modified) engines. The M1 had various successes in motorsports, including winning the Group B championship in
1984. In
2004, Sports Car International named the car number ten on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s. In 1979 the head BMW Motorsport,
Jochen
Neerpasch
, devised a one-make championship using racing modified M1s. The series was created to aid BMW in building enough M1s to enter the Group 4 classification in the World Championship for Makes. The new series, known as the Procar BMW M1 Championship, served as a support series for Formula One, and included many current Formula One drivers in identical cars. The series ran for two years, with
Niki
Lauda
winning the 1979 season, and
Nelson
Piquet
the 1980 season. After BMW met the standards for Group 4, the Procars were used by various teams in the World Championship as well as other national series. In April 2008, BMW unveiled the M1 Homage Concept to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the M1. In 1979 the head BMW Motorsport, Jochen Neerpasch, devised a one-make championship using racing modified BMW M1 ‘s. The series was created to aid BMW in building enough M1s to enter the Group 4 classification in the World Championship for Makes. The new series, known as the Procar BMW M1 Championship , served as a support series for Formula One, and included many current Formula One drivers in identical cars. The series ran for two years, with
Niki
Lauda
winning the 1979 season, and
Nelson
Piquet
the 1980 season. After BMW met the standards for Group 4, the Procars were used by various teams in the World Championship as well as other national series.
German racing driver
Manfred Winkelhock
was born in the German city of
Waiblingen
in 1951. He was the brother of Joachim Winkelhock and father of Markus Winkelhock, both also racing drivers. Manfred Winkelhock became famous when he flipped his F2 March at the very steep rise-and-fall Flugplatz corner on the Nürburgring in 1980. Winkelhock's first attempt at qualifying for a Formula One Grand Prix race was in Italy in 1980 when he stood in for the injured Jochen Mass at Arrows. He was able to land a drive with ATS in 1982. As BMW became the team's engine supplier in 1983, he qualified well on several occasions in 1983 and 1984, but the car was rarely reliable, so there were few results and a lot of accidents. At the same time he was a regular sports car and touring car driver, winning the 1000km
Monza
with Marc Surer in 1985.
The
1979 24 Hours of
Le Mans
was the 47th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 9 and 10, 1979. The number 76 BMW M1 was entered by the French team of Hervé Poulain. Riders were Manfred Winkelhock (
Germany
,
see Photo!
), Marcel Mignot (
France
) and Hervé Poulain(
France
). They rode a total of 288 laps in 24 hours and finished the race in 6TH position. The 1979 edition of the 24 Hours of
Le Mans
knew some slight changes compared to 1978. Due to the construction of a new public road, the profile of Tetre Rouge had to be changed. This redesign led to a faster double-apex corner as well as requiring the removal of the second Dunlop bridge. The Porsche 935 turbo, a high-powered version of the Porsche 911 road car, dominated endurance racing in the late 1970s, being entered by many Porsche customer teams all over the world. The German-based Kremer team managed to win
Le Mans
using a highly modified version of the 935, which is a remarkable success for a car based on a 15 year old road car design. Actor Paul Newman finished second in Dick Barbour's Porsche 935, while Kremer's second-string effort claimed the final spot on the podium. Jacky Ickx's efforts to win his fifth
Le Mans
came to nothing when he was disqualified for receiving outside (and unwanted) assistance in repairing his stricken Porsche 936. Their Group 6 opposition consisted mainly of a pair of Ford M10s but this wasn't an official return of Ford; these cars were derived from the 1975 Gulf GR-8. Ford
France
and a consortium of French Ford dealers funded the ex-Wyer Team, a Cosworth DFV V8 was installed in the chassis for the occasion but neither M10 finished.
Andrew Warhola (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987), known as
Andy Warhol
, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. After a successful career as a commercial illustrator, Warhol became famous worldwide for his work as a painter, avant-garde filmmaker, record producer, author, and member of highly diverse social circles that included bohemian street people, distinguished intellectuals,
Hollywood
celebrities and wealthy patrons. Warhol has been the subject of numerous retrospective exhibitions, books, and feature and documentary films. He coined the widely used expression "15 minutes of fame." In his hometown of
Pittsburgh
,
Pennsylvania
, The Andy Warhol Museum exists in memory of his life and artwork. The highest price ever paid for a Warhol painting is 0 million for a 1963 canvas titled Eight Elvises. The private transaction was reported in a 2009 article in The Economist, which described Warhol as the "bellwether of the art market." 0 million is a benchmark price that only Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Gustav Klimt and Willem de Kooning have achieved.
This is a very nice and very rare photo that reflects a wonderful era of BMW automotive history in a wonderful way.  This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x
30 cm
).  It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.