Now and then: BMW M1 ‘Art Car’ by Andy Warhol

“Hang on, where are they? I’ve got those slides somewhere… Here you go: ‘Le Mans 1979’…”

Filthy weather, outdated and primitive pits – and, sitting amongst the coffee cups, tools, empty oil cans and other rubbish post-race was what is now one of the world’s most valuable cars, the Andy Warhol-painted BMW M1.

Seeing it again at Villa d’Este last month brought back some memories…

This year, resplendent in a coat of clear lacquer, the car that finished sixth overall at Le Mans in 1979 was ‘hung’ alongside other Art Cars in a special exhibition at Villa Erba. The video below shows Warhol painting it, a feat he accomplished in less than half an hour with a workman’s broad paintbrush and simple pots of primary colours.
 

Various squiggles were added with a yellow-gloved finger, as was the famous signature on the left-hand side of the boot.

In the race, the prime mover behind the project to involve contemporary artists with BMW’s long-distance racing programme, Maître Hervé Poulain (of Artcurial, no stranger to the world of art), was paired with top German driver Manfred Winkelhock and Frenchman Marcel Mignot.

Mignot was a regular co-driver with Poulain and had shared the Roy Lichtenstein-painted BMW 320 with him in 1977. In 1980 Mignot partnered F1 driver Didier Pironi and German saloon specialist Dieter Quester in BMW France’s ‘Map of France’ M1.

In 1979, it was a walkover for Porsche’s 911-based 935 after the semi-factory, Essex-sponsored Porsche 936 prototypes both dropped out. Hollywood star Paul Newman finished second in another 935, winning the IMSA class.

The Warhol BMW M1 was second in IMSA, sixth overall and only three laps behind a Rondeau-Cosworth prototype.  The race was marked by changeable weather conditions, which suited a relatively underpowered but fine handling car such as the M1.

Compare and contrast the Warhol car as it was then with now. And note how the throng of spectators was kept away from the priceless exhibit by a roll of BMW-branded bunting.

That wouldn’t happen in the Louvre… and no longer at Le Mans. Happy days.

You can read more about the BMW M1 in the K500 Guide.

All photos by Steve Wakefield/K500.com - strictly copyright