Sitting in the foothills of Santa Cruz, California is Canepa, an automotive company specializing in restoration and design. It’s latest project? The 1979 BMW M1. Back in it’s heyday, the M1 was ultimately a financial failure. It was an extension of the M1 Procar, and due to it’s unaffordable price tag and overall lack of popularity in the realm of professional racing, it was discontinued. That didn’t discourage Canepa from attempting to restore it to its original condition. The end result is a jaw-dropping Basalt Blau-painted marvel. It doesn’t just look nice, Canepa contracted VAC Motorsports to rebuild the 414 hp engine with 357 lb/ft of torque. If you happen to be in the Santa Cruz region, make sure to stop by the Canepa Museum to see the 1979 M1 and more gems up close.
