ZF SUPPLIED THE GEARBOX The test car's engine starts undramatically when I turn the gear and settles down like any other well-dressed BMW from that era. But the clutch is hard, first gear is pulled in by pulling the gear stick out in the left corner and down. The gearbox from ZF, which is also in e.g. The Ford GT40 requires a firm hand, just as the steering gear is also heavy at low speed. When the car rolls, however, the M1 wakes up. 
Whether it's the last fine-tuning that BMW Motorsport GmbH did in Munich – or whether the Italians got a few German inputs during construction, I don't know, but the M1 feels newer and more welcoming than a similarly old Italian. TOP SPEED OF 262 KM/H It can brake, steer and the engine seems fresh and solid. The cabin fills with a magnificent symphony that gets better and better the closer you get to that messy field around 7,000 rpm. 
The 5.6 seconds it takes to 100km/h is impressive and the top speed of 262km/h seems realistic and not really as intimidating as I'd expect from an older Italian on tall Pirelli balloon tires because it's calmly, as I take it upon myself to crank it all the way out in third gear. Click 'NEXT PAGE' to read on
