1981 BMW M1 by Ronnie Fieg — 2024 One-Off
Explore 1981 BMW M1 by Ronnie Fieg: rarity, history, specifications, FAQs and credited photos.
Ronnie Fieg’s BMW M1 is a 1981 E26 reconstructed as a unique Kith project and presented in Miami Beach in 2024. Techno Violet paint and monogrammed leather connect the historic mid-engined sports car to the contemporary XM Kith Concept shown alongside it.
Record: BMW-132 · Reconstructed designer one-off · Germany · 2024.
Specifications and rarity
| Item | Documented reference and scope |
|---|---|
| Count and scope | One reconstructed original M1 in Ronnie Fieg’s project |
| Base vehicle | 1981 BMW M1 E26 |
| Project debut | Miami Beach, December 2024 |
| Exterior | Techno Violet, paint code 299; M/Kith rear emblem |
| Interior | Bespoke leather with embossed Kith lettering |
| Original architecture | Mid-engined M1; no project-specific output claimed |
Origins and history
The two dates describe different parts of the same car’s history. Nineteen eighty-one identifies the base vehicle; 2024 identifies the designer commission’s public debut. Calling it a newly manufactured 2024 M1 would erase the original car, while labelling the collaboration as an untouched 1981 factory specification would hide the reconstruction.
Design and engineering
BMW identifies Techno Violet paint code 299, a combined M/Kith emblem at the rear and a bespoke embossed interior. These details form a coherent designer treatment, extending a colour association from the historic car to a much larger modern M model.
The M1’s original mid-engine layout provides the historical foundation. The collaboration release is principally a design and reconstruction account, not a complete new powertrain certification. This profile therefore does not invent a tuned output or assume that every mechanical component remains exactly as originally delivered. Specific mechanical restoration records would be the proper evidence for those claims.
Why this BMW matters
The project’s significance is the deliberate connection between the first standalone BMW M road car and a contemporary standalone M vehicle. Similarities in branding and colour bring the two into conversation despite their very different proportions and technology. That relationship is more informative than pretending they share a mechanical formula.
A reconstructed historical car also asks a useful collecting question: which identity survives an extensive change? Here, the original M1 remains the base vehicle, with a separately documented designer chapter in its provenance. The one-off count belongs to this commission, not to all M1 production or every car in Fieg’s collection. The Andy Warhol M1 Art Car is another original with a completely different history.
Identity and original specification
Authentication should connect the original M1 chassis, ownership history and reconstruction commission. Factory and collaborator records need to agree on the vehicle, its date and the completed treatment. Paint colour alone is insufficient, since another restored M1 could be finished in the same shade.
Preserve pre-restoration evidence and the changes made during the project. A clear chronology allows later viewers to distinguish original manufacture, reconstruction and subsequent exhibition. Photo captions likewise identify the 2024 Fieg car rather than suggesting that the purple appearance was its 1981 production finish. Photograph credit remains separate from Ronnie Fieg’s design authorship.
Frequently asked questions
How rare is the 1981 M1 by Ronnie Fieg — 2024 One-Off?
BMW documents one reconstructed M1 for Ronnie Fieg’s project. The count is not a total for M1 production or for every Kith collaboration vehicle.
What makes this version different?
Techno Violet paint, co-branded rear identity and embossed leather connect the historical M1 to the contemporary XM Kith Concept.
Which year belongs in the vehicle record?
The base car is a 1981 M1; the collaboration debuted in 2024. Both dates remain visible, with 2024 as the project reference year.
Is it the same as other similarly named BMWs?
It is not Andy Warhol’s M1 Art Car or a new factory-built 2024 M1. It is a later designer reconstruction of an existing E26.
How should an example be authenticated?
Trace the original chassis and custody, then verify the reconstruction commission and its completed exterior, interior and mechanical records.
What do the photographs show?
The factory images show the actual purple Fieg M1 after reconstruction. Fieg is credited for the design separately from photograph attribution.
Explore related verified BMW profiles
Sources and photo credits
- BMW and Kith continue their cooperation and present the BMW XM in an exclusive edition.
- Unique models from BMW M – Part 3: One-offs
Photo: BMW Group / BMW Group PressClub · Press/editorial use only. BMW-supplied press photograph under BMW PressClub terms. Original supplied photograph retained without local cropping or content alteration.
Photo: BMW Group / BMW Group PressClub · Press/editorial use only. BMW-supplied press photograph under BMW PressClub terms. Original supplied photograph retained without local cropping or content alteration.
Why this machine matters
Preserve pre-restoration evidence and the changes made during the project. A clear chronology allows later viewers to distinguish original manufacture, reconstruction and subsequent exhibition. Photo captions likewise identify the 2024 Fieg car rather than suggesting that the purple appearance was its 1981 production finish. Photograph credit remains separate from Ronnie Fieg’s design authorship.
Built in limited numbers
One reconstructed original M1 in Ronnie Fieg’s project
Gallery
Specifications
Factory specifications may vary by model year, market and configuration.
Identity & production
- Official model
- 1981 BMW M1 by Ronnie Fieg — 2024 One-Off
- Base model
- M1
- Worldwide production
- 1
