A rare, striking, and truly iconic car, yet the individual who commissioned it gained fame not solely through music. This refers to Frank Farian — producer of Boney M. and Milli Vanilli, a man with impeccable musical instinct and a flexible approach to truth.
Music Performed by the Wrong Voices
Songs like Daddy Cool or Rivers of Babylon are familiar even to those born well after the 1970s. They propelled Boney M. to worldwide fame, but it later emerged that the group members on stage were mostly lip-syncing. The real voice and authorship belonged to Farian himself. He later repeated the tactic with Milli Vanilli — on a much larger scale and with far more severe consequences.
The scandal cost the group their Grammy and the producer dozens of lawsuits. Importantly, however, it did not cost him money. The rights to the songs remained his, meaning every radio play continued to generate income. And it was this money that, at one point, transformed into one of the most coveted sports cars of its era.
Rare BMW M1 — Purchase at the Peak of Fame
In 1979, with Boney M. topping the charts, Farian ordered a BMW M1. It cost around 113,000 German marks at the time — a substantial sum, equivalent to about 58,000 euros today. He received the car in 1980, opting for red — a rarity even for the M1: only 71 out of 453 were produced in this color.
Under the hood was an inline-six engine producing 277 horsepower. The producer was satisfied with the engine, but not with the standard audio system — unsurprising given his profession.
Audio Takes Precedence Over Originality
The factory Blaupunkt was replaced by a Clarion amplifier and Becker Mexico head unit. Three-way speakers were installed in the doors, with another pair in the instrument panel. For the late 1970s, this was nearly studio-quality sound on wheels.
But the real transformation came later.
Nearly Procar, But with Questions
In 1987, Farian decided to bring the road-going M1 closer to the racing Procar version. The car received:
- a front spoiler,
- widened fenders,
- 16-inch BBS RS wheels,
- a large rear wing.
Whether BMW Motorsport was involved remains uncertain. The irony is that even here, there's a sense of slight substitution: it looks like a Procar, sounds like a Procar, but absolute certainty is lacking. Nevertheless, the chassis is authentic, as confirmed by BMW itself.
Sale with a Hint of Mystery
Officially, the M1 was sold in 1990 to one of Farian's employees, but it later transpired that the car effectively stayed with the producer. It appears this was an attempt to conceal assets during challenging times post-scandals. Only in 2008 did the car truly change owners — reportedly after a single phone conversation.
In 2024, the story reached its conclusion: at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the BMW M1 sold for 602,000 euros. For a 45-year-old car with around 100,000 km on the odometer, this is a more than respectable outcome.
An Honest Car with a Dishonest Biography
Farian passed away at 82, taking all the secrets of his projects with him. The BMW M1 remains — rare, charismatic, and entirely real. Perhaps it is the most honest participant in this entire story. And, oddly enough, it is the one that commands the greatest respect today.
