VIN: the Peter Gregg / Frank Stella 'Polar Coordinates' BMW M1 Procar chassis 4301053
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HISTORY OF CHASSIS 4301053
Few cars have such poignant origins as BMW M1 Procar chassis 4301053.
In 1976, American painter, sculptor and printmaker, Frank Stella, had been commissioned to create BMW’s second Art Car. Stella’s ‘grid blueprint’ design was applied to a 3.2-litre twin turbocharged CSL that was raced at Le Mans by Brian Redman and Peter Gregg.
Stella and art lover Gregg became firm friends.
Already a multiple IMSA champion, Peter Gregg was owner of the world famous Brumos Porsche dealership in Jacksonville, Florida. Part of his deal to run CSLs as an official factory representative in 1976 meant Gregg acquired a BMW franchise.
Soon after learning that a competition version of the M1 was being developed, in August 1978, Gregg placed an order with BMW Motorsport boss Jochen Neerpasch. Requested for delivery at the earliest opportunity, the car was unusually specified with a driver and passenger seat both of which were to be upholstered in Black Watch Tartan pattern.
Shortly after placing the order, Gregg and Stella were present at the 1978 Italian Grand Prix where their good friend and ex-BMW driver, Ronnie Peterson, was involved an in a major first corner pile up. Peterson was one of the most popular personalities in motor racing but lost his life the next day after developing an embolism.
Stella dedicated his new ‘Polar Coordinates’ series to Peterson’s memory.
Gregg’s M1 Procar was the 20th of 45 examples built. Completed on May 9th 1979, it was flown out to New York on August 28th. However, chassis 4301053 was never raced as Gregg preferred to run his trusty Porsche 935.
At the Daytona IMSA finale in late 1979, Stella had a proposal for Gregg that would mean something to them both: a ‘Polar Coordinates’ design for the M1 Procar.
The finished piece was completed in early 1980. Inspired by polar coordinates graph paper with lines radiating from the centre, the energetic curves and swooping lines evoked the momentum of motor racing.
A few months later, Gregg was involved in a serious road accident while travelling to Le Mans. The crash left him with head injuries and vision problems that meant he was unable to race at the same level as before.
A complex and brilliant character, Gregg had been dogged with manic depression ever since his mother had committed suicide when out collecting a cake for his seventh birthday.
Despite these setbacks Gregg married his second wife and all seemed well. However, just nine days after the ceremony he was dead.
On December 15th 1980 at age 40 Peter Gregg shot himself near the beach south of Jacksonville.
His wife Deborah inherited his estate, including the M1, which sat unused until April 1990 when it was sold to Stephen and Barry Tenzer in New York.
In 1999, the Tenzer’s sold 4301053 to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum who retained the M1 until August 2011 when it was auctioned by Bonhams at Quail Lodge.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Bonhams - https://www.bonhams.com/
