BMW made the M1 in collaboration with Lamborghini from 1978 to 1981, although BMW had to complete the project alone because of Lamborghini's financial issues. The idea was to make a racing car with sufficient road going models for homogulation, the process by which a car can be raced as a road car rather than one produced specifically as a track car. It remains BMW's only mid-engined car.

Matchbox introduced their model in 1981 and it remained in production after the 1983 crash under the new ownership of the Matchbox brand. The Lesney models are all silver with black tampos consisting of stripes and racing number 53. There are half a dozen or so known post-Lesney versions. Of the Lesneys a version with green windows is reported to be the one to go for, commanding a remarkable price for such a late model.

This MBX was sourced in May 2013 from Lacy Scott & Knight auctioneers