Description
The Lamborghini Miura can be credited with creating the supercar as we know it today; a car that so radically changed car design in the late 60s, that its influence can still be seen in the design of some of the modern hypercars we see currently released.
The appearance of the Miura P400 prototype on the Lamborghini stand at the 1966 Geneva Salon changed the automotive landscape forever. It was quite simply unlike any production car that gone before, both in its appearance and its construction and it introduced a design language that has dominated the supercar ethos for the past 50 years
Aside from its aesthetic appeal, the engineering underneath its skin was remarkable, with a steel monocoque and transverse-mounted 4. 0-litre V12 engine making it the fastest production car of its day. Perhaps the most extraordinary part of the Miura was not its looks or performance, but the fact that this legendary car was the creation of four of the greatest engineers and designers all in their relative youth: Marcello Gandini, Gian Paolo Dallara, Bob Wallace, and Giotto Bizzarrini.
The original model enjoyed a production run of 275 units, before a revised Miura P400 S was revealed in 1968. Visual adjustments for the P400 S were relatively minor, with a revised Bertone badge and the use of chrome on the headlight bezels and window trim constituting the more obvious exterior refinements. The interior brought broader changes, though, with improved upholstery options, a revised switch layout on the roof, the addition of power windows, and optional air conditioning, a first for any Lamborghini. The 4. 0-litre V12 remained essentially unchanged from the original P400, yet the camshafts and tuning were modified to develop an improved 370 horsepower, which was capable of propelling the car to a top speed of 170mph. Just 338 P400 S Miuras were produced between late 1968 and early 1971.
The Miura S we are thrilled to offer for sale was a very late production example, rolling out of Sant’Agata on the 28th August, 1970 as the 550th Miura built. The car was sold new Voitures Paris Monceau and was originally specified in Rosso Corsa with black leather interior and the rare Borletti air-conditioning option. In 1970, it was registered in the South of France in the Alpes Martimes region. The Miura Register next records it in Belgium in 2002, indicating 70, 000 kilometres. Around October of 2003, it had received a chassis restoration and wider nine-inch SV rear wheels. In late 2012, it was sold to the United Kingdom where it has remained since.
From February 2014, the Miura was treated to a comprehensive restoration with Barkaways with the objective to restored the car to Concours standard. The car was completely stripped back to bare metal and repainted in a timeless Black and Gold colour scheme. Works previously carried out included a major engine and gearbox rebuild, with Barkaways taking care of the refurbishment of all mechanical components including brakes and suspension. The interior was completely re-trimmed in black as per factory specification. The project was on going for two years with each stage of the restoration being been recorded and photographed.
Since then, the car has been enjoyed thoroughly and has been displayed at various Concours d’Elegance events around Europe as well as attending the Miura's 50th Anniversary celebrations hosted by Automobili Lamborghini with a tour commencing at the Lamborghini factory and sweeping through the achingly beautiful Tuscan Hills. In 2018, the car was sent back to the Lamborghini factory where it underwent a full wiring reconstruction. It maintains an extensive history file documenting original specification, previous ownership and the full recent restoration process. As would be expected after such works, the car presents superbly and is a joy to drive.
With a useful increase in power and refinements throughout, while remaining close to the original ground-breaking design, many Sant’Agata faithful consider the ‘S’ variant to be the definitive Miura. This late production example is a lovely car that will always be admired and desired, and it will undoubtedly provide for years of exciting ownership. Contact us now for more information or to arrange a viewing.
