Miura, the original supercar

Sorry. Mis-read the figures. Should be Front 12.5/27.0-15 and Rear 9.5/25.0-15. Which would indicate that the first figure is the tyre width in inches, the second the profile percentage and the third the rim width again in inches.

These pictures are of the car at the Lamborghini factory petrol pump. No stamps with your fuel here!
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I hope that was racing fuel! I use VP C12 leaded race fuel in my Miura religiously and she says "Thank You" by flying!

Anyway, enough of all this...we shall have to arrange a USA Tour in 2008 for your Jota Recreation. BTW I will be in St Moritz next month for the big Lamborghini event.

Joe
www.joesackey.com
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WOW..Please share more pics !!

 

Wow that Muira is simply amazing!

 

What is amazing is that its ex-Porsche racing driver owner drove it out of the factory's gates in October of 1971 and still has it today almost 36 years later! Talk about long-term ownership (a concept some might not understand).

Joe
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How was YOUR day?

Joe
www.joesackey.com
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Another SV back in California, this one has a history of no less than eight different owners from new according to my notes. It is handsome as any Lambo in black is, but was looking as if it needs some TLC when I saw it today...

Joe
www.joesackey.com
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(shameless plug) - anyone who needs some work done for their cars prior to the Concours show in Monterey (and is based in So. Cal), Claudio Zampolli has some time/space free up between now and August to take on any minor/major projects (will post in Countach thread to). Feel free to PM/email me for more info.

 

I thought so.
Looks like he is not that keen to be photographed

 

I ran into a couple of Miura's in my travels today!
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I was there yeasterday....did you not take the SVJ for a fast drive then? (I dont think the new owner will mind)
That is one of the meanest-sounding Miuras Ive heard and it just explodes into life at the key's twist.
A man who shall remain nameless told me yesterday that its the best-running Miura he has ever driven. This begs the question, has he driven any really good ones? LOL.
That SVJ's sale marks the highest number ever achieved for the sale of a Lamborghini - by a wide margin! I cant say I care for all the non-original fittings and do-dads but all that is set to be corrected by Bobileff in a full restoration to return it to its formr glory.

The black SV also has a new owner...

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Great article in this July 2007 issue of Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car by Karl Ludvigsen. The engine and chassis pieces used from a wrecked P400S with AC in Brazil leading to a race car build. Altho not a beauty, IMHO, it is quite a creative build and an interesting Furia logo with 3 horses.
Craig

 

I seem to recall that the engine was a bit tired when I drove it (back when the movie star owned it).


Possible correction: I just compared the posted photos to the ones I took in 2000. Looks like it's a different car.

 

Different car. This is the SVJ supplied to Japan and lived there all its life till May 2007.

Does Tim B still have his P400S out your way??

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

I agree, a very interesting project. Thanks for sharing.

I understand this Tony Bianco car by the same builder also had a Miura engine at one point, and an Alfa unit...

Joe
www.joesackey.com
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The factory has produced a glossy mini-brochure entitled: "VINTAGE SPARE PARTS", a copy of which has been sent to me.

Inside, its states:
"ONCE A LAMBORGHINI DRIVER ALWAYS A LAMBORGHINI DRIVER. Since 1963, Lamborghini has had one clear goal in mind: to make sure Lamborghini customers stay Lamborghini customers. That's why we take extra special care when looking after older vehicles.
Our dealerships and repair shops are specially trained to perform work on vintage cars. Each of our employess can access catalogs for all models online and order spare parts for your car. And if we cant find the right part, we'll make it for you. Entrust the maintenance of your vintage Lamborghini to us. After all, nobody knows your Lamborghini bettr than lamborghini itself".
www.lamborghini.com

All I can say is: Wow. The part I like most is: "If we cant find the right part, we'll make it for you". If this new approach is maintained, then Miura and classic car owners will rejoice. It will also help make the classic models even more revered and valued by the maker's standing behind them. I think Lamborghini is following in Ferrari's footsteps in realizing that there is real value in supporting the heritage cars. A one-word summary? Bravo.

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Interesting, I'd like a copy of that.

I recently ordered some vintage parts from Lamborghini (through a dealer) and was told that they're "getting out of the older models".

The message I get elsewhere on FChat regarding Ferrari is that they don't give a damn once the warranty expires.

 

If this is true it is a complete 180 degree change from what has been being said lately on this topic. I'd also like a copy of the brochure, if you don't mind Joe. A scanned copy would be great.

I will not believe this until they prove with action not words. For example, I have been waiting for information on my Miura for about a year and have frankly given up on it. They appear to have reduced the number of people assigned to the vintage area at the factory (from all of 2 to all of 1). A good start would be to assign more (many more) people to vintage car support. The other will be to start remaking parts for the old cars. This all needs to look a lot more like what Ferrari has done with respect to the vintage cars.

They really need to prove it with actions, not glossy brochures and nice words......

Alberto

 

LOL. Thats what I thought....

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Here is what have... I agree, talk is cheap. I have sourced my own parts from day one 20 years ago. I have had parts re-manufactured. But I remain hopeful for owners and prospective owners at large...

Joe
www.joesackey.com
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Bruno Paratelli is the one who for the most part is responsible for the original upholstery of your Miura (and early Countachs). He is still around and he recently clarified to me via an intermediary the correct samples for various colors used on original cars. Of course black and white are not included here, perhaps because true artists dont consider black and white to be colors! LOL.
Anyway, now we know what true Senape or Tabacco is, and this from the factory's own original upholster.

Joe
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Maybe what they really meant to say was:

And you bring us a big enough box of money and don't care how long it takes

The company's changed hands several times over the years. Except for Valentino (due to retire) I wonder how many at the factory are left that worked on the old cars.

 

LOL. LOL. Once I asked about a basic part when I was over there and they said: "Oh, we havent seen that part around here for 20 years..."

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

We have one thing on our side with vintage Lamborghinis. They were for the most part hand crafted and as such lend themselves particularly well (compared to the stamped and molded cars of today) to having parts fabricated or machined, when necessary. I have frequently reproduced parts over the years when they weren't available.

Some important things are downright scarce. It seems that clutches are a problem. Miura is different than any other I've seen and there's not much incentive for the OEM to stop their production to make a few. This is true for the Countach as well. I am told that Sachs, the manufacturer wants a minimum order of 100 units before they'll tool up. That's not the same as unavailable but it is a hell of a nut to crack.

Quite a few mechanical parts and a number of trim items are common to other cars (Ferrari and Fiat for example). Their greater production numbers insure a ready supply.

 

Beg to differ on this point. For one, Fiats, Alfa's of this vintage are hard to find, specially in the US and if/when people find out they used bits of them for Lamborghini's, forget it they jack up the price. For example, I've been searching for a left rear tail light in the amber/red kind, in good to very good condition with the original Carello stamping on it as used on Fiats for a reasonable price (not $500, not $450, not $300, etc.) for 3 years now with no luck. I have multiple other examples of this. These and other Fiat bits are very hard to source. Heaven forbid you break an A arm or a rear hub carrier.

Factory support is vital if we are going to keep these cars running until we've used up all of the dead dinosour liquid.