Wrinkle black paint on Miura engine

Hi all FChat, i am doing research on wrinkle black paint, a favorite with British cars, and its documentable use on any Lamborghini Miura. It appears to show up on many Miura engine restorations, but not on any actual factory produced Miura. Anybody have a clue as to why black wrinkle valve covers, black wrinkle air filters and other pieces are being presented as factory OEM?
The proof cant possibly be the (misidentified many times) preproduction P400 display engine that was mistakenly put on the SV owners manual cover in color and in the SV tuneup section as well. And maybe this explains the use of red sparkplug wires as well? Besides this very early, heavily reworked display Miura engine what period documentation supports the black Miura engine trim?

It seems pretty clear that Espada or other front engine V12's were indeed black valve covers, not sure about wrinkle, maybe even black engine blocks.

A little help here please - where is the Miura, any model, with black valve covers?
Miura madness
Craig
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The "display" engine is a good example to follow.

Regardless whether it can be proven to be strictly original or just an enthusiastic over-restoration, the wrinkle-black cam covers with "Lamborghini" left unpainted are acceptable and preferred by many to the natural cast finish. I've seen cars both ways (in addition to some variations I won't mention here)..

I would hope that in order to be accepted as correct one would not have to display the correct amount of overspray and other flaws that seem to have consumed the collectors of well-overpriced Detroit iron.

 

I am 100% sure that some SVs and SVJs had their cam covers originally finished in wrinkle black as proven without doubt by a few un-restored cars. However, it was a rarity, rather than the standard application. But, it sure did happen.

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

It sure would be great to have the period photo documentation to back this up. I see this early display engine, maybe the Bertone roadster (no clear photos), and a 1972 AMS race project. So the basic feeling is if this feature is found anywhere at all, then future restorations of any Miura can chose this as an upgrade option as it may be more appealing. Or only SV as the P400 photo was on that manual? Any of you Miura owners in possesion of OEM wrinkle black covers?

Craig

 

The cars are more than 35 years old. Certainly the cam covers have been off at least once by now on most of the cars. Few are in the hands of an original owner. Who would know for sure?

How much more documentation do you need besides the cover of the "Owners Manual"?

 

Craig,

I dont speak for the owner of ANY other Miura but mine. What some do in restoring their cars is up to them. Im not sure I have ever heard of the owner of any SV who has restored his car with wrinkle black cam covers claim that it is original though... In the restoration of mine I had a particularly singular approach caring only for how the car was made.

I know for a fact that when I purchased my prototype USA Miura SV 4884 from Alan Brown's widow, it was completely original in every respect - one of the reasons I purchased it. It even had its original CN12 tires on it, original flaking-off gold sills & wheels, original cracked lacquer paint, and original chipped and flaking wrinkle black cam covers. Alan owned her for almost 30 years and documented the car amazingly well. Whether the wrinkle black on the cam covers denoted that the engine (30642) was a 'sperimentale' unit as importer Ingegnere Alfredo Pedretti suggested (first USA-spec SV engine with air pump as tested at Ann Arbor Michigan for Homologation & type approval) or not, I do not know, and he does not recall. But it was wrinkle black from day one and still is.

I know that at least 2 SVs were built that way (one remains original and is in fact an SVJ).

I just called Claudio Zampolli, Miura chassis engineer at Sant Agata throughout the entire Miura production from 1967 to 1973. He categorically states that there is no doubt in his mind that he personally saw to it that several Miura SVs were finished in this way. However he concedes that they were usually special cars for some reason, or specific customer requests. He reminds me that the little company was a bespoke sports car manufacturer and essentially would finish off the cars any way the customer wanted...

I have not seen wrinkle-black cam covers on any original P400 or P400S.

Bottom line: some SVs (including mine) had wrinkles when they left Sant Agata...

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

I havent seen anyone state that feeling as a generality. Where has this "basic feeling" been stated? Is one person speaking for the owners of all restored cars?

I know when owners ask Bobileff to restore a car, they tell him what finish they would like, whether he approves or not (and believe me he doesnt always approve!). He is just the restorer and its the owner's choice...

Restorations are a very private matter because of the expense involved and I suspect that those that restore plain cam covers to wrinkle black cam covers dont really care too much what anybody thinks. They just think it looks cool and thats that.

As Ive already stated, in my personal case, I simply followed where the car led me and that was the guiding light in my restoration. Others clearly choose a different course..

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Amen!

 

Craig,

One can be forgiven for thinking that you think someone has "presented as factory OEM" the aforementioned items in either a misleading way, or at the very least wrongly.

Remember the old saying: Just because you havent seen it before doesnt mean it isnt so.

Just to clarify for everyone, we know that a few SVs had black wrinkle cam covers. But in studying all this I also realize that some came with black wrinkle air filters (I missed that yesterday) too. Oh, and throw in red ignition wires also...

Where it relates to the ignition wires, in discussion with Claudio I have solved the big mystery of when Lamborghini used red, black or yellow ignition wires on Miuras. It appears that the choice of wires used came down to which supplier's bill they had managed to pay that month

At least 4 Miura SVs I know of had black-wrinkled airboxes from the get-go. Was it a stretch for Marchesini to ask the guys to do them in wrinkle instead of satin black? Child's play. What about chrome-topped airboxes? The Shah of Iran and Frank Sinatra's Miura had these. Original? Absolutely.

In fact Claudio lets on that these 'customized' finishes were the works' (perhaps tongue-in-cheek) way of telling a customer that "your engine is special, just like we promised"

What about cloth seat inserts that also had lateral seams sewn in? Original? Absolutely.

When it comes to finishes especially of the later Miuras especially the SVs, the rule-book with Lamborghini (if there was such a thing to begin with) can be tossed, or at the very least an addendum can be added. The guys at the factory took license with these later cars, as the cars have borne out in their original form on occasion. Rarely was anything ever written down as the focus was on finishing the cars for impatient VIPs.

The bottom line is the finish on each car was different. Thats what makes Miuras, especially SVs so cool. The key is to know (if possible) exactly how a particular car was completed....

I have extensive files of images adressing same, but here are a few that I managed to dig up quickly.

Joe
www.joesackey.com
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I'm thinking either Ronseal or creosote?
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LOL!

Hand-rubbed oil finish?

 

I am back looking at the Miura wrinkle black paint issue and not finding any credible evidence of any Miura ever having any engine component or air cleaners in this wrinkle black finish. Other than the period photos of the one display engine, has anyone ever found a good evidence of this? In fact, what is this group's experience of any Miura component being finished in wrinkle black.

It does appear many Ferrari cam covers were finished in wrinkle black. Is this a case of Miura owners wanting to look like a Ferrari? Or is it just a pleasing look, especially with the Lamborghini section sanded out, that is driving the desire for this look?

Any information or photos here would be great. thanks
Craig

 

Guys,
Did the Jarama GTS models come with the wrinkle finish?

 

Craig, youre simply flogging a dead horse.

Despite posts # 3,6,7 & 9, you obviously cant be convinced, even when the man (Claudio Zampolli) who actually saw to it that this application was administered, has clarified it especially for this thread, it isnt "credible" enough for you. Unless you have forensic or scientific proof, clearly you wont be open minded.

Here is the bottom line: some Miura SVs had wrinkle black applied to their cam covers when finished at Sant Agata. Was it a special application for a VIP client or for a special car (read: non-standard application)? Yes. It was NOT the normal application but as Claudio clarifies it was used. My own car which was 100% original when I received it bears this out, but clearly, my assertions in this regard have no credibility.

I do in fact have several period images from 1971 and 1973 that show SVs with wrinkle black cam covers and "Lamborghini" logo filed bare, but Im sure those images wont do any good in this thread.

To say that wrinkle black was not used on "any Miura" (to quote you) is wrong, plain and simple. It was (even if on only 2 or 3 cars)... but we dont have to agree on everything

If lots of Miura owners want to use wrinkle black for their cam covers nowadays my thoughts are: whatever makes you happy. Not everyone is as bound by original exactitude as perhaps you & I are! If a trend has developed thats not exactly as it was in the past, guess what? Theres nothing we can do about it, and to go around telling all those Miura owners: "Your engine is wrong" doesnt accomplish much except to make you unpopular...

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Guys - book by Pete lyons "The complete book of Lamborghini" page 32.

To my untrained eye it looks like two lines of of engines undergoing original assembly - furthest from camera looks to be miura engines (without covers).

Less than 10 feet away is a second assembly line with what looks to be a differant engine (espada?) which has covers and which appear to be painted.

I may have I.D.the engines wrongly (someone please correct me) but does this show that covers were being thus treated at the relavant time in the factory and only a few feet away from the miura assembly line.

I'm pretty sure any big cheese prospective customer being shown 'round the factory would have seen this and may have asked for his miura to be painted thus.

All very speculative of course - Can any of you experts read the picture better than me?

bax

p.s. page 41 has an urraco engine with painted (matt) black covers & this wasn't oem - but engine looks to be more than just a display mule.

p.p.s there's a blue one on page 44 if anyone wants to get really picky.

 

Bax,

The horror to think that by 1971 Franco ***ione was allowed to wrinkle black a set of cam covers going on a Miura SV's engine! Gasp.

By now we all know that Miuras were finished with Germanic efficiency and strict adherance to a singular assembly code with absolutely no exceptions: naked or silver painted cam covers ONLY.

There was a sign that stated that anyone who broke this strict Lamborghini rule would immediately terminated and sent to work at Ferrari...

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Joe, Your answers are always entertaining. Thanks for inspiring more extensive research on Miura issues.
Bottom line to establish at least one credible data point: If i understand correctly, 4884 was a recepient of the special matching ensemble of wrinkle black finish, and you purchased the car 2-3 years ago after a 35 year one owner stint. You must have done an extensive historical photo shoot with a quality digital camera. Can you post the photos that would give us an found condition? If not, i will understand.
Craig

 

Bax, thanks for the photo reference. Looks like complete head and sundries pieces in black as well on these front engine Lamborghini. Do you think that all of those black components would have all been wrinkle black? matt black? i certainly am open for input on this. Any front engine expert out there? Can anyone date this photo?
thanks
Craig

 

It would appear that all of the front engine Lamborghini after a certain date were produced with matt black finish heads and pieces. If i remember, early Espada and early Islero were produced with a full silver engine.

 

Hard to tell from photo if its wrinkle or matt - I was hoping one of the "I can spot an engine from 200 yards" boys would identify the engine in the foreground and then see if this apparent new finish is correct and confirmed with the particular model experts.

Also on page 187 of the same tome is a shot of a racing AMS (mentioned earlier in this thread) built near the factory and using a miura engine - already painted in what looks like wrinkle.

Therefore someone in Bolognese was painting wrinkle black covers at the time in question - AMS car was 1972 (I think) so would be correct time frame for SV's to be so painted if desired.

As posted by others with considerable knowledge & factory contacts I'm sure that non painted was the standard - BUT other finishes were always available by the factory - look at Sinatra's car for example - non standard but factory - Ferruccio was always known & documented to be much more accommodating of potential new owners requests than that other Italian car maker.

Colin Clarke who knows a thing or two about all things lamborghini told me some time ago "beware photographic evidence" as by the time the books were published cars had often been messed around with; particularly by the American owners* however I mention the Lyons book as the photograph appears to be of original assembly.

Bottom line for me is if someone who worked there said it's an option then it's an option.

I doubt you'll find photographic evidence of what you search for but neither will you find a photograph of anyone installing a TAG racing clock or Sinatra's boar hide but these were options.

Are you asking because you want to wrinkle your covers or because you don't? - Personally I like both but wouldn't wrinkle a P400 'cos it's just wrong.

* don't Taser me dudes - It's a quote.

Bax.

 

Bax,

Thanks for bringing some logic, and open-mindedness to this topic. You are right on the money.

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Thanks Uncle Joe,

Mam wants to know, are you still coming 'round for you tea on Saturday?

Bax.

 

Only if she has scones...

Joe
www.joesackey.com