Miura, the original supercar

CAR magazine, December 1967/January 1968, LJK Setright does 1000 miles in the Lamborghini Miura:

"There are other cars whose rear wheels are driven by an engine mounted transversely in the tail, and some of them have nicely shaped and streamlined two-seater coupe bodies – but none of them can do anything like 180mph"
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http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/Miura/MiuraS/4443Resto.pdf

 

Here's a quick question from my own CT restoration thread.

Were all the Miura air box FIAMM labels always silk-screened or were some of them stickers? Any ideas or confirmation one way or the other?

The one on my '79 CT is silk-screened.

 

Silk-screened from the factory.

 

Miura fun in Michigan earlier this month. Even though the drive to the truck was not too long, the P4000's did ok in the snow!
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Why isn't Miura S, 3838, matching numbers, restored not selling at 1.495.000 USD (or 1.38 M€ as of 25/01/2016)?

1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S | Symbolic International

Would like to hear your comments about this car?

Thanks,

 

Restored? Nice car, but that is a loose definition when used describing 3838.

 

European will prefer to buy an European car in order to avoid to pay 6% importation taxes on top...

 

Agreed.

The word 'restored' has become an expression that is applied loosely to almost any car that has received repairs or renovation.

The definition of the word "restored" is to "renovate (a building, work of art, vehicle, etc) so as to return it to its original condition", therefore, if a Miura started out white/tan (as 3838 did) and is now green/black, it really hasn't been restored, strictly-speaking.

That said, it looks like a nice car, and the issue here may simply be the price.

 

P4000s?

Here are vintage Pirelli CN12s being demonstrated in the snow when the Miura SV owner had to venture out to pick up Christmas pudding, brandy-filled chocolates, a wedge of Stilton and a bottle of Port!
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I got my copy by post and read already the whole article which is good.

The following "Miura memories" articles are also interesting, but I regret that author of article "The only Racing Miura"... Mr Massimo Delbo, didn't make more researches or ask the right persons about that topic, that's a lack of professionnalism !

As far as I know & investigated, they were close to 9 Miura raced... not only 1...

Among them, the 2nd raced in chronology was my ex #3015 in 1967 & 1968, proving that some Miura raced before the one mentionned in the article !
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Template of the original Automobili Lamborghini SpA badge as used in the 60s/70s.

Seen on a few Miuras
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"The S is actually the most powerful of the Miuras, Balboni later tells me, somewhat to my surprise. I had always presumed the SV was top dog (or, should I say, bull). But No."

???

 

Quickest maybe but not the most powerful. We just completed an analysis of all three engine configurations in another forum. The hp increases between the models is real. The hp increase from the P400 to the S is due to an increase in carb choke and main jet size. The increase from the S to the SV is due to a change in cam timing. So in about a days worth of work and a dozen chokes and main jets it is possible to make any of the engines into any of the three configurations.

Cheers Jim

 

how about fuel consumption between variants?

 

Jim is right.

Unfortunately, so much is lost in translation and thus printed in error by journalists.

I have heard that the S is faster at top speed because of its more svelte silhouette and smaller width tires (I can't confirm this), but the SV is the most powerful.

 

correct, in addition to that balancing pistons, rods and so on will give an extra +12hp as one of my LCB members have done on his Miura, I'm expeccting to have his dyno sheet soon or later !

 

Agreed, there is more HP left in Lamborghini's V12, quite a bit more than 12 hp. On the surface their cylinder heads look like a good design, but some of the details are not right. There is a significant air flow improvement that can be made quite easily, particularly on the intakes. Having said that, Lamborghini's cylinder head design was extremely good for the era it was made in, other automotive manufactures where missing far more than just some details.

Cheers Jim

 

I suspect hearing Balboni wax lyrical about his favourite ride is similiar to my Italian experience of asking locals for directions.
"Si, it's that way!", all the while gesticulating in a vague 180deg arc somewhere in front of whichever direction you happen to be facing at the time!

 

Are Gary's photos of engine with injection Miura #4671, the one that Raymond saw in Switzerland?
Thanks,

 

Yellow Miura SV 4912 didn't sell yesterday at RM Auction Arizona, with high bid of only 1.700.000 USD.

Any comments?

 

Sold post sale for $2,000,000.00 plus import fees of 2.5%.

That being said RM specifically said the car was "...a fantastic candidate for a restoration..."

Being that the car was originally a USA spec car means that the front and rear hoods were modified. The USA lights were somehow "filled in." In pictures from a client inspecting the car at the sale the sections around the euro front lamp showed signs of body work.

Personally, the car should go back to original colors and back to original specifications. Considering the rarity of a USA spec car I think the car was well bought.

Restoration on a Miura is not cheap and very timely. $2,000,000.00 is strong money for a SV in need of restoration. It would be amazing to see this car brought back to life in its original colors and in show condition!!

 

Agreed

 

Absolutely correct, it was not in its original configuration and that explains Gaetan !

Right now, I know a SV which is almost finished after full restoration in a budget exceeding XXX.000 € + VAT...

That total will reach the average of recent SV sales in 2015, so there is no mystery an SV worthes +/- 2.2M€ up to 2.4M€ in top conditions.
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I don't like the look of those irregularities in the paint...