Lamborghini Miura 1021 – 40th Years Young

In April 1967, Lamborghini built Miura Chassis Number 1021, putting engine Number 1019 in the car. Miura 1021 is one of the earliest Miura’s built, being the 9th Miura in the series, making it the 4th production car, as there were 5 prototype/preproduction cars. As a result, it is one of the very first Miura's to reach its 40th birthday.

Miura 1021 was imported by Foitek AG of Switzerland and confirmed by Peter Foitek to have been delivered April 27, 1967 (the day before Ferruccio’s 51st birthday). Foitek AG imported the car for dealer Peter Monteverdi (builder of the Monteverdi Cars) for their client Dr. Alfred Hopf. The entire history of the car is as of yet unknown, but the car has had at least 6 owners in its 40 year existence. The known history of 1021 can be found at http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/Miura/Miura/1021.html

As far as I know, Miura 1021 is the earliest Miura still in regular use. In August 2006, the car was driven round trip (1001 miles) from San Diego to the Monterey peninsula on occasion of the 2006 Concorso Italiano and Pebble Beach weekend. The car ran flawlessly. Driving a Lamborghini Miura on Highway 1 surely one of the most beautiful roads in the world, must be one of the highlights of any car lover’s dreams. A particular highlight of the trip was seeing the cars to be shown at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance driving south on Highway 1 while we were heading north.

On the eave of its 40th Birthday, Miura 1021 was put on a chassis dynamometer (the proverbial B.S. meter). As shown by the graph, engine 1019 made 240 bhp at the rear wheels. Assuming 20% to 25% in mechanical losses (e.g., drive train, etc.), this equates to 300 to 320 bhp at the flywheel. This compares to the 350 bhp DIN indicated by Lamborghini’s marketing literature, which translates to 345 bhp SAE at the flywheel. That said, not too many people that I know of ever really believed Lamborghini’s marketing numbers. The car achieved 255 ft-lb of torque, which compares to 289 ft-lb provided by Lamborghini.

It was a life long ambition to own a Miura and I consider myself very fortunate to have fulfilled that ambition, particularly with this very early and special specimen.

Buon compleanno Miura 1021 !
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Robert:

I must apologize because I do not remember a blue Miata on that trip. I do remember a vintage Ford Mustang (I think it was a Cobra 500GT, if memory serves) behind me, which I eventually let pass, but that was getting close to Monterey.

Up through Avila Beach there were four Lamborghini's, the Miura, a 350GT, an Espada and a Jalpa. I peeled off just afterwards to get on Highway 1 going north. The other Lambo's went 101. They said something about 101 being faster, but for me the voyage is more important the destination, and in any case, we got to Monterey about 15 minutes apart !! So, if you saw just the Miura, it must have been on Highway 1 north of Avila Beach.

It was a great trip. I hope to do it again in a few years.

 

Looks like an Italian villa to me, which is not too far off the mark (except for the Italy part).

Joe, you've no idea how happy I am to have this car.

 

I've been intending to weigh it on a four point balance system to see what the weight is on each corner. I found a place that would let me do that for free, so I need to take them up on it. Only problem is they only open M-F, so it's a bit difficult for me to get there as I slave everyday to afford the toy.