• Baujahr 
    1968
  • Chassisnummer 
    3510
  • Motornummer 
    30608
  • Losnummer 
    280
  • Lenkung 
    Lenkung links
  • Zustand 
    Gebraucht
  • Zahl der Sitze 
    2
  • Standort
    Vereinigtes Königreich
  • Außenfarbe 
    Sonstige
  • Antrieb 
    2wd
  • Kraftstoff 
    Petrol

Beschreibung

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 Coupé
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Bertone
Registration no. SKR 291G
Chassis no. 3510
Engine no. 30608

'But step back for a minute and work out what makes the Miura so special. In 1966 there was nothing like it. Only racing cars and the obscure little French Bonnet/Matra Djet had mid-mounted engines. Ferrari's road-going mainstay was the traditional front-engined 275GTB. So when tractor magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini stole the attention of the Geneva Salon crowd with the Miura, people were shocked as much by its audacious mechanical layout as they were by its era-defining and stunningly gorgeous styling.' – Classic Cars, July 2004.

Ferruccio Lamborghini's bold challenge to Ferrari had begun in 1964 with the 350GT but it was the arrival of the Miura - arguably the founder of the supercar class - that established Lamborghini as a major manufacturer of luxury sporting cars. Prior to the model's official debut at the 1966 Geneva Salon, Lamborghini cars were respected for their impressive mechanical specifications but they somehow lacked a distinctive persona. All this changed with the arrival of the Miura, named after Don Eduardo Miura, a famous breeder of fighting bulls. The Miura project first surfaced as a rolling chassis displayed at the 1965 Turin Motor Show but was not expected to become a production reality. Nevertheless, by the time of the Geneva Salon the following year, the first completed car was ready for unveiling to an awe-struck press and public.

The car's technical specification was breathtaking in its sophistication and complexity. Designed by Gianpaolo Dallara, the Miura carried its transversely mounted engine amidships in a box-section platform chassis, the latter clothed in stunning coupé coachwork styled by Bertone's Marcello Gandini. Like the contemporary 400GT, the Miura used the 4.0-litre version of Lamborghini's Giotto Bizzarrini-designed four-cam V12. With 350bhp available, the Miura was capable of shattering performance, a top speed of 180mph being claimed. Production examples were independently tested at more than 170, confirming that the Miura was the world's fastest production car. Early in 1968, after the 125th car had been completed, the steel used in the chassis was increased from 0.9 to 1mm in thickness, while from April that year customers could specify a leather interior. Initial development had concentrated on chassis strengthening, these improvements being consolidated in the more powerful Miura 'S', for spinto (tuned), introduced in 1968. Production of the original P400 effectively ended when the successor 'S' version was introduced, by which time a little over 470 of these wonderful cars had been produced.

The process of making the Miura faster yet more durable reached its zenith in 1971 with the arrival of the 'SV', for spinto veloce. Apart from the deletion of its distinctive 'eyelash' headlight embellishments and changes to the rear lights, the body remained largely unaltered apart from slightly flared wheelarches shrouding wider tyres. In addition there were cosmetic changes to the interior and a more powerful (around 390bhp) engine to offset the increased weight and rolling resistance, but the main gain was a significant improvement in build quality. There were also major revisions to the front and rear suspension arrangements to improve the handling and accommodate the new 9" Campagnolo wheels. Part way through 1971 a 'split sump' lubrication system was phased in, which used separate reservoirs for the engine and transmission oil. This was necessitated by the final cars' ZF limited-slip differential, which could not share the engine's oil, and brought with it the additional benefit of increase component life and less frequent rebuilds.

The Miura SV was the world's fastest production car when introduced but its arrival coincided with the Countach successor model's announcement. Although the latter was still years from actual production, demand for the Miura slackened inevitably and only 150 SVs had been made when production ceased at the end of 1972. There was also, briefly, a solitary competition version. Brainchild of Lamborghini development engineer Bob Wallace, the latter, known as the 'Jota', featured bodywork crafted in aerospace light alloy, Plexiglas side windows, racing suspension, Campagnolo magnesium wheels and an engine tuned to produce 440bhp. Sadly, this car, chassis number '5084', was destroyed in an accident in 1972.

Left-hand drive chassis number '3510' was supplied new to a lady in Italy, who sold it to Mr Peter Wrigley in July 1979. Mr Wrigley's letter outlining the Miura's history with him is in the file. He states that the car had been back to the factory in 1975 to be partially upgraded to SV specification. It has been fitted with an SV engine (number '30608') and has the later SV-type bodywork. Mr Wrigley kept the car for 20 years and had commenced its restoration before selling it, unfinished, in December 1999. The buyer was Alan Carrington, whose company then undertook a complete 'last nut and bolt' rebuild over the next two years (see summary of work on file). The Lamborghini was then sold to dealer Phil Stubbs, from whom it was purchased by the current vendor in 2004. The vendor had the car re-sprayed in Lamborghini Black metallic and sent it to Lamborghini specialist Carrera Sport (Mike Pullen) for any work that needed doing, which included a full engine and transmission strip and rebuild (bill on file).

In 2005 the vendor commissioned the Jota headlamp conversion from glassfibre specialists PPC Marine Fabrications Ltd, which was made without altering the body in any way (description on file). The original headlamps are with the car and in good condition, including the glass. Four new wider wheels were made and fitted with the original tyres (the original wheels, in good condition, are with the car). Although the bodywork renovation is ten years old, there are no signs of corrosion, while the dashboard is in very good condition as is the rest of the interior. The vendor advises us that he has no reason to doubt the veracity of the 53,641 kilometres (approximately 33,300 miles) recorded. The engine has recently been fitted with new plugs and caps, and the ignition timing and carburettors adjusted. A compression test found all cylinders above 200psi (bill on file). Boasting a unique specification, this beautiful Miura comes with V5C registration document and a substantial file of history.


Bonhams 1793
101 New Bond Street
London
W1S 1SR
Vereinigtes Königreich
Contact Person Kontaktperson
Vorname 
Bonhams Collectors’ Car department

Telefonnummer 
+44-2074685801
Fax 
+44-2074477401