Developed through the early Sixties and produced from 1964 to 1966, the Lamborghini 350 GT debuted because the daring Italian marque’s first manufacturing mannequin following the Franco Scaglione-designed 350 GTV prototype that debuted on the 1963 Turin present. Whereas the 350 GT and its more and more refined derivatives mirrored firm founder Ferruccio Lamborghini’s imaginative and prescient for grand-touring excellence and delivered a number of credible “photographs throughout the bow” to archrival Ferrari, the Miura that quickly adopted them by the latter Sixties represented a devastating nuclear strike.
Boasting race-derived mechanical specs, staggering all-around efficiency and aggressively beautiful appears to be like, the Miura was developed by a seven-man “dream workforce” of Italy’s most interesting engineers of the Sixties together with Giam Paolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani. Immortal because the world’s first manufacturing supercar, Lamborghini’s Miura was first proven unnamed and easily in naked rolling chassis type on the 1965 Turin Motor Present. Absolutely clothed in beautiful alloy coachwork penned by Marcello Gandini for Bertone, it despatched shockwaves worldwide at its formal March 1966 Geneva Salon debut and drew orders on the spot from the wealthiest and most influential personalities and fans of the period.
Named in honor of the notoriously fierce combating bulls bred by Don Eduardo Miura, the Miura stays spectacular at this time. Engineering highlights included a light-weight chassis, all-independent underpinnings, tilting entrance and rear physique sections, and 4-wheel disc brakes. The Miura’s unique DOHC V-12 engine even featured early growth by none apart from legendary engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, who was largely chargeable for Ferrari’s good 250 GTO previous to the notorious “Palace Revolt” that liberated the skills of most of the greatest Italian engineers, racing mechanics and workforce managers from Maranello.
Initially designated P400 in recognition of its midmounted 4.0L V-12 engine creating 350 HP, the Miura instantly made the most effective of Ferrari’s modern highway fashions appear dated compared. First accessible in 1967, the Miura LP400 backed up its provocative appears to be like with shattering efficiency together with reported high speeds nearing 170 MPH.
Whereas designed primarily as a front-line sports activities racing automobile worthy of entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans and looking out the half, the Miura was in reality conceived as a blindingly quick and glamorous highway automobile with out racing pretensions, given the quickly escalating prices of working international-level racing groups through the Sixties. When new, the Miura was the unqualified automobile of selection for the period’s high entertainers, rock stars and rich playboys. Right now, it continues to rank extremely as one of the crucial stunning and potent vehicles ever conceived with few, if any, worthy friends.
Miura manufacturing progressed by way of three distinct and progressively quicker variations: the P400, P400 S and P400 SV. Early automobiles turned accessible to patrons in 1967 and manufacturing continued by way of 1973. Growth was swift and relentless, spearheaded by Dallara and New Zealander Bob Wallace, Lamborghini’s growth driver and engineer. The primary fruit of this work was the improved Miura LP400 S, with the S suffix denoting its “Spinto,” or tuned, specification. First proven on the 1968 Turin present, the LP400 S supplied improved dealing with, construct high quality and inside consolation.
The mighty 3922cc Lamborghini V-12 engine was fortified on the LP400 S with reworked cylinder heads and revised Weber carburetion, yielding a helpful 20 HP bump to a 370 HP factory-advertised ranking. Rear-suspension updates and newly accessible, state-of-the-art 70-series Pirelli Cinturato radial tires enhanced dealing with, whereas new ventilated disc-brake rotors decreased fade beneath exhausting utilization. Visually recognized by its “S” tail-panel script matching the stylized “Miura” model-identification emblem, the Miura LP400 S acquired additional selective upgrades throughout its manufacturing run, which spanned from November 1968 till the arrival of the P400 SV in March 1971 with simply 338 examples of the LP400 S collection produced.
Ever since they had been new, all examples of the Miura have been enthusiastically and rightly adopted and documented because the world’s first midengine, two-seater sports activities/GT automobile ever produced. Constructed at Lamborghini’s historic, authentic Sant’Agata Bolognese manufacturing facility in Italy on January 29, 1969, this 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S bears Chassis No. 3919, Engine No. 2772 and Manufacturing No. 3223.
The LP400 S advantages from a three-year, concours-level restoration accomplished in 2008 by the famend Bobileff Motorcar Firm of San Diego, California. Superbly complemented by a blue-upholstered inside, the Miura’s unforgettable Verde Miura/Pistachio exterior was refinished in 2017.
The transverse-mounted 3.9L DOHC V-12 engine is an paintings in its personal proper, and all 4 Weber carburetors had been rebuilt in 2020. A 5-speed handbook transmission/rear transaxle delivers the ability to the highway. Good-looking Campagnolo three-ear, knock-off wheels, fitted with new Pirelli Cinturato tires in 2024, ship highway contact.
Service and upkeep utilized to this beautiful Miura embrace {an electrical} system overhaul carried out in 2018, which comprised alternative of the starter, a 100-amp alternator improve, battery and cable alternative, and set up of a brand new voltage regulator. Drivetrain service consists of alternative of the crown gear between the starter and flywheel with a manufacturing facility equal in 2021 and set up of a brand new clutch wheel cylinder in 2023. The muffler was changed most lately in 2023. In depth service data accompany the Miura.
Whereas the Miura is certainly a technical and styling tour de power in each respect with an unforgettably purposeful presence and cohesive design, its many particular person options are charming in and of themselves together with the classical gated shift quadrant, chrome window trim, rear-window louvers and, in fact, the “eyelashes” and chrome trim surrounding the headlamps. The motive force is greeted by a good-looking three-spoke steering wheel, large-diameter tachometer and speedometer, and gauges monitoring the automobile’s very important indicators.
Designed and constructed primarily to ship excessive efficiency, the Miura’s passenger facilities are choose and restricted to the central console with a passenger seize deal with, energy window lifts and a locking glovebox. Twin exhaust retailers ship an unforgettably howling observe as you shift the competition-style rear transaxle, letting the surface world know you’re behind the wheel of a uncommon instance of the world’s first midengine, two-seat automobile and fairly doubtless the primary true supercar ever created.
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