MIURA: THE WORLD’S FIRST SUPERCAR
ISLERO S
engine and gearbox in one casting. This, shared lubrication continued until the last
96 SVs, when the case was split to allow the correct oils to be used for each element.
Legend has it that the first 125 Miuras were built of 0.9 mm steel and are therefore
lighter than later cars. All cars had steel frames and doors, with aluminium front and
rear skinned body sections.
The P400S Miura, also known as the Miura S, made its debut at the Turin Motor
Show in November 1968, where the original chassis had been introduced three years
earlier. It was slightly revised from the P400, with the addition of power windows,
bright chrome trim around external windows and headlights, new overhead inline
console with new rocker switches, engine intake manifolds made 2mm larger,
different camshaft profiles, and notched trunk end panels. Engine changes were
reportedly good for an additional 20 hp. Other revisions were limited to creature
comforts, such as a locking glovebox lid, a reversed position of the cigarette lighter
and windshield wiper switch, and single release handles for front and rear body
sections. Other interior improvements included the addition of power windows
and optional air conditioning. About 338 P400S Miura were produced between
December 1968 and March 1971. One S #4407 was owned by Frank Sinatra (in
orange his favorite color) with a wild boarskin leather interior. Sinatra was so taken
with his car that he allegedly said “You buy a Ferrari when you want to be somebody.
You buy a Lamborghini when you are somebody”. Miles Davis also owned one,
which he crashed in October 1972 under the influence of cocaine, breaking both
ankles. Eddie Van Halen owns one and can be heard revving it up during the bridge
on the song Panama.
The last and most famous Miura, the P400SV or Miura SV was presented in 1971. It
featured different cam timing and altered 4X3-barrel Weber carburettors. These gave
the engine an additional 35 hp, to 380 hp. The last 96 SV engines had a split sump. The
gearbox now had its lubrication system separate from the engine, which allowed the
use of the appropriate types of oil for the gearbox and the engine. This also alleviated
concerns that metal shavings from the gearbox could travel into the engine with
disastrous and expensive results and made the application of an optional limited-
slip differential far easier. The SV can be distinguished from its predecessors by its
lack of “eyelashes” around the headlamps, wider rear wheel arches to accommodate
the new 9-inch-wide (230 mm) rear wheels, and different taillights. A total of 150
SVs were produced. In 1970, Lamborghini development driver Bob Wallace created
a test mule that would conform to the FIA’s Appendix J racing regulations. The car
was appropriately named the Miura Jota. Wallace made extensive modifications
to the standard Miura chassis and engine. Weight reductions included replacing
steel chassis components and body panels with the lightweight aluminium alloy
Avional. He also replaced the side windows with plastic. The resulting car weighing
approximately 800 pounds less than a production Miura. A front spoiler was added
and the headlights were replaced with fixed, faired-in units. Wallace substituted two
smaller, sill-mounted fuel tanks for the single larger original unit. The suspension
was reworked and widened 9” in the front, 12” in the rear, and lightweight wheels
were fitted. The engine was modified to produce 418–440 bhp, with an increased
compression ratio, altered cams, electronic ignition, dry-sump lubrication and a less
restrictive exhaust system. This single example was eventually sold to a private buyer
after extensive testing. In April 1971, the car crashed on the yet-unopened ring road
around the city of Brescia, and burned to the ground.
No one actually knows why it was called Miura. Ferrucio never wanted to disclose
why he came up with the analogy to this breed of extraordinary and powerful bulls,
a Spanish bullfighting legend. For someone like him, a man who was born under
the sign of Taurus and had used this symbol for the proud logo of all his industrial
activities, naming one of his cars after a fighting bull must have come naturally. If
anything what is surprising is the fact that, in choosing the first name for his first car
that would have enormous international impact, he instinctively chose the best and
most appropriate name. According to experts, Miura bulls are by no means ordinary
bulls. They are the strongest of all fighting bulls but, above all they are the most
intelligent and fiercest ones. Bullfighters often talk about the unmistakable gaze of
the Miura bull, gaze of a true fighter, shrewd and powerful. The name was very apt
and with just five letters, it was also very immediate.
If you want a Miura today, expect to pay around £1.3 million.
Happy Xmas folks! David.Gidman@hrowen.co.uk
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