Miura, the original supercar

4934.

 

Vince, I think what Simon means is that, of the Miura SV Jotas (SVJs) existing, the ex-Shah of Iran 4943 is the most original of all.

The key word is "most", because when Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage owned this SVJ, it was in my care for some time, and I was able to determine that whilst it remained fairly original, there were a number of aspects of it that had received some TLC so it certainly wasn't 100% original. This was 15 years plus ago, and since then I know the car has had more cosmetic work.

That said, the other SVJs have all been restored at this point, so he is right in saying this one is the most original.

I have an in-car image of me driving it on California's PCH and I can tell you it sounded great @ WOT.

FWIW, at the same time, I owned the other Shah of Iran SV 4870.

 

The TLC I'm aware of occurred in California, wheels & sills sympathetically refinished, some paint touchup, tires replaced in favor of modern rubber, minor things, in my opinion it doesn't really 'affect' its originality as these are routine maintenance items upon a working machine, none of the so-called original cars can ever be 100% original if they are used.

 

That isn't a fact, its only an opinion posted upon Instagram!

I can think of at least a half-dozen Lamborghinis, some pretty special Prototypes amongst them, that are more valuable.

 

Both true, as I have now determined with a bit more research. But as we know, this does not necessarily mean that OVM 8 H was not Rod Stewart's car.

As we also know, cars owned by celebrities often have ownership documentation drawn up that shields the celebrity from direct liability, and documentation is often convoluted in this regard. For example, Gaff set up Stewart’s solo recording contracts with Mercury Records and in 1975 with Gaff’s own Riva label, but Although Stewart's Countach LP400 had California "RIVA 1" plates, it was neither in his name nor Gaff's!

Adrian Millar & Billy Gaff were in the same business and its not inconceivable that they knew and did business with each other, not that this means anything.

That said, I once published a couple of books The Lamborghini Miura Bible ? Joe Sackey | Joe Sackey Classics & The Book of the Ferrari 288 GTO ? Joe Sackey | Joe Sackey Classics and in doing so, I came to find out that certain photographic archive sources were quite reliable sources of accurate information down to the very date of the image slide. For example, the Getty Images library consists of reputed photographers whose work is notoriously well-cataloged and accurately captioned. Why would I dispute Victor Blackman's testimony that the image he took was anything other than "British rock singer Rod Stewart with HIS Lamborghini Miura, UK, 12th September 1971" ?

So too, why would I dispute Ron Gallela's testimony that the image he took was anything other than "Rod Stewart'S Lamborghini outside Michael York's Home, Los Angeles, California, United States, March 20th, 1978" ?

In conclusion I'll be the first to admit that I have zero definite proof that Rod Stewart owned OVM 8 H, or RIVA 1, but, period photographic evidence and accompanying credited caption suggests he did!

Until I see credible proof that he didn't own the car that photographs suggest he did, I'm sticking with what I believe to be the case.

As always, I'm receptive to period documents & photographs that suggest otherwise.
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Did your spies also tell you if Ronnie Wood owned a RHD Miura SV we have never heard of, why he just happened to be posing on Rod Stewart's Miura SV, or did they mean that Rod Stewart was doing his best Ronnie Wood impersonation?

FWIW, the man posing on the front hood of the Miura with lace-up shirt and suspenders is Roderick David Stewart, as anyone who has seen many images of the man will tell you, and, this is his own Miura SV 4818.

What makes me sure of this is, at the time this image was taken in the 70s, the difference between Rod & Ronnie would be the fact that Ronnie sported much darker (black) hair than Rod, but the obvious difference lies in their facial features as IMHO Ronnie looks nothing like Rod!

The man in front of the Miura SV and in the papers are the same guy - Rod Stewart.

Regardless, I'd love to hear your spies' story and the basis for the claim!
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The difference between Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood at the time, Wood looked quite different from Stewart with his black hair, then & now.
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I belive Victor Blackman's catalogued & captioned archive image he took of "British rock singer Rod Stewart with HIS Lamborghini Miura, UK, 12th September 1971" clearly showing the OVM 8 H license plate at Rod's home in the company of Rod's white Rolls Royce just 6 days before the Oval concert, provides the strongest proof proffered to date. Not definitive proof, but very strong.

 

It is not definitive proof by itself, but it does prove association, so that's something.

 

Understood.

The fact that the person posing in front of his Miura SV is so very obviously Rod Stewart, only speaks to the credibility of the source that suggested this is Ronnie Wood! In piecing together your story, you can take this into consideration.

 

Rod Stewart, Lamborghini enthusiast.
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