Miura, the original supercar

I think SK has said recently on IG that if he'd won the auction he'd have returned 4878 to original specification regarding the interior colour and more recent mods. We'll have to see what happens regarding his instructions from the new owner.

There seems to be quite a few clues that 4878 may well have been split and dry sumped by the Reparto Assistenza Clienti within the Lamborghini factory at Saint Agata in period. It would be wrong to return it to single and wet sump if the conversion was done there, imho, as it would be akin to converting one of the genuine SVJs converted there from SV, as I believe they mostly were, back to SV, or converting SVJ 4860's engine to standard 385 BHP tune and single sump back from the RAC's 430 BHP tuning and split sump conversion.

Although the single sump SV is rarer, I do not believe that to be a plus, as the split sump will potentially have benefits for longevity, even for a road car never used on the track. Enquiries should be made with Polo Storico by or on behalf of the new owner to properly research this matter to see if a definitive answer can be found.

 

I am really amaze with your drive. Keep on moving

 

The story of a Miura being driven 1400 km after delivery made me think of a personal encounter with a Miura more than 10 years ago. The discussion of the alternator belt kind of missed the point. {Tongue goes to cheek} I am sure prospective buyers will now read this thread and know which brokers to turn to when they want a 50 year-old car delivered with a 110%-guarantee of not breaking down, with belts made from indestructible NASA-grade material & every nut and bolt kissed by Vale before tightened. {Tongue goes back to where it belongs}.

Being a teenager and already car-crazy, I found out that a local classic car rally was going to have lunch not too far from where I lived. The entry list was not that exciting (Austin Healeys, Sprites, the odd DB4GT and 250 GTE), so my father was slightly reluctant to drive all the way to the restaurant. A few kilometers before the stop however, while waiting at a red light, I saw a red P400 Miura turning up! The sight of it sitting in modern day traffic was unbelievable & seeing and hearing it on the move was fantastic. Turns out it was heading the same direction and sure enough, when scanning the parking lot of the rally stop, just above the bushes I spotted the roof of the Lamborghini. Needless to say, I spent all the time checking out the Miura and paid very little attention to the rally cars

Point being, driving your Miura is not only a joy for the driver, but for other enthusiast too! To encounter a car like that in the wild & on the move is priceless.
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

These are great photos. What year was it? Any idea the chassis number?

 

A cool memory to have and great photos of the occasion, simpen, thanks for sharing. It appears to be 3282 in Belgium.

 

P400 with later cockpit grab handle, later type side skirt intakes, gold wheels and sills.
I’ve been wondering if any of the earlier cars left the factory with the gold wheels and sills. I’m guessing the red P400 above has been restored and the gold paint is not the original colour?

 

P400 3282 is pictured on miura-svj.com with the original type P400 grab handle, silver wheels/rocker panels and 3 eared knock off wheel spinners.

I believe only the SVs originally had gold wheels and sills. That was the case, at least in the UK, according to Del Hopkins who worked for Roger Phillips, the UK Lamborghini concessionaire at the time the Miura was in production, and later for Portman and Lamborghini UK.

 

Belgium indeed, the year must have been 2008 or 2007. No idea about chassis number though, most likely Olivier Nameche will know for sure . Two more detail shots showing the spinners for those interested:


Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Looks like 3282 but if so early car (97) with ‘thin’ chassis so odd having big S type grab handle. Borrani wheel nuts with no ears not original, maybe was in Germany for a time.

 

It's indeed #3282, still in Belgium under the same registration.

 

#3282 belonging for 16 years to my very old friend Serge ( we were at same University)., and early member of my Club LCB.

He bought it at Barcelona from Auto Storica

He had the full mechanic field restored by Top Motors, interior is genuine even the carpet.

He is not driving it too much, as the collection holds +/- 25 cars and few other jewels.

I still try to convince him to respray it correctly... may be one day.



Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

If it is 3282, it's one of the first 100. Interesting car. As pictured, early steering wheel, later grab handle, looks like OEM color gold wheels, gold rockers, nuts instead of knock offs, license plate lights changed, US spec tail lights, original round tail pipes, black headlight bezel surround and also 14 eyelash uppers, chrome door thumb latch. Wish it could talk and tell its story.

 

Plenty Miura have something to tell us about.... like this SV #4936...



Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Here are some pictures I have of #3282 - not mine, but picked-up over the web - claimed as being shots from the 70's.
It appears as being a standard Miura P400, partially adapted for the US market at one point of its life : equipped with clear HL lenses and full red tail light lenses. But, as a P400, it had at this time its correct small passenger grab handle, eared knock-offs, and silver painted wheels, etc..
Not sure that the black leather (vinyl?) material is the correct one for the seats at this P400 production-period, when new ?


Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Steering wheel looks too thick. Maybe it was delivered with wood steering wheel and the owner decided to switch to leather and have stretched and glued leather over the wood.

 

I bow to BB's greater knowledge but looks original wheel with the leather cover as seen in Ludvigsen's test drive of an early car. The leather cover has likely suffered a bit over the years. Swapped grab handle a mystery.

o Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Still its thicker than on your posted photo. Just compare the curve of the stainless steel near the leather...clearly visible/not visible.

 

I agree with you Leo, it is too thick and it is not the 1st wood steering that I see recovered by leather...

Here is how #3282 steering looks like now


Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

When the P400's had the steering wheels covered by the factory, it was not in leather. It was the same leatherette (vinyl) used for the interior.