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Image credits: © Lamborghini.
1968 Lamborghini Miura news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Roadster Designer: Bertone Chassis Num: P400XN161 3435 Engine Num: 1827 |
 |  |  | Roadster Designer: Bertone Chassis Num: 3948 |
The Roadster, also known as a Spider or Spyder, was never a production vehicle. A top had never even been built for the prototype. The original prototype was later sold to ILZRO (International Lead and Zinc Research Corporation). The purpose of their purchase was to reconstruct the car using their own metals and technology to help promote their business and the capabilities of their talents.
John Foster, a designer for Ford, was given the opportunity to oversee the modifications. Upon receiving the car, it was completely disassembled with many of the parts receiving zinc-plating, chrome plating, polished or remanufactured using metals made by ILZRO. In many regards, it went from being an original to a 'replica', as many of the parts, including the bumpers, exhaust, carburetor stacks, radiator, and more were recreated. The car was finished in chrome with a metallic green paint scheme over a black metallic base. The result was a dark green appearance. The interior was finished in brown suede upholstery. The name of the vehicle was changed to 'Zn-75' signifying the periodic table of metals used during the reconstruction.
This was the ultimate show car, coupling beauty, design, and rare metals into one exotic package. It made its debut in May of 1969 and shown throughout the world on a very busy schedule. After its tour it was auctioned to S.F. Radtke, who was the Executive Vice President of the Ilzro at that time.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s the car received a restoration by Synthetex Inc and then was donated to the Boston Transportation Museum in Massachusetts, USA in 1981. It was later restored by J. Geils, a member at the museum at the time. The car was later auctioned and purchased by an unknown buyer. At another auction, the car was purchased by the Portman Group based in the UK.
The car has since changed ownership on several occasions. In recent times, it has returned to the US in the care of a NY based real estate developer named A. Gordon. Gordon had the car restored to the 1968 Brussels Salon configuration with the work being handled by Gary Bobileff.
Engineer Giampaolo Dallara easily recalls the Bertone's Miura renderings in the late December 1965: 'We immediately realized this was something that happens only once. We knew....it was something unique.' To make that 'unique something' even more alluring, at the 1968 Brussels Auto Show Bertone unveiled the Miura Roadster. It had a targa top with special rear sail panels, a massaged interior, and an exposed engine. So sensational was the car that in late 1968 the International Lead Zinc Research Organization purchased the one-off, and zinc- and chrome-plated much of the car. It remained this way until 2007 when it underwent a full restoration to return it to its original livery. The 2008 Pebble Beach Concours thus marks the first time in 40 years the car has been seen in its original configuration.
 |  |  | Roadster Designer: Bertone Chassis Num: ...3342 |
The Miura was first show to the public at the November 1965 Turin Auto Show. At the time, it did not have a body. It was just a rolling-chassis. The design was mid-engined, very revolutionary at the time. Bertone was chosen to body the vehicle. Nuccio Bertone gave the project to Marcello Gandini. In early 1966 the Bertone body and the chassis designed by Giampaolo Dallara were assembled into one unit. In completed form, it was show to the public at the 1966 Geneva Auto Show and dubbed the Miura. The name coming from a breed of Spanish fighting bulls.
The vehicle was instantly popular with demand overshadowing the supply. Ferrucio Lamborghini had originally planned the Miura to be a low production, flagship vehicle with production set to around 30 models. The demand for the vehicle eventually changed the plan for the vehicle and throughout its lifespan, three series of the Miura were produced, the P400, S, and the SV. Each series brought with it mechanical and aesthetical changes through either fixed problems from the prior series or brought about new developmental improvements.
The P400 was the first series, the 'P' stood for Posteriore, the location of the engine. The 400 represented the engine size, or 4.0 liters. The four-liter engine was capable of producing 350 horsepower to the rear wheels. The spot-welded chassis was made from steel and the steering was a rack-and-pinion unit built and designed by Lamborghini. The front and rear hoods were both 'clamshell' design. There were two small compartments in the rear allowing a small amount of luggage or storage space.
Since the vehicle had been initially intended to be a temporary vehicle, it was poorly assembled and lacked quality. Another major problem was the lack of materials available. The builders of the vehicle rarely had the parts and resources they needed to keep up with demand. As time progressed, so did the quality.
Production began in March of 1967 and offered at a price of nearly $20,000 US dollars with 108 units being constructed. The Miura S series appeared in December of 1968. It was debuted to the public at the 1968 Turin Auto Show. The 'S' stood for 'Spinto' meaning 'Pushed' or 'Tuned'. Horsepower had been increased to 370, thanks in part through the use of a new combustion chamber and larger intakes. The later 'S' series models were given ventilated disc brakes and a modified rear suspension. Air conditioning was available for an extra cost.
In March of 1971, the final version of the Miura, the SV, was displayed at the Geneva Auto Show. The SV was the pinnacle of performance in regards to the Miura series. The rear suspension received modifications including a wider track. Wider tires were placed increasing the performance and handling. The headlights, turn signals, bumper and tail lights received changes. A carburetor change and larger intakes brought the horsepower rating to 385. During its production lifespan only 142 examples of the Miura SV were created. The acronym 'SV' represented 'Sprint Veloce'.
750 examples of the Miuras were built, the last being constructed on October 12, 1973. Production would have continued but Lamborghini was preparing to introduce its successor, the Countach. Since Lamborghini was a small shop, it could only handle the production of one model.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2006
The vehicle was instantly popular with demand overshadowing the supply. Ferrucio Lamborghini had originally planned the Miura to be a low production, flagship vehicle with production set to around 30 models. The demand for the vehicle eventually changed the plan for the vehicle and throughout its lifespan, three series of the Miura were produced, the P400, S, and the SV. Each series brought with it mechanical and aesthetical changes through either fixed problems from the prior series or brought about new developmental improvements.
The P400 was the first series, the 'P' stood for Posteriore, the location of the engine. The 400 represented the engine size, or 4.0 liters. The four-liter engine was capable of producing 350 horsepower to the rear wheels. The spot-welded chassis was made from steel and the steering was a rack-and-pinion unit built and designed by Lamborghini. The front and rear hoods were both 'clamshell' design. There were two small compartments in the rear allowing a small amount of luggage or storage space.
Since the vehicle had been initially intended to be a temporary vehicle, it was poorly assembled and lacked quality. Another major problem was the lack of materials available. The builders of the vehicle rarely had the parts and resources they needed to keep up with demand. As time progressed, so did the quality.
Production began in March of 1967 and offered at a price of nearly $20,000 US dollars with 108 units being constructed. The Miura S series appeared in December of 1968. It was debuted to the public at the 1968 Turin Auto Show. The 'S' stood for 'Spinto' meaning 'Pushed' or 'Tuned'. Horsepower had been increased to 370, thanks in part through the use of a new combustion chamber and larger intakes. The later 'S' series models were given ventilated disc brakes and a modified rear suspension. Air conditioning was available for an extra cost.
In March of 1971, the final version of the Miura, the SV, was displayed at the Geneva Auto Show. The SV was the pinnacle of performance in regards to the Miura series. The rear suspension received modifications including a wider track. Wider tires were placed increasing the performance and handling. The headlights, turn signals, bumper and tail lights received changes. A carburetor change and larger intakes brought the horsepower rating to 385. During its production lifespan only 142 examples of the Miura SV were created. The acronym 'SV' represented 'Sprint Veloce'.
750 examples of the Miuras were built, the last being constructed on October 12, 1973. Production would have continued but Lamborghini was preparing to introduce its successor, the Countach. Since Lamborghini was a small shop, it could only handle the production of one model.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2006
| Lamborghini 50Th Anniversary Grand Tour Starts: 350 Supercars From All Over The World Celebrating ‘Made In Italy' | |
 | Milan/Sant'Agata Bolognese, 7th May 2013 - Setting off from Piazza Castello in Milan starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 8th May, the Lamborghini 50th Anniversary Grand Tour is the largest gathering ever of cars from the 'House of the Raging Bull', organised to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary: a convoy of some 4 km long and 190,000 hp on the road. The 350 cars (320 registered participants and approximately 30 courtesy cars for the press and guests) are now arriving in the parc ferm...[Read more...] |
| 12C SPIDER TO MAKE ITALIAN PREMIERE AT THE 37TH BOLOGNA MOTOR SHOW | |
 | •Italian debut of the 12C Spider – new Spider version of highly acclaimed 12C •Developed alongside 12C as a 'pure McLaren' – including revised 625PS 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine •Carbon fibre MonoCell ensures class-leading rigidity, handling and safety •Fully automatic two-piece Retractable Hard Top (RHT) can be raised or lowered in less than 17 seconds and on the move up to 30 km/h •Official retail location represented by Gruppo Fassina at McLaren Milan The innovative new McLaren ...[Read more...] |
| INFINITI SALES INCREASE 56.8 PERCENT IN JULY | |
| Luxury automaker's best July since 2005, Infiniti G Sedan sets new July record while all-new Infiniti JX luxury crossover continues strong sales - FRANKLIN, Tenn., Aug. 1, 2012 - Infiniti today reported U.S. sales of 11,619 units for July, an increase of 56.8 percent versus 7,410 units a year earlier. Calendar year-to-date Infiniti sales of 65,996 are up 20.7 percent compared to the 54,678 units sold during the same period last year. Highlights of Infiniti's sales for Jul...[Read more...] | |
| Audi factory drivers look into the future with a digital rear-view mirror | |
 | • Advanced AMOLED technology provides clear vision • Significant contribution to active safety in the Audi R18 • Three more weeks to go before the start of the Le Mans 24 Hours Ingolstadt, May 24, 2012 – When the Audi factory drivers tackle the Le Mans 24 Hours (June 16/17, 2012) a very special technology will enhance their vision. Used for the first time in a closed LMP sports prototype, the digital rear-view mirror provides a clear view of the rear and thus ...[Read more...] |
| The Champion in Touring Car Racing : The BMW M3 | |
 | In August 1985, a rumour surfaced in motor magazine Auto-Deutschland which emanated from a new sports car. An A Group Car from BMW that was a thoroughbred racing car according to the rules but was also to be produced in a version licensed to drive on open roads for everyday use. Speculation about this dream car that could take to normal roads and was intended for the 'Most dynamic among BMW 3 Series drivers' was right on target. But the pundits missed the mark about the motor-sport car by a mile...[Read more...] |
| Auctions America By RM's 2012 Auburn Spring Auction | |
 | 'Variety' is the buzzword for this year's Auctions America by RM June 1-3 Auburn Spring auction, which will offer a huge range of collector vehicles and an enormous private collection of automotive memorabilia. More than 600 American muscle cars, Classics, foreign sports cars and hot rods will cross the block at the historic Auburn Auction Park, the company's national headquarters in Auburn, Indiana. 'Last year was our first spring event at the park,' said Auctions America by RM's President ...[Read more...] |
 1968
Lamborghini
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