1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 Coupe

The Lamborghini Miura was named after Don Eduardo Miura Fernandez, the legendary breeder of Spanish fighting bulls. The Miura supercar offered tremendous speed, breath-taking design, fitted with technical innovation, and carrying a price tag that only the wealthiest could afford.

The Miura was designed by Bertone designer Marcello Gandini, who was at the young age of 22 at the time. The development team also included two engineers who would gain fame in their own right, Gian Paulo Dallara and Paolo Stanzini. The chassis fine tuning was done under the guidance of New Zealander Bob Wallace.

The Miura was given a double-wishbones suspension at all corners, a mid-mounted engine that was fitted transversely to allow for a more compact overall layout. The original design sketches also called for a glass engine cover and a three-seat layout, with the driver in the middle and passengers on either side. Both features never made their way onto the Miura.

The Miura had rear window louvers which were an industry first.

Beauty is only skin deep, and in the case of the Miura, it was as technically advanced as it was mesmerizing. It had a lightweight frame, fully independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a V-12 engine. The power-plant had four triple-choke Weber carburetors, offering 350 brake horsepower, and was capable of over 175 mph.

Over the production lifespan, the Miura was continually improved and updated. In 1968, the 'S' version appeared, offering 370 horsepower, updated brakes, and numerous other enhancements. This spinto (tuned) Miura was a large step forward from its already magnificent predecessor. It was capable of reaching 60 MPH in just 5.5 seconds and 140 mph in fewer than 30 seconds, with a top speed of 177 mph.

This Miura P400 S was produced on August 4th of 1969 and finished in Silver Metallic with black and beige upholstery. Originally delivered to Coppini S.E.A. Baracchi, it was put away in 1974 and remained un-driven until its acquisition (recently) by a collector outside of Milan.

The car has its original, matching-numbers data tag, frame, and body panels. Every part of the car is original. The engine block is stamped as having been built in November 1969, indicating that it was possibly replaced at some time by Lamborghini as some type of warranty work. Much of the paint is original; much of the interior is also original. The car is supplied with its original tool roll and bag, jack and bag, and hammer, as well as the parts and owner's manuals, a 1969 dealer register, a sales brochure, and the Italian registration plates. The speedometer unit has been replaced and is not original, and the exact mileage is not known.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2014