Lamborghini Miura P400 1967 - World Of Classic Cars -

Lamborghini Miura P400 1967

In founding Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini, Sig. Lamborghini wanted more than simply to create a beautiful, well-handling sports car; he demanded that the engine be an original Lamborghini design. He therefore enlisted Giotto Bizzarrini – the father of the GTO, and one of the engineers driven out of Ferrari during the ‘palace revolt’, to create an all-new four-cam V-12 engine. Drawing from the industry’s best talent, Lamborghini employed Franco Scaglione, previously of Bertone, to design the car that would become the 350 GT. Introduced at Geneva in 1964, the car was later joined by the 400 GT, a 2+2 design fitted with a larger 3,929cc version of the original Bizzarini V-12.

Lamborghini Miura P400 1967

By 1967, however, the same powerplant was used for an entirely new, and surprisingly sleek, design – the Lamborghini Miura. The Miura was the brainchild of seven young engineers, working after hours at Lamborghini on a radical new sports car. In fact, credit for the design goes to Marcello Gandini at Bertone, who was only 22 at the time! The mid-mounted engine was fitted transversely to allow for a more compact overall design – an engineering solution inspired by the Austin Mini. The original sketches also called for a glass engine cover and a three-seat layout with the driver in the middle and two passengers on either side. Although the latter feature never made it to the production Miuras, it re-emerged on future supercars and most recently on the McLaren F1. The glass cover was also never used but the rear window louvres used in production were an industry first as well. As the 4-litre engine was not front-mounted but rather ‘posteriore’, the first generation of Miuras were named P400s. This in itself was a break from tradition and a trendsetting decision as most earlier sports cars had front-mounted engines.

Lamborghini Miura P400 1967

As with future models, the car’s name was directly inspired by bull fighting and, in this case, shared with a renowned Spanish ranch that bred exceptional fighting bulls known for their ferocity. In keeping with this theme, the doors were designed to resemble bullhorns when fully opened. The Miura’s low-slung design was very aggressive. On the other hand, however, the headlight surrounds were intended to resemble the eyelashes of a woman and, along with the car’s gracious curves, provided for a very voluptuous and sexy impression. Various outlandish colours included shades of orange and lime green and were perhaps a sign of the youthful late-1960s spirit. Ultimately, it was this juxtaposition of brute aggression and feminine beauty that gave the Miura its unmatched presence.

Lamborghini Miura P400 1967

The Miura’s specifications are impressive to this day – a lightweight frame covered in aluminium body panels, four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a more powerful version of the 400 GT’s 4-litre V-12 engine, breathing through six Weber carburettors and producing 350 horsepower. While the new Lamborghini’s design and powerplant were widely praised, its imperfect driving manners were lauded by some and criticized by others; the car was a pure-bred sports car and ill-suited for daily driver. What’s more, the car became rather unstable at high speeds with a lighter fuel load. Yet from the throaty exhaust note to the blistering acceleration, the Lamborghini Miura provided unapologetic, visceral driving thrills.

Lamborghini Miura P400 1967

The Lamborghini presented here is one of only 475 Miura P400s produced between 1966 and 1970. It was delivered new to Garage Foitek in Zürich, Switzerland, the dealership of former Swiss race car driver, Karl Foitek. By 1976, the car was owned by John A. Andrews of Reston, Virginia, and was purchased by Sig. Prevosti in 1989 at Motorcars International in Dallas, Texas. Thereafter, it was exported to Italy where it has remained ever since.
The aluminium body has been fully restored and is finished in red with silver sills and black bumpers. The fit of the body panels is excellent and the paint is virtually perfect. All four wheels have likewise been restored, finished in silver, and fitted with new tyres all around. A period-correct spare wheel is located under the front bonnet.

Lamborghini Miura P400 1967

The red body contrasts well with the interior, which has been upholstered in tan leather and is fully retrimmed to a very high standard and devoid of any signs of use. The dashboard and centre console have also been restored and finished in black and tan leather.
The engine bay is also very clean and nicely detailed. It appears to have been restored entirely to original specifications. Proper restoration and maintenance are also evident under the front bonnet and on the black-painted chassis.