3,929cc DOHC All-Alloy V12 Engine
4 Triple-choke Weber Carburetors
350bhp at 7,000rpm
5-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes

*Matching numbers example, retaining its original body panels
*One of the desirable and rare Miura S models built
*A running and driving Miura, ready for partial or full restoration
*Single-family, long-term California ownership

THE LAMBORGHINI MIURA

One glance at the stunning Miura and you cannot help but think of Rossano Brazzi gliding through the Alpine passes in the opening sequences of the famed British heist movie, The Italian Job. You'll probably find yourself humming Matt Monro's, "On Days Like These," too. From the engine sound, to the voluptuous shape, from the fact that you're seated virtually horizontally in an airplane like cockpit, cocooned in leather ahead of the bullish twelve cylinders, it is an entirely sensory experience to own and to drive a Lamborghini Miura. One that few cars built then, or now, can compete with.

Lamborghini's rise in the automobile business to the birth of the Miura was stratospheric. Many automakers started out making bicycles at the turn of the century and had decades of experience in the industry, by contrast this was only the third model that the company built, and the second all new design. Amazingly, its styling prototype was seen less than eighteen months after his first car had debuted.

Ferruccio Lamborghini, was the son of grape farmers in the Emilia–Romagna region of Italy, and he must have taken his inspirations from this, beginning his industrial career with building tractors. As this business developed, he later manufactured oil heaters and air conditioning equipment. But in 1963, he took a turn down a new avenue, and formed Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SpA to build high-end sports cars. It is said that while he had owned several Ferraris, he felt that he could build a better high-performance car. To do so, he purchased a factory at Sant'Agata Bolognese, near Modena, and hired a cadre of engineering talent.

His first production car was the 350GT, launched at the March 1964 Geneva Motor Show. Initially designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, its engine was a four-cam V-12 of 3,464 cc. However, Bizzarrini had designed it as a racing engine, and Lamborghini was adamant about producing a road car. Thus, it fell to Lamborghini's chief engineer Giampaolo Dallara to civilize it for the street. Dallara converted it to wet-sump operation, reduced the compression, revised the cam profiles and changed the racing carburetors to conventional side-draft 40 DCOE Webers. Bodies were made by Touring in Milan, using their Superleggera tubular birdcage technique to mount aluminum panels. Chassis and bodies were mated at Touring, then transported to Lamborghini's facilities at Sant'Agata Bolognese for final assembly.

Soon after 350GTs were rolling out of the factory, Lamborghini raised the stakes in the most dramatic fashion at the 1965 Turin Motor Show. It was here that the Miura project was first seen. The world was in raptures over the new design—Lamborghini included—and what some considered to be no more than a styling exercise, he quickly channeled their efforts into and turned into a reality. By the time of the Geneva Salon the following year, the first completed car was ready for unveiling to a stunned press and public.

Also designed by Giampaolo Dallara, the Miura carried its transversely mounted engine amidships in a box-section platform chassis, the latter clothed in stunning coupe coachwork styled by Bertone's Marcello Gandini. Like the contemporary 400GT, the Miura used the 4.0-liter version of Lamborghini's Giotto Bizzarrini-designed alloy four-cam V12. With 350bhp available, the Miura was capable of shattering performance, a top speed of 180mph being claimed with production examples independently tested at more than 170. Mr. Lamborghini - a bullfight enthusiast - names the car after the iconic Spanish bull, Miura.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This particular Miura S must be counted as one of the few remaining unrestored examples in existence. Having been retained under single family California ownership for nearly 45 years, the car is representative of largely original construction, and retains the factory matching numbers engine and Bertone bodywork. According to the Lamborghini Miura register, chassis no. 4356 is the 437th Miura built, and one of just 140 'S' models, the lowest production segment of all of the Miura Series. Production was completed December 10th, 1969 with engine number 30440 installed- still found in the car today. The car was painted in the rare Bianco Miura (white) and trimmed with a Nero (black) interior. Having been retained by the same California family for nearly the entire period since new, the 38,000 kilometers (24,000 miles) shown on the odometer today are believed to represent the original kilometers driven since the car was delivered to the first owners.

Today, this rare Miura S represents everything about the original design and construction that made the Miura a legendary car. Having been repainted in bright red at some point in the ownership history, the paint work appears to have been professionally executed with good coverage in all areas. The front and rear deck lids are formed of aluminum and thus are often not perfectly matched to the steel center section. However, the fit on this particular car is quite good and the latching for both units is also very sound. The Bertone body number can be found all over the car, confirming the originality of the panels. The beautiful Campagnolo cast alloy wheels appear very nice overall with very good finish, though show some finish patina on the knockoffs. The glass appears to be original, surrounded by trim that remains very good overall but with some dryness to the rubber. The headlights and taillights also remain in very good condition and are found with the original Carello markings. Overall, the car has a very complete and satisfying unrestored visual presence.

The interior remains original, showing several surfaces that appear quite good and serviceable including the door panels and a remarkably preserved dashboard. The headrests appear to be original and in good condition, indicating that the car may have been fitted with black leather and ecru fabric inserts, remnants of which can be seen in the center of the driver's seat. The dashboard, instruments, and steering wheel are all original equipment displaying patina to the threaded stitching along the dashboard edge. Door panels, headliner, and other minor interior trim all are complete and can serve as patterns for accurate restoration or thoughtfully repaired and reconditioned to boast of the original materials and long-term ownership.

Under the hood, the beautifully designed Lamborghini DOHC V12 engine displays the hallmark castings and detailed finishes that distinguish the mechanical mastery of these fine cars. With the alloy rear panel opened, it is easy to appreciate the beauty and engineering of this drivetrain package. The engine compartment is clean and largely undisturbed with care having been given to retain as many of the original components as possible. The Weber carburetors are in place with beautiful velocity stacks and clean body castings. Suspension, engine castings, and various mechanical components visible from the underside are all sound, with some areas also cosmetically freshened.

The car starts and runs with quite well, and there is virtually no smoke when warm or cold. The overall driving experience remains quite good, including an excellent engine note, progressive acceleration, a smooth operating gearbox, compliant suspension, and functional brakes. Best of all, when driving a Lamborghini Miura S, there is little that can compete with the revelation that you are driving an icon of modern sports car history.

This matching numbers Lamborghini Miura S is ready for the next chapter in its remarkable ownership history. Sought after by collectors worldwide, the Miura S continues to be cited in the top of premier collector and enthusiast lists, revered for its unmistakable beauty, and recognized by respected experts as one of the most innovative performance cars of any period. Ready for sensitive refurbishment, enjoyable driving, restoration, or a combination of all of the above, either way, all roads lead to the inescapable joy of owning one of the most stunning and historically important cars ever designed.