In 2016, I had the honor of sitting next to the famous automotive designer Marcello Gandini at a Lamborghini dinner celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic Miura. We conversed, with the help of an Italian interpreter, about Bertone’s initial design for Lamborghini in 1966, created by the then-28-year-old Gandini. To my surprise, he admitted to having some reservations about certain details of what is considered the most beautiful Lamborghini ever made. It was like hearing Leonardo Da Vinci critique the Mona Lisa.
With this and other insights, my admiration for the Miura grew even more. The car has always captivated me since I first laid eyes on one in 1967, a sentiment shared by many car enthusiasts. In 1970, the Miura achieved a top speed of 168 mph in a test by Road & Track, surpassing any car tested by the magazine at that time.
The lineage of the Lamborghini Miura includes the P400, P400 S, and P400 SV models, with a few SVJs produced as well. Around 764 Miuras were built, and each surviving one is now considered a historic treasure among Italian classics. Many of these early supercars have been meticulously restored or remain in original condition, showcasing various levels of functionality.
The dream of every collector is to stumble upon a hidden gem, a “barn find” that is untouched and waiting to be revived. At the upcoming Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auctions, a rare opportunity will be presented to acquire a fundamentally original Miura, a P400 S model.
The P400 S, introduced at the 1968 Turin Motor Show, boasted enhancements to the original P400, including a sturdier chassis and later, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. A total of 338 P400 S models were produced between 1968 and 1971 before being succeeded by the P400 SV. The Miura chassis No. 4614, completed in July 1970, features a unique color combination of “Luci del Bosco Metallizzato” with “Gobi” vinyl upholstery and cloth seat inserts.
Originally sold in Italy, the Miura was later exported to the United States in the early 1980s. For several decades, it was kept in static storage in the living room of a home in East Rockaway, N.Y., before being discovered and sold to the current consignor in 2024.
This Miura, chassis No. 4614, is a true barn-find, never restored, displayed, or publicly offered for sale until recently. The matching-numbers V-12 engine, No. 30531, and original features like glass, trim, lights, and badging, along with the well-preserved interior, make this discovery a significant find. The car’s odometer reads just over 42,000 kilometers, indicating its originality and rarity. Other Italian treasures include items such as Automobile Club d’Italia registration records, the original Italian registration plate, a factory-original parts book, and reproductions of the owner’s manual and service manual. These valuable documents and materials are essential for enthusiasts and collectors who appreciate the history and authenticity of Italian automobiles.
The time-capsule Miura being offered comes with an estimated value ranging between $2 million and $2.5 million. Potential buyers should be aware that restoring such a vehicle could cost an additional $500,000 or more. Owning a Lamborghini with such a rich history and provenance is truly a unique privilege that cannot be replicated.
For more photos of this unrestored 1970 Lamborghini Miura, click here.