Did the Lamborghini Miura seem more attainable in 1968 than it did in later years? Road and Track’s subtitle seems to suggest so, but I’m afraid it’s going to be in debt to myself that goes unpaid, if only for the fact that it has “restricted headroom for anyone taller than 5’8″”. Guess I’ll just have to scratch driving the Miura off my bucket list, and use my imagination, as I’ve been doing since 1967. I’m pretty good at that.
Once again, we have here a R&T review of a car that was new at the time and would go on to become another of the all-time automotive legends. Their (shorter) reviewers apparently had that beautiful experience, although its ultimate performance was not all that overwhelming, tying the Camaro Z-28—which cost less than one fourth the price—in the quarter mile, although it was capable of leaving it in the dust on an open Nevada highway, with a top speed of 163 mph (142 for the Z-28). Now that sounds like a beautiful experience, even if it wasn’t the 180 mph that had been suggested as its ultimate escape velocity.
I’d like to spend more time waxing eloquently about the Miura, but I’m a bit pressed for time to get ready for our annual EXBRO trip. I do suggest reading this review, as it gives a thorough look at what Lamborghini’s engineersand stylist Marcello Gandini wrought, a package that rocked the world in 1966-1967.
The 4 liter V12’s sound winding out to 7900 rpm is described as “ecstasy”. But shifting its five gears through the gated shifter was for from that; rather more like tortuous. The complex linkage back to the five-speed transmission behind the transverse-mounted engine needed some further refinement.
But that was a small price to pay for the sheer thrill of hustling it through a winding road “if you’ve got the nerve. It’s the closest thing to a Sports Prototype you could ask for”.
“Ventilation and heating are simple, almost primitive..the blower has only one speed”. Priorities…
R&T summed it up: “We can’t imagine any good use for it in the crowded eastern half of the US either, but if we lived in the West and had $20,000 to spend on a car, we’d not be without a Miura. Vroooooooooom!”
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Still a spectacular piece of rolling sculpture. The Countach is arguably more dramatic, the Diablo can match anything short of a Veyron for on-road presence, but the Miura is in a class by itself.
Part of that is that it represents the point where supercar design started smacking its head on the realities of high-speed aerodynamics, as evidence by their description of its high-speed behavior. It was clearly slick, but it was also pretty obviously generating a good bit of lift above 130 mph. Wings, spoilers, and underbody channels manage that on modern supercars, but thinking about what they’d do to the shape of the Miura is painful.
“… generating a good bit of lift above 130 mph…”
I hate it when that happens.
Lambo designers needed a ball of yard, some scotch tape, and a pair of binoculars. Contemporaries (late 1950s – early 1960s) Carroll and Miles worked it out for Ford but they had a bigger budget, I guess.
At least that’s what the movie said.
I comfort myself at 6’1″ knowing the Muira would be uncomfortable, as also would a real GT40.
And the Muira’s lift at 130 – unacceptable!
That’s why I drive a 99 Miata; it can only go 123 mph. 😉
The GT40 was a race car. The Miura was something else.
I remember Justin de Villeneuve getting out of one in Queensway, London in ’68 or ’69, sadly Twiggy wasn’t with him
In 1987 or 1988, I had a brief ride in a Miura S. We accelerated to seventy miles an hour and then stopped and turned into an alignment shop. Even though we never got out of second gear, it was an impressive exhibition of sound and fury, especially compared to the performance of 95% of the cars on the road at the time. It was especially impressive because the Lamborghini was about two decades old, and performance had not advanced in the mean time.
About a decade ago, I saw a pristine Miura SV parked in a Bugatti showroom near two new Bugattis. It made them look bloated, cartoonish and pathetic. The Miura is one of the prettiest cars ever produced.
The Miura dumped over the cliff in the beginning of the original “Italian Job” movie was already a wreck before it was dumped, but the very idea of destroying a Miura set me off against an otherwise enjoyable car movie. Throwing the Minis overboard at the end was a bit troubling, too, but nothing like watching the Miura get it at the start. My early teenaged self was severely distressed by someone doing that to such a car (and I didn’t know, until much later, the back story of the car having already been in a major accident).
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a27374170/lamborghini-miura-italian-job-restored/#:~:text=Miura%20%233586%2C%20finished%20in%20orange,behind%20the%20car%20is%20compelling.
“The Italian Job” Miura is fortunately alive and well, although I too suffer pangs of sadness when thinking about the wrecked Miura, Minis, Aston Martin DB4 (look closely – it’s a Lancia going over the cliff), and E-Types.
Regardless, I’m not saying anything controversial when I say that the Miura is the best-looking car ever made. I don’t think man could design anything with four wheels that looks better.
It seems that when it comes to hyper expensive exotic cars, enthusiasts are often of two minds. One thinks that they are amazing and wonderful and enjoy reading about them and seeing them in shows. Even though they will never be able to afford one. The other faction grudgingly admits that they are sensational, but dismisses them as unrealistic, impractical and playthings of the spoiled elite. I have mostly been on the grouchy side but have lately become more open to admiring these vehicles. I never liked standing on the sidelines looking at others having a good time, Id rather find something that is attainable for me to own and have a good time with. Either way, to my eyes this may be the most beautiful car every built.
Well, it was 1988 or 1990 when I found myself and my wife on the premises of a California Ferrari dealership where a clerk mentioned they had a real stunning old timer hiding outside under the trees. If we would like to have a closer look? Yes it was a Miura in a state of neglection, a trade-in. We could get it for $25k, he proposed, needing some work.
We both agreed that a torn driver’s seat, rotten exhaust and somehow battered right door and maybe many more hidden issues would not be acceptable for us. And left … for the Cadillac dealer …
From today’s point of view: Sigh! No need to say more.
Joe
I’m at a loss for an adequate description of such design. After it’s outrageous supermodel looks is that engine output. 240 Cubic Inches at 400 HP or 1.66 HP per CI is amazing. Even more so in 1968 without any forced induction. If my math is correct that equates to America’s 327 CI at 543 HP and 427 CI at 709 HP. That’s flying very well above domestic manufacturers best capabilities.