Update 10/5/19 – This is just a reminder that the auction for this amazing Miura will take place this month on October 24th in London.
From 7/29/19 – Batting its metal eyelashes and last driven in 1974, this Fly Yellow 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S by Bertone in London, England heads to auction here at RNSothebys.com in October of 2019. Offered in glorious never-restored condition, complete with mud on the carpeting, it represents a unique opportunity to purchase a highly original and complete Italian supercar-shaped time capsule. Take a seat and particles from the ’70s escape through the seams in the original blue seats. Close the door and *thump*, it’s 1974.
My neighbor’s friend owned a never-restored Miura some years ago. He had accepted it to settle a debt after building the prior owner a house, a decision that took approximately 9 micro-seconds to make. I remember thinking a. it’s not as big as I thought it would be, and b. the fat rear tires impart a (pardon the blasphemy) hot-rod look… more than newer supercars, anyway.
The transverse 3.9L (239 cid) V12 makes 350 HP good for 0-60 in 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 163 MPH. I’m sure you’re all thinking “My (Camry GT / neighbor’s old GTO/ Turbo Minivan) can beat those numbers!” but how many cars possess the Miura’s ability to make people inexplicably strip naked upon sight, a simple autonomic reflex to its beauty? Thanks to topspeed.com for some details.
Be sure to check out the many detailed and well-composed photographs of this long sleeping beauty in its natural habitat on rmsothebys.com. The October auction offers the Lamborghini at No Reserve, but count on bidders to test their mettle while attempting to net this pretty yellow bird. What’s your top bid?
Photos courtesy of Peter Singhof and RM Sotheby’s.
OMG, the day has finally come where I’m going to have to kill someone to get the money to buy a car.
Let me take care of the car for you Bob when you’re in prison.
Ah well. Reality (and semi-sanity) intrude. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
My first exposure to the Miura was the opening sequence of the original version of “The Italian Job”. Instant obsession.
My top bid would require not only my own bank account but several other people’s accounts as well to back up the check!
I’ve driven a Miura — and it wasn’t even the “S” version — and the experience was well beyond unforgettable. Would I do it again? In a New York second….
Your neighbor’s Sport Compact/minivan/whatever might challenge the Miura in a straight line, but so what? It wouldn’t sound like that sweet Lambo V-12, so it wouldn’t measure up. Ditto for handling: any number of computer-controlled new cars might outcorner the Miura, but would fall so far short in the Fun Factor that it’s not worth even thinking about.
After the new owner ponies up what I’ll bet will be a six-figure sum at the auction, he’ll be shelling out bucketfuls more to make it roadworthy. These are not for the faint of wallet.
Doesn’t matter. I want it, and am already jealous of the next owner.
Seven figure sum. Don’t kid yourself.
Sotheby’s, as of this writing, doesn’t provide an estimate for this car. I guess the sky’s the limit! It’s the best-looking Lamborghini, and one of the best-looking cars, of all time. The closest I’ll ever come to owning one, though, are the two I used to have that said “Matchbox” on their undersides.
Dan,
I can beat that. I had the Matchbox version AND a 1/43 scale Corgi P400!
John
Lots of computer background worthy photos from Sotheby’s there….. closest I’ll ever get to one of these cars outside Pebble Beach…
Will be interesting to see what this one brings. Thanks for posting!!
Cheers
GPC
I sent in a forgotten number of Post Alpha-Bits box tops, along with 50 cents or a buck for S&H, back in the late 60s/early 70s for the 1:43 scale white and blue Ford GT pictured on the cereal box. What I received was a note apologizing that the GT was no longer available; and adding that the folks at Post hoped I’d accept a substitution. Under the card and wrapped in packing material was a surprisingly high-quality, 1:43 scale, die-cast metal, very detailed, beautiful orange Miura with doors and front & rear hoods that opened. As a 7- or 8-year-old, I was disappointed that I didn’t receive the GT I ordered, but today I’m happier to have the played-with and worn Miura on a shelf. This yellow Miura is a beauty! Would so love to drive a real one!
The Miura has always been in the top 2 or 3 of my all time favorite cars.
We had a beach house when I was a kid, and in the late 60’s, someone near us that had a lime green Miura. I remember looking it over at the local supermarket one day, and being struck by how beautiful it was, and just how low it was! It looked like you could almost drive it under my mother’s LeMans.
that low makes it look twice as wide too
I like that: “upon seein would strip naked” – yeah, cuz of the sexy lines to it…
the “coke bottles” might have tried 2 bring it back in the (wuz it?) ’90s.
Imagine maintainin that bent12 tho…
Beautiful. Looks to be in really good condition also. Clean it and get it running then leave it alone. No need for a total restoration.
Are they stick on after market fun eye lashes over the headlights or is it a part of the car ?
Those are part of the car, look at pictures of other Muiras
Now I gotta find a few banks to knock over – I’ve always wanted to do it anyway. Look for me in the headlines soon…
If any car ever screamed, “Justifiable Criminal Action”, this one is it.
That car was not in that barn. I mean…
In the 90’s drove by a shop several times to my brothers place in suburban Chicago that had a white one sitting outside for many years. Quite a sight to see one covered in snow!
So you’re saying that I could plead “insanity” as to my upcoming actions and get away with it. Hmmm…
Better to ask forgivness….
Never understood why Lamborghini never came out with a Miura II.Stylistically,all their current offerings all look the same compared to this Gandini masterpiece. And the eargasmic sound of that carbed V12 a foot from your head is never to be revisited again.
I’m living in London in case any readers would like me to bid as their proxy, haha.
They had a “II” prototype that was rolling to the big Auto Shows in the early 2000’s. It wasn’t realizable apparently .
I guess VAG never realized the success of Ford GT.
Bertone (Gandini) at the pinnacle, demonstrating the passion that is Italian design..
These are fantastic automobiles, the only problem is they are known to catch fire.
Since the fuel line which is known to split open is right above the exhaust manifold.
I watched a house burn down after the gentleman started his Lamborghini Miura it caught fire and burnt the house down only a few weeks after he sold the house.
So if you buy it push it out of the garage/barn BEFORE starting it and make sure you have a fire extinguisher
Good advice, even about my Miata or Tesla, LOL! I remember liking the “eyelash” looks because it was different, and now the looks are sort of generic- BUT… this is one of the genesis of those looks!
I have had a chance to work on one and if you are above 6′ this car is problematic. It felt to me more claustrophobic than my Lotus Europa and equally as blind in the rear views. Given that it is Italian there is a great deal of logic in the construction and for a change that included the electronics. I know about the fuel line problem and before I let anybody start it I would have that line changed to one with braided stainless steel covering to help transfer the heat and for protection.
This car is almost as low as an Europa or Esprit and every thing including VW bugs are bigger than you are. Tractor trailers are something you never wish to drive besides. I never got to drive on, only got to ride but that was spectacular. It is a car that does not suffer fools lightly so if one of the fellow readers wins the lottery and purchases this car best to learn to care for it first and find its limits in small bits. This will keep both the car and you around for a long long time.
What you guys consider as ‘epic’ makes me chuckle a bit. It’s cute :)
michael, what would you consider “epic” if not a Miura S???
I was at Pebble Beach several years ago and I guess the Miura was the featured car. I never knew how many colors they came in. They looked like candy all lined up in their wild but different colors. But maybe the hilight for me was when they interviewed Tonino Lamborghini. After all the stories and myths about how Ferruccio decided to start building cars, Tonino has an almost first hand accout of that fateful meeting between Ferruccio and Enzo. I’m pretty sure it’s on the internet. It will have you truly laughing out loud.
I was an 18 year old Iowa motor head living by my wits in San Diego in winter 1967-8 and I would often see these. I always read “Road and Track”, so knew what I was looking at.
I remember it was in a race to the bottom in overall height with Porsche 904. 37″? Never saw a 904 driving on the street, tho.
Cars beyond my means!! Here on barn find!! It’s a great looking ride and a V-12 to boot!! Someone with pockets much deeper than mine will own a piece of automotive history!!!
Bought/got ? the Corgi – it’s red – car some how….even after the GT40 stuff my friends asked why that ? It might be around but I did loose some early kid stuff to thieves…
want
In the ’70’s I had countless hours of fun with mine until it was stolen. Well, it might have fallen out of my pocket; I was into filling my pockets as a kid. But I’m pretty sure my E-type was lifted by a sticky fingered kid while at my grandma’s.
In the ‘70’s, in front of our high school, at the stoplight. Our fastest, 56 Chevy gasser, tilt glass front end covering the 427 tunnel ram duel quad. The Muir’s pulls up, and it’s ON! Lots of noise, Muira’s GONE! Been hooked ever since.
Amazing to see that only 15 years ago they traded for less than $150K
It’s not a “barn find.” Stored since 2015, maybe in this barn but probably staged for photos and mystique…it is however a 2 owner Miura and seemingly in original although undrivaeable condition. It’ll probably require around $40k in servicing minimum, which is cheap as this’ll early be a $1.1 million car
I think “performance numbers” no longer have relevance. I just don’t really care that much anymore. 0-60 in less than 7 seconds is plenty quick to get your adrenaline going if it’s accompanied by ferocious sounds, communication from the steering wheel, and stylish interior surroundings!
The other thing to consider is how far tires have come in the intervening years. One of the reasons cars from this era seem slow is the rubber they wore when tested back in the day.
A modern set of rubber will improve the performance in all directions, including acceleration.
The danger then becomes breaking parts which were not engineered to withstand the forces which can now be achieved and transmitted through the driveline and suspension.