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Lamborghini Miura: the history of the first standard production supercar

1 June 2022
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The year 1966 was crucial for Lamborghini, which mounted the V12 engine on the P400 Miura, making it the fastest standard production car in the world. In 2022, almost 60 years later, the last V12 pure internal combustion engine fitted on the Aventador Ultimae closes a legendary era before entering the hybridization phase with the advent of the first standard production hybrid model.

Ferruccio Lamborghini’s intention was, in fact, to create a car even more shocking than the 350 GT model, and with the unmistakable bodywork made by Carrozzeria Bertone. Thanks to the abilities of the young engineers Giampaolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani, the legendary Miura came to life and was made famous precisely by the 4-liter V12 engine, capable of putting out a maximum power among the various “P400 - P400S - P400SV” versions of 350, 370 e 385 hp, respectively.

Ever since it was first presented, the Miura became the most desired car of movie directors. As many as 43 movies were made with the Miura in the cast and often playing the starring role, including the famous “The Italian Job” of 1969, where the P400 Miura, driven by Rossano Brazzi to the song of Matt Monro “On Days Like These”, occupied the entire starting sequence a good 3 minutes long.

And there have been many, many personalities in history who have had a Miura: from Little Tony to Rod Stewart – who have owned more than one of them – to Eddie Van Halen and Jay Kay of Jamiroquai. Then it’s impossible not to also mention the actor Peter Sellers, the model Twiggy, the singers Johnny Hallyday (who hit the headlines for having uprooted a tree with his P400) and Elton John, the opera singer Grace Bumbry, the jazz musician Miles Davis, the driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise and lastly the Shah of Persia, owner of a number of Miuras, including one of the only 4 SVJs produced.

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