The Lamborghini Miura, often hailed as the epitome of automotive beauty and the original supercar, is making headlines once again. A remarkable 1970 Miura P400 S, which has spent the last 40 years as a stunning centerpiece in a New York living room, is set to go under the hammer. This time-capsule survivor, still in its unrestored original condition, is sure to fetch a premium at the upcoming Gooding & Co’s Pebble Beach auction.
This isn’t just any Miura; it’s a rare P400 S model, one of only 338 ever produced. The car, finished in the elegant Luci del Bosco Metallizzato (Light of the Woods Metallic), boasts a stiffer chassis compared to the standard P400. Beneath its sleek rear clamshell lies the original V-12 engine, which has clocked a modest 42,000 kilometers (26,100 miles) over its lifetime. However, for the past four decades, the Miura has been stationary, displayed as a piece of art rather than a vehicle meant for the open road.
In a story as unique as the car itself, the original owner purchased the Miura in 1970 and later moved it to the U.S. in the early 1980s. It was then placed in a living room, where it remained a striking, albeit stationary, symbol of automotive excellence. Earlier this year, the current consignor undertook the challenge of extricating the car from its domestic display, a task that involved demolishing interior walls to make way for its removal.
A Classic Conundrum: To Restore or Preserve?
The new owner of this Lamborghini Miura will face a challenging decision: should they restore the car to its former glory or preserve it in its current, untouched state? Complete restoration could potentially cost up to half a million dollars, but it would ensure the Miura returns to the road as the high-performance marvel it was designed to be.
Bidders with the financial means and a passion for automotive history will have the opportunity to vie for this exceptional vehicle at Gooding & Co’s Pebble Beach event in August. The auction house estimates the Miura will sell for between $2 and $2.5 million, a testament to its enduring allure and significance as the world’s first true supercar.
Whether restored or left as a time capsule, this Lamborghini Miura P400 S promises to be a prized addition to any collection, embodying the legacy of Ferruccio Lamborghini’s vision and the timeless elegance of one of the most iconic cars ever made.