To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
Estimate:
$1,200,000 - $1,400,000
- The original supercar
- Very well-maintained restoration; mechanical work by Bob
Wallace
- SV-specification modifications for improved drivability and
performance
- A wonderful Miura to drive and enjoy
THE LEGENDARY MIURA
To many, the introduction of the Lamborghini Miura heralded the
birth of the "supercar." Prior to its introduction in 1966, there
were, of course, many cars that offered incredible levels of
performance and exclusivity to the privileged few. However, none
were quite like the Miura. It offered a thrilling combination of
not only performance and tremendous speed, but also design and
technical innovation that were meant to shock and awe.
Its stunning Bertone-crafted design was penned by Marcello Gandini,
and the development team included two brilliant engineers that were
privileged enough to work on the Miura at the start of their long
careers, Gian Paolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani. Additionally, the
Miura's chassis was carefully tuned to provide excellent handling
and control the Miura's horsepower, which came at the hands of Bob
Wallace, whose name would become inextricably linked with the
company from Sant'Agata Bolognese. Its mid-engined layout
revolutionized the industry, and while the Miura was the only
performance car of its kind in production, other manufacturers,
including Ferrari, would quickly follow suit to remain competitive
against this talented upstart.
The year 1968 heralded the introduction of an updated Miura: the
P400 S. This model retained the same gorgeous Bertone design penned
by Gandini and featured the ongoing updates that were applied over
the course of the production run of the original Miura P400.
Visually, what differentiated the P400 S from the P400 were bare
headlight bezels, less the "eyelashes," and its chrome-plated
exterior window trim, as well as the addition of an S badge to the
rear.
Inside, the P400 S benefitted from higher-quality interior trim
throughout and a revised instrument layout with power windows.
Adding to the interior comfort was air-conditioning, which was made
available in later models. Similarly, subtle changes followed for
the drivetrain, which resulted in 20 more horsepower being coaxed
from the Miura's 4.0-liter V-12, bringing total output to 370
horsepower. This was possible thanks to the installation of
higher-lift camshafts with revised timing, as well as four Weber
40IDL-3L carburetors. Additionally, the Miura's splined driveshaft
system was replaced with constant velocity joints. For the
suspension, the Armstrong shocks were replaced by Koni shock
absorbers.
Just like its predecessor, the P400 S's performance was astounding.
Road & Track tested a new Miura for their April 1970 issue and
clocked a 5.5-second 0-60 mph time, as well as a top speed of 168
mph, while a later test by Autocar magazine that August cited a top
speed of 172 mph.
CHASSIS NUMBER 3874
The P400 S offered here was originally built on 22 January 1969 and
delivered by Italian dealer Auto Elite of Bologna, finished in
Silver with Mustard leather interior and equipped with engine
number 2706. Its ownership history is reportedly known back to the
mid-1970s, when it was acquired by George Cocalas of Long Beach,
California. It next passed in 1978 to Joseph Koenig, also of Long
Beach, then the following year to the noted exotic car collector
and enthusiast Oliver Kuttner. In 1988 the Miura was purchased by
Randy Simon, who exhibited it at the New York Auto Show in
1991.
In 1995 the Miura was sold to Steve Colletti of Whittier,
California, who immediately embarked upon a four-year restoration
effort. A summary of the restoration, which is on file, notes the
in-depth work as including stripping the bodywork and chassis to
their bare metal, carefully and properly repairing any flaws, and
installing desirable late-SV engineering features such as front
chassis stiffeners, a solid front shock tower brace, and frame rail
modifications to deflect more air to the radiator and front brake
rotors. All suspension components were crack-checked for safety and
either cadmium-plated or powder-coated, while the shocks were
rebuilt by Koni. The brakes were upgraded to SV specifications,
with improved cross-drilled rotors, carbon/Kevlar brake pads, and
flexible braided stainless-steel brake lines.
The engine was rebuilt by the great Bob Wallace with custom JAE
pistons and rings and a .5 mm overbore, as well as the superior
split-sump lubrication system, and exhales through ANSA sport
exhaust; Mr. Wallace also added a limited-slip differential and
updated the bearings, bushings, and transmission synchros. The
original fuel tank was upgraded to a modern aluminum fuel cell for
safety, and Mr. Wallace vented the carburetors for safety.
The body was refinished in fitting Giallo Fly with silver sills and
wheels. The interior was restored throughout with very attractive
dark grey upholstery and complementary carpets, headliner, and
steering-wheel covering.
Having set up his Miura P400 S to drive and enjoy, Mr. Colletti did
exactly that until 2008, making many trips from his Southern
California home to Monterey for the annual "Car Week," including
showing off the car at the Concorso Italiano. Today the
restoration, despite those road miles, is still in excellent
overall condition with few signs of wear to the paint and interior,
and has been well maintained in the current collection. Reportedly
one of the favorite automobiles in the fleet, it has been
occasionally exhibited at Midwestern concours d'elegance, as well
as used on the road as Mr. Lamborghini intended.To view this car
and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.