History

In 1965, Lamborghini’s three top engineers began work on a prototype car that would be a departure from Lamborghini’s standard at the time. While the company’s focus was on grand touring cars, the engineers (Gian Paolo Dallara, Paolo Stanzani and Bob Wallace) envisioned a car that could be driven on the road and win on the track. Working during the night, they eventually created a prototype to show to the company founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, who gave them the green light on their “P400”.

Later that year, the rolling chassis of their prototype was displayed at the Turin Motor Show. It featured a transversely-mounted mid-engine layout – the first of its kind, with a V12 packed into the tight space of the frame by effectively merging the differential and the transmission. Even without a body to go over the chassis, impressed showgoers began placing orders for the would-be car.

Needing a body to go with their prototype, Lamborghini enlisted another Italian automobile company, Bertone, who specialized in car styling and had created designs for the likes of Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and main rival: Ferrari. The sleek and stylish body for the P400 was finished only days before its unveiling at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show. With the rush to complete the body, the engineers had not found time to check if the engine fit inside the compartment, meaning the sales head of Lamborghini turned away the motoring press from looking under the hood!

The car became the highlight of the show, pushing the P400 into full production. It was named the “Miura” after the famous Spanish fighting-bull breeder Juan Miura, whose bulls were known for their size and ferocity, and the Miura bull was featured in Lamborghini’s newly created badge.

Between 1966 and 1969, precisely 275 Lamborghini P400 Miuras were produced. The car was a huge success for the company, despite its steep price tag of $20,000 USD. In 1968, the Miura was developed further with the release of the Miura P400S, the P400SV in 1971, as well as several one-off models.

The Miura was Lamborghini’s flagship car, redefining the concept of the sports car and setting the pace for others to follow.