Lamborghini Miura P400 SV/J

www.QV500.com - Lamborghini Miura Part 6: P400 Miura SV/J

Although the SV was a sensationally good machine, the Jota legacy was still arousing interest from Lamborghini's wealthiest customers. Some inevitably asked the factory to build them a Jota, but Lamborghini couldn’t justify the investment in manpower and unfortunately never obliged. They did, however, produce a very special Jota-inspired SV/J of which there have been three genuine types constructed. The most important were cars either built from scratch or rebuilt at the factory to SV/J specification between December 1971 and April 1973. In addition, a second sanction car (chassis 4088) was built up to resemble an SV/J around an unused S-chassis between 1983 and '87.

The SV/J specification was fairly comprehensive and generally cost around 60% more than a stock Miura SV. Engines were specially prepared to produce between 405-415bhp and featured larger inlet ports, a balanced crankshaft with polished connecting rods, one car (chassis 5100), also getting dry sump lubrication. Straight through competition exhausts were there, the ride-height dropped and firmer anti-roll bars fitted. Suspension got stiffer springs and dampers. Visually, the SV/J was a stunner with its Jota-esque details. At the front, there were fixed headlamps housed under Plexiglas covers, supplementary driving lights and a prominent chin spoiler. The regular SV's black front lid grilles were removed and left gaping open, a Monza quick-fuel filler peeking out from just above. Meshed brake cooling vents were carved out from behind each wheelarch, pop riveting surrounding most of these bodywork alterations. Interiors were largely similar to standard SV’s although racing harnesses and fire extinguishers were nearly always fitted. Five genuine SV/J's were completed by the factory in period, two of which were completed new, the remaining three all having been converted from stock SV's.

P400 Miura SV J Chassis Index

5090	Completed new in August 1972 to SV/J specification. Rosso Granada Met. / Red leather. Delivered new to Paul Ferrandi, Ponte Leccia, Corsica. Paul Ferrandi was a partner in the Parisian Lamborghini dealer, Voitures Paris Monceau.
5100	Completed new in August 1972 to SV/J specification. Luci del Bosco / Mustard leather. Delivered new to Harry Lansberg, France. Factory records show original destination as Hubert Hahn but 5100 actually went to Harry Lansberg as compensation for Miura SV chassis 4956 which was destroyed by a factory tester while being serviced at the works. Miura SV/J chassis 5100 was awaiting delivery at the factory and that car (now using the papers of chassis 4956 to avoid paying import tax twice) was given to Lansberg as compensation. It was fitted with the dry-sump system from chassis 4956 and remained the only SV/J completed as such. This car thus has a dual identity (4956 and 5100). Lansberg returned Miura SV/J chassis 5100 to the factory very soon after he had taken delivery as he did not like the SV/J looks and loud straight-through exhaust. The car was thus returned to standard Miura SV look for him. In 1979 chassis 5100 was sold by Lansberg to current French owner, Fabrice Auxietre, who had Parisian coachbuilder LeCoq return the body to SV/J look.
4860	Completed new in April 1971 to SV specification. Orange / Black leather. Delivered new to Dr. Belponer, Italy. Returned to the factory and converted to SV/J specification, completed April 1973. The last period SV/J conversion carried out by Lamborghini. Silver / Black leather. Delivered to Hubert Hahne, Dusseldorf, Germany.
4934	Completed new in December 1971 to SV specification. Blu Ischie Met. / White leather. Converted to SV/J specification for HIH the Shah of Iran, completed December 1971. The first period SV/J conversion carried out by Lamborghini. Rosso Granada Met. / White leather. Delivered to HIH the Shah of Iran, St. Moritz, Switzerland. Prior to delivery, the Iranian secret service came to check the car over. As the Shah wanted it delivered to his villa in St Moritz it was fitted with studded snow tyres. The Shah reputedly drove it once in Switzerland and then had it sent to Tehran in an Iranian Air Force cargo plane. After the Iranian revolution 1979, chassis 4934 was seized by government agency, Mustazzafin, along with the Shah's 3000 other cars. Sold at Geneva in March 1997 to actor Nicolas Cage for a world record $493,000.
4990	Completed April 1972 to SV specification. Argento Met. / Black leather with Beige cloth centres. Converted to SV/J specification, completed April 1972. Rosso Granada Met. / Black leather. Delivered new to Alberto Silvera, Port au Prince, Haiti.
4088	Unused 1969 S specification chassis. Converted to SV/J specification by the factory between 1983 and '87. Orange / Black leather. Delivered to Jean-Claude Mimram, Switzerland. Jean-Claude Mimram was the brother of Lamborghini Automobili SpA owner, Patrick Mimram.