This was primarily due to enlarged inlet ports and modified cam timing while aesthetically, Bertone made a number of subtle changes that help differentiate the SV from earlier incarnations. Gandini's distinctive slatted eyelashes were dropped in favour of a matt black-painted headlight surround, a more integrated front bumper housing larger supplementary lenses. At the rear were flared wheelarches and several different types of light clusters, all of which incorporated reverse units for the first time. Changes to the SV's interior were few and far between, only a handful of cars now being built without full leather trim and air-conditioning. During the autumn of 1971, a self-blocking ZF differential and dry sump lubrication system became optionally available, the latter eliminating the bearing damage that some earlier Miura's had suffered after consistently hard driving. Despite the SV having clearly been the best Miura yet, only 150 were built for a combination of two reasons. Firstly, the SV was launched alongside Lamborghini's prototype LP500 Countach which effectively killed off demand overnight. Secondly, the Miura S had itself already become a little difficult to sell. Thus, the SV was more or less doomed from the outset which was a great shame as it remained by far the most accomplished Miura and the only one that truly fulfilled the potential of this revolutionary car. Production ended in early 1973 although it wasn't until autumn that the last deliveries were made.
|
