Automobili Lamborghini’s origin story is the stuff of legend. Successful Italian tractor manufacturer Ferruccio Lamborghini, dissatisfied with his Ferrari after a contentious meeting with Enzo Ferrari, resolved to build “a perfect car.” Adopting the emblem of a raging bull, the spurned industrialist set out to challenge Italy’s most storied automaker head-on.

Barely three years later, Lamborghini not only matched but arguably surpassed Ferrari with the 1966 introduction of the Miura. Widely regarded as the world’s first true supercar, it redefined the performance car paradigm with its radical mid-engine layout, breathtaking Bertone styling, and unprecedented performance. Named for Spanish cattle breeder Don Eduardo Miura and his ferocious fighting bulls, the Miura P400 instantly established Lamborghini as a builder of uncompromising, visceral sports cars.

At the 1968 Torino Motor Show, Lamborghini unveiled an updated version of its groundbreaking flagship: the Miura P400 S. The “S,” denoting spinto, or tuned, signaled a series of mechanical and cosmetic refinements that addressed early shortcomings and transformed the Miura into a more complete and usable grand touring machine. Capable of a top speed of 168 mph, the P400 S was the fastest road car ever tested by Road & Track magazine in 1970, which memorably described it as “an exercise in automotive art for a particularly rapturous kind of driving.” In total, just 338 examples of the P400 S were built between late 1968 and early 1971, when it was superseded by the SV.

According to factory records, this Miura P400 S, chassis 4248, was completed in October 1969. Assigned Bertone production no. 417 with corresponding body no. 517, it was originally finished in the fashionable and highly desirable combination of Arancio Miura (Miura Orange) over black vinyl upholstery with beige cloth seat inserts.

Consistent with its autumn 1969 build date, chassis 4248 benefits from the full suite of technical improvements introduced at the onset of P400 S production. These include the strengthened chassis frame, upgraded driveshafts, adjustable KONI shock absorbers, thicker anti-roll bars, and the latest generation of Pirelli Cinturato tires, all of which contributed to improved handling, durability, and refinement.

Upon completion, 4248 was delivered new to official Lamborghini dealer Autoelite on Milan’s Viale Cenisio. While its earliest ownership history remains undocumented, by 1973 the Miura had relocated to Japan, where it was offered for sale by prominent exotic car dealer Elite Sport of Tokyo. In the mid-1970s, the car was featured in a Japanese automotive magazine and subsequently offered by Tomita Auto of Kyoto and Checker Motors of Tokyo.

In the early 1980s, the Miura was exported to the US, settling in California, where it was refinished in red and registered on period blue-and-yellow plates bearing the number “1ASE345.” The Miura later migrated to the Midwest and, in 2002, was acquired by dedicated Lamborghini enthusiast Tim Mathile of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Mathile commissioned local specialist Quality Automotive to perform an extensive restoration. Conducted over a three-year period, the work included stripping the car to bare metal and refinishing in its original Arancio Miura livery, complemented by a beige leather interior. As the cosmetic elements were being addressed, mechanical work – including engine and gearbox rebuilds – was entrusted to Evans Automotive Repair Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, and NJB Automotive of Westerville, Ohio. The restoration is documented by an impressive file accompanying the car, which contains invoices, photographs, and correspondence.

The completed Miura made its concours debut at the 2006 Ault Park Concours d’Elegance, earning Best in Class honors. Additional accolades include Best in Class at the 2009 Louisville Concours d’Elegance and the 2022 Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance, as well as a Children’s Choice Award at the 2014 Keeneland Concours. The car was also displayed at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, in a class commemorating the Miura’s 50th anniversary, and achieved broader recognition through its appearance on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, hosted by Jerry Seinfeld with guest Chris Rock.

Significantly, the engine, no. 30424, is the original, matching-numbers unit per factory records. The original Bertone body number, 517, is present in multiple locations, including the front bulkhead, both doors, as well as the front and tail sections.

An ideally specified and professionally restored Miura P400 S, chassis 4248 represents one of the most compelling examples of Lamborghini’s seminal supercar. Delivered new to Italy, later residing in Japan and the US, and benefiting from a proven concours history, it now presents a rare opportunity to acquire a truly iconic supercar of exceptional quality and presence.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled 1970.