Lamborghini's has completed restoration of one of the most famous Miuras ever built: the Miura SVR.
With the work competed by Polo Storico, Lamborghini's in-house restoration and preservation department, the car has gone on display at Japan's Nakayama Circut, a location where the legend of the Miura SVR was cemented.
Only 763 Lamborghini Miuras were produced between 1966 and 1972 at the company’s plant in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy. The number of Miuras built outside of Sant’Agata, however, is much greater, as numerous model car manufacturers created a scale version of what is credited as the world's first mid-engine supercar.
Among these was Japan’s Kyosho, which produced 1:18 scale models of both the Lamborghini Miura SV and Miura SVR. The Kyosho SVR achieved legendary status among collectors with the Miura SVR - an evolution of the Jota developed by Lamborghini test driver Bob Wallace, which was later featured in the Japanese manga “Circuit Wolf”.
After Wallace’s original Jota was lost in an accident, customer demand in the following years led Lamborghini to build a few Miura SVJ models and - remarkably - a single Miura SVR. The latter was eventually sold in Japan, where it served as the “model” for both the vehicle used in the comic book and the Kyosho toy version.
That particular Miura, chassis number #3781, engine number 2511 and body number 383, was originally an S version painted in trademark Verde Miura green with black interior. It was first delivered to the Lamborauto dealership in Turin, Italy in 1968, following its display at the 50th Turin Motor Show.
After changing hands eight times in Italy, the vehicle was bought in 1974 by German Heinz Straber, who took it back to Lamborghini in order to have it transformed in an SVR - a job that required 18 months of work.
In 1976 the car was sold to Hiromitsu Ito and made its way to Japan, where it caused quite a sensation, including the inspiration for the Circuit Wolf” comic book series. The vehicle’s legend was further cemented when it was chosen by Kyosho as the base for its scale model.
“The full restoration took 19 months and required a different approach to the way we normally work," said Lamborghini Director of the Polo Storico, Paolo Gabrielli.
"The original production sheet wasn’t of much help, as we relied mostly on the specifications from the 1974 modifications."
"The challenge for the Polo Storico team was even more daunting as the car arrived in Sant’Agata in pieces, although the parts were all there, and with considerable modifications."
"The only variations on the original specifications were the addition of 4-point safety belts, more supportive seats and a removable roll bar. These were expressly requested by the customer and are intended to improve safety during the car’s racetrack exhibitions.”
