The OG Supercar?
It’s hard to truly nail down what the first supercar is, but it’s safe to say that the Lamborghini Miura was a pioneer of that genre. Perhaps it’s okay to say that it laid down the formula for supercars in the coming years. To oversimplify it, create a mid-mounted chassis, stick in a powerful motor, and drape it in an exquisite body.
The Miura ticked all those boxes, and its world premiere created a lot of buzz 60 years ago. The thing is, it wasn’t presented in its final form when it was first rolled out during the 1965 Turin Motor Show. In fact, it didn’t have a body at all.
Lambo
Project L105
Before it was called the Miura, it started out as Project L105. It was a light and compact chassis that started development in 1964. Ferruccio Lamborghini was reportedly skeptical, but eventually gave the green light to continue. Giampaolo Dallara, Paolo Stanzani, and test driver Bob Wallace were in charge of developing the chassis.
Project L105 was wheeled out to the public on November 3, 1965. The structure was built by Marchesi of Modena, and the bare chassis, sans auxiliaries, weighed just 265 lbs, which was impressive for its era. It then rode on double-wishbone suspension, Girling disc brakes, and Borrani wire wheels.
Lambor
Putting a Body On It
It was a bare-naked chassis, but it generated buzz, nonetheless. So much so that some of Italy’s biggest coachbuilders went to the Lamborghini booth to see if they could be the ones to drape some sheetmetal on it.
The first to step up to the plate was Carrozzeria Touring, but financial difficulties meant collaboration wouldn’t happen. Pininfarina was another candidate, but the design house couldn’t commit to the project as it was busy with other automakers. Thankfully, Nuccio Bertone dropped by the booth, promising Lamborghini to create “the perfect shoe for this wonderful foot.” That quote, by the way, is according to legend.
Lamborghini
The Perfect Shoe
And create the perfect shoe, he did. First sketches of the car were drawn up during the Christmas holidays in 1965. Lamborghini, Dallara, and Stanzani saw the first sketches and, according to legend, approved them immediately.
The final product made its world premiere at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show. Production started that same year, with 275 of the original P400 chassis cars made. It packed a 4.0-liter V12 that produced 345 horsepower, aided by four triple-barrel Weber carburetors and twin cams. Its light weight (under 2,500 lbs) and strong engine helped it to become the fastest road car of its day.
The Miura will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026. Lamborghini will be holding a year-long celebration, along with a special tour at Lamborghini Polo Storico. So if anyone’s heading to Italy soon, it’s best to include Sant’Agata Bolognese in your itinerary.
Lamborghini
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