At the 1971 Geneva Motor Show Lamborghini unveiled the Miura SV. The model was supposed to be an evolution of the P400 and accompany the S version, but it actually ended up replacing it.
To the untrained eye, the Miura SV may look just like the rest of the lineup, but it was quite different. For one, the famous “eyelashes” in the headlights were dropped to reduce production time, and the only example to feature them was the one built for Ferruccio Lamborghini.
Also Watch: The Story Behind The Iconic Lamborghini Miura
It also had wider rear fenders, redesigned taillights and a new front bonnet. The rims were also new, and the width of the rear ones was increased from 7 to 9 inches. The car had a 130 mm (5 in) wider track and revised suspension at the rear, as well as a stiffer chassis. It retained the mid-mounted 4.0-liter 12-cylinder engine, albeit with a few upgrades that increased output to 385 horsepower. For the cockpit, Lamborghini decided to go with more leather upholstery and chrome details.
According to the brand’s chief engineers at the time, Paolo Stanzani and Giampaolo Dallara, thanks to the experience they gained in the first five years of Miura production, the SV was capable of hitting a maximum speed of over 290 km/h (180 mph) and could complete the standing kilometer (0.62 miles) in less than 24 seconds.
Production of the model ended in early 1973, after 150 units were put together, though the final example was made in 1975 for businessman Walter Wolf and is now displayed at the Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese.
