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60 years ago: Lamborghini Miura -- the first supercar

We've profiled a lot of high-performance vehicles over the years, but where did the whole supercar thing start? Well, that can be traced back to 1966, when a 3-year-old company called Lamborghini debuted the Miura at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Miura featured a V12 engine that was transversely mounted behind the driver, a layout that was inspired by motorsport design. It was a radical architecture that broke with GT tradition. The Miura boasted performance figures that, for the time, seemed surreal. The shape of the car, created by the legendary design firm Bertone, was immediately iconic and remains so today.

The Miura was not simply another Lamborghini, it was a statement of intent for the young company. It was the company's third model, and it established core values of the brand that lasted for decades to come: courage over convention, innovation without compromise, and design and engineering pushed to their limits.

In the Miura, Lamborghini created an entirely new vehicle segment and gave birth to the modern, mid-engine super sports car. Six decades on from its premiere, the Miura today remains an icon of technical radicalism, visionary engineering, and timeless design.

The now-legendary engine delivered, in its latest version, an impressive output of up to 380 hp that could drive the Miura to a top speed of 174 mph -- effectively making it the fastest production car in the world.

"The Miura did more than introduce a new car -- it changed the course of automotive history. With its revolutionary architecture, breathtaking design, and uncompromising performance, it defined the very concept of the supercar and set Lamborghini on a path of fearless innovation," said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

The birth of a revolution
Less than two years after the company was founded, Lamborghini was still a niche manufacturer, but the 350 GT had already demonstrated the company's technical ambition. Ferruccio Lamborghini was proud of the first GT car, but he dreamed of an even more powerful vehicle. The young team of engineers, led by Gian Paolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani, took on the task of turning that dream into reality.

At the heart of the Miura was a transversely mounted, 3,929-cc V12 engine with a 60-degree bank angle, equipped with four camshafts, V-shaped overhead valves, a seven-bearing crankshaft, and four Weber 40 IDL 3L carburetors (later IDL40 3C) with 12 throttle valves. Unusually, the crankshaft rotated counterclockwise.

Starting in 1964, Dallara, Stanzani, and New Zealand test driver Bob Wallace jointly developed the idea for a new super sports car that drew inspiration from motorsport. They then built a ready-to-drive prototype chassis after work that was uncompromisingly calibrated for performance. Ferruccio Lamborghini immediately recognized the potential of the idea at the presentation and gave the green light for the further development of the 400 TP as Project L105.

On November 3, 1965, at the Turin Motor Show, Lamborghini displayed the chassis in satin black, with the engine transversely mounted behind the driver. The model sat alongside the Lamborghini 350 GT and the 350 GTS. Never before or since, arguably, has a bare chassis attracted such attention. The steel box, with a wall thickness of only 0.8 mm and numerous punch holes, weighed just 265 lb, and the four white exhaust pipes immediately caught the attention of visitors. It was a demonstration of power and a radical gesture by the young sports car brand from Sant'Agata Bolognese. Several design studios offered their support in cladding the chassis.

However, Lamborghini hesitated. According to legend, Nuccio Bertone appeared at the Lamborghini stand toward the end of the show and was the last coachbuilder to stop by. Bertone then examined the chassis on display and alledgedly said to Ferruccio Lamborghini that his studio would design "the perfect shoe for this wonderful foot."

The first collaboration with Carrozzeria Bertone, where Marcello Gandini served as Head of Design at the time, clothed the steel chassis, characterized by high and wide sills, with an exhilarating bodywork. Just a few weeks after the first meeting, at the beginning of January 1966, the Bertone design was finalized, and the prototype was completed by March with the support of 30 Bertone employees. It offered comfort and reliability along with very impressive performance numbers. The powerful V12 was paired with a lightweight body, while the wheel design was entirely new.

In March 1966, on Bertone's stand at the Geneva Motor Show, Automobili Lamborghini presented an orange car that ignored existing conventions. The mid-engine concept fundamentally changed the weight distribution and provided a driving experience that was unmatched at the time. This was complemented by Bertone's incomparable, elegant design of breathtaking beauty.

With the Miura, Lamborghini also deliberately used the name of a famous Spanish bull breed for the first time.

Design and style: Driven by speed, color, and individual expression
Lamborghini collaborated with Carrozzeria Bertone for the first time on the Miura's design. The renowned design studio created a body that set new standards. Flat, wide, elegant, and aggressive at the same time, the Miura looked like a predator poised to pounce. The silhouette was low; the car's overall height was only around 42 inches. The striking pop-up headlights with "eyelashes" and the generous air intakes characterized an appearance that is still considered timeless today.

Bertone took its cue from racing cars: flat, swivel headlights, radiator grilles that directed air to the brakes, and slatted surfaces on the front hood that allowed air to escape from the almost horizontal radiator, in this position only in the prototype. The V12 was supplied air via intakes behind and below the doors. The black slats were used as covers to provide additional ventilation, also establishing a powerful design trend. Even today, the Miura is a masterful stylistic solution for elegantly diverting air from the drive.

The black anodized trim, used instead of the chrome trim that had been common, and the engine-transmission arrangement set a trend for the coming years. The Miura was not only low, it was also compact in length, at just 14.3 ft thanks in part to the engine layout. Today, the design is considered to be one of automotive's finest: a sportscar that combines both power and elegance. Depending on customer requirements, the bodywork could be finished in striking colors, making the Miura one of the first super sports cars to offer a bold and highly customizable color palette.

The Lamborghini V12: Its heart, soul, and legacy
The history of the Lamborghini V12 revolves around this engine: a technically revolutionary power unit that shaped the brand's DNA for almost six decades. It is an expression of engineering artistry, innovation, and vision. With the last pure V12 fitted to the Aventador Ultimae in 2022, Lamborghini brought to a close an era that stretched back to the 1960s. In 2023, the V12 entered a new chapter with the Revuelto, where the iconic engine was paired with a hybrid system, marking the evolution of the V12 into a new electrified era.

Depending on the model, P400 or P400 S, the engine delivered 350 or 370 hp, making the Miura one of the fastest production cars of its time. The Miura 400 accelerated to 100 km/h in 6.7 sec and was capable of speeds up to 173 mph. At the time, this super sports car was the fastest production car in the world. The engine of the later P400 SV delivered even more power, with 385 hp at 7,850 rpm and torque of 388 Nm at 5,500 rpm, offering even greater drivability. Power was transmitted via a dry clutch to a manual five-speed transmission with open shift gate.

The engine, transmission, and differential shared a common housing and lubrication system, which was exceptional at the time. It was a bold, space-saving, and technically challenging design. During production, Lamborghini developed a separate lubrication system for the engine and transmission, a technically significant change. Its performance, coupled with the groundbreaking V12-mid-engine-layout, defined the Miura as technically radical and made it a pioneer of supercars.

As befits a super sports car, the Lamborghini Miura was an uncompromising car to drive. Without power steering, without electronic assistance systems, and with direct mechanical feedback, it still demands full concentration for drivers today. At the same time, it rewards the driver with an unadulterated, emotional driving experience. The V12 delivers ample power and an unmistakable benchmark sound. The chassis consists of a steel space frame that closely connects the engine and suspension. This compact design enables the iconic design and also exceptional road holding. Double wishbones and coil springs at the front and rear ensured sporty, firm, and precise handling for its time.

Production and special versions
Between 1966 and 1973, 763 Lamborghini Miura models were built at the Lamborghini factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy, according to official records. The first production Miura was delivered to Milan on December 29, 1966, followed by 107 cars during the first year. By 1968, Lamborghini had already sold 184 Miura models, an average of almost four cars per week -- an exceptional figure for a high-performance car of the era.

Before series production began, only one official prototype was built. These experimental vehicles are not included in official production numbers. In addition, a small number of cars produced for specific markets such as the United States and the Middle East featured minor technical or regulatory adaptations and are sometimes counted separately in historical sources. Lamborghini also produced early transitional Miura P400 S models, combining features of both the P400 and the later P400 S.

At least 10 Miura models are considered one-offs, special projects, or show cars. Among the most famous is the 1968 Miura Roadster (RDS), a unique open-top version conceived and created by Carrozzeria Bertone. Finished in sky-blue paint with a white leather interior and red carpeting, it featured distinctive elements such as larger door air intakes, approximately 120 structural reinforcements, a more steeply raked windshield, and unique rear lights, clearly differentiating it from the coupe.

The Lamborghini Miura P400 (1966 to 1969) had a first list price of 7,700,000 Italian lire -- approximately $12,320 USD at the time and about $123,000 in today's dollars.

The Lamborghini Miura P400 S (1968 to 1971) featured a wider track, modernized chassis tuning with Koni shock absorbers, electric windows, higher-quality interior (luxury options), and ventilated disc brakes front and rear from vehicle 501 onwards. It was more comfortable than the P400. It featured slight changes to air intakes, seats, and dashboard, chrome window frames instead of black anodized, and optional air conditioning. It was a little more suitable for everyday use.

The Lamborghini Miura P400 SV (1971 to 1973) featured separate engine and transmission lubrication, a wider rear axle for better traction, a modified rear suspension, increased performance (faster and more controllable, some with limited-slip differential). As the final version of the Miura series, it did not sport headlight eyelids. It had a sharpened modern look and the car's highest performance and roadworthiness of the series.

Source: Lamborghini

Published March 2026

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