VIN: the Shah of Iran / Nicolas Cage Lamborghini Miura P400 SV/J chassis 4934
History of chassis 4934
Chassis 4934 started life as a Miura SV painted Blu Ischia Metallizato with a Bianco interior.
However, before it was completed, 4934 was converted into the first SV/J for Mohammad Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran.
Chassis 4934 was the fourth Miura purchased by the Shah. It followed a P400, a P400 S and a P400 SV. The Shah also owned an Espada and subsequently purchased two Countach LP400s.
With access to much of Iran’s mineral wealth, the Shah was one of the richest men in the world. He accumulated a fine collection of automobiles that also included Ferraris, Maseratis and Porsches plus vast numbers of Rolls-Royce, Bentleys and Mercedes-Benz.
As part of its conversion to SV/J trim, chassis 4934 was repainted Rosso Granada Metallizato. Like the other three official SV/Js constructed between late 1971 and early 1973, it was equipped with a tuned engine, straight-through exhaust, modified bodywork and uprated suspension.
Prior to delivery, the Iranian secret service came to check the car over. As the Shah wanted it sent to his residence in St. Moritz (Villa Suvretta), it was fitted with studded snow tyres.
Chassis 4934 was dispatched on December 9th 1971. The Shah reputedly only drove it once in Switzerland before he had it flown to Tehran in an Iranian Air Force cargo plane. However, as with so many of his acquisitions, the Shah quickly lost interest and 4934 accumulated very few miles.
After the Iranian revolution in 1979, chassis 4934 was seized by government agency, Mustazzafin, along with the Shah’s other cars. In total, the royal family owned around 3000 vehicles, although many were comparatively mainstream models for diplomatic and government use.
Chassis 4934 remained in Iran until 1995. At this point it was sold to a businessman from Dubai along with several other cars.
The SV/J was then consigned for a Brooks auction in Geneva in March 1997 where the still very low mileage car sold for $497,500. The buyer was Hollywood actor, Nicolas Cage.
Cage was another serious collector whose fleet of exotic machinery at various times included a Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California, a unique Series 1 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet, a Jaguar D-type and Bugatti Type 57C Atalante.
In 2004, the SV/J was sold to an English collector, at which point it still had less than 5000km on the clock.
Chassis 4934 has since been refreshed back at the factory . It has variously been UK registered APP 462J and 71 SVJ.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Lamborghini - https://www.lamborghini.com & Autogespot - https://www.autogespot.com/
