One to Buy: 1 of 1 ex-Domenico Schiavo 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
Although the SV was the finest and fastest iteration of Lamborghini’s Miura to reach production, the decision to unveil it alongside the new Countach prototype at Geneva in 1971 led to much reduced demand as customers turned their attention to the out-of-this-world new model.
Just 150 examples of the SV were built between 1971 and ‘73 making this by far the most scarce Miura variant offered to the general public, For comparison, 275 first generation Miuras left Sant’Agata followed by 275 of the S type that replaced it.
Accordingly, prices for the SV are today substantially higher than either of its predecessors, particularly for those late production versions that came with the sporty addition of dry-sump lubrication.
One such SV is set to go under the hammer at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach auctions between August 18th and 19th.
In addition to having been completed with dry-sump lubrication and the rare air-conditioning upgrade, chassis 5066 was configured by its first owner in the unique colour combination of Tahiti Blue with spectacular white leather upholstery.
The car’s first owner, Domenico Schiavo of Padua, retained it for 38 years during which time he covered around 80,000km. Sig. Schiavo reputedly ordered chassis 5066 to honour his late brother who had always wanted a Miura.
Today this highly specified one of one SV is offered in concours condition following a ground up restoration by marque experts.
Reprinted below is Gooding & Company’s description for this unique Miura SV:
Estimate: USD $3.5m - $4.25m
Chassis: 5066
Engine: 30728
The Ultimate Development of the Miura; One of Only 150 SVs Built
Late-Production European Version with Split Sump and Air-Conditioning
Vibrant, One-Off Color Scheme: Tahitian Blue with Gold Accents and White Upholstery
Outstanding Provenance; Delivered to Italy with Just Three Private Owners from New
Concours-Quality Restoration Overseen by Italian Specialist Cremonini Carrozzeria
Rare Opportunity to Acquire a Truly Exceptional Example of a Supercar Icon
The Lamborghini Miura P400 could have only been a product of the 1960s – a decade marked by radical change and bold new ideas.
The Miura owes its very existence to such revolutionary thinking. After all, it was originally conceived in the minds of engineers Gian Paolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani, who, in after-hours reveries, envisioned an entirely new type of sports car. Unlike most high-performance GT cars of the era, like Ferrari’s 275 GTB and Lamborghini’s own 350 GT – which were based on well-proven concepts refined over decades – the Miura represented a new phase in the evolution of automotive design. It took inspiration from a wide variety of sources, from the new generation of mid-engine racing cars to Alec Issigonis’ brilliant Mini and combined the very best elements to create what is now regarded as the first true supercar.
With its unveiling, the Miura rewrote the rule book. Whereas most new automobiles are debuted in their final production form, the Miura was first presented in 1965 as a bare chassis – a showcase of its mid-mounted, transverse V-12 engine, in-unit five-speed transaxle, fully independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and lightweight construction.
From there, Lamborghini hired Carrozzeria Bertone to create a suitable body for the advanced chassis. The resulting design, credited to 25-year-old Marcello Gandini, faithfully captured the spirit of Lamborghini’s newest creation. Long, lean, and impossibly low, with impressive clamshell panels, articulating headlamps, and a plethora of functional vents, the Bertone bodywork was thoroughly modern and every bit as exotic as the chassis that lay beneath. Inside, the two-seat cockpit was outfitted with reclining bucket seats, a tall central console, large circular instruments, and a see-through panel behind the seats giving a fantastic view of the massive, three-choke Weber carburetors.
In his book Lamborghini Miura, historian Stefano Pasini describes the immediate visceral impact of this groundbreaking model: “When all its details were finished, the P400 appeared to everyone as something more than beautiful: it was new, it was ‘different,’ it was something really exceptional in the conservative panorama of the high-class GTs. The final touch to this fascination was the name, appropriately dry, full-bodied, pugnacious and suggestive: Miura. The name of the fiercest and most feared race of Spanish fighting bull was given to a car destined to become the uncontested queen of the roads for years!”
In spite of (or perhaps due to) its avant-garde design, the original Miura was not without its faults. In the years following its introduction, Lamborghini engineers, working in tandem with test driver Bob Wallace, continued to improve the car, making myriad adjustments to the chassis, engine, and bodywork.
It was this tireless development process that led to the improved P400 S in 1968 and finally the SV, the ultimate Miura, which made its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971. Outwardly distinguished by its impressive, flared rear-fender arches, 7"- and 9"-wide Campagnolo wheels, and unadorned headlights, the SV was aggressively beautiful, with a completely different demeanor than the original narrow-hipped Miura. The SV’s most important changes, however, were more than skin-deep.
Mechanically, the SV benefited from a reinforced chassis, redesigned rear suspension, ventilated disc brakes, and subtle engine revisions that reportedly increased output to 385 bhp at 7,850 rpm. Lamborghini’s program of mechanical development meant that the final Miura was an altogether faster and more composed machine than its predecessors. Beyond its incredible performance, the SV’s style and exclusivity set it apart from virtually every other car on the road. Road & Track included the SV in their famous 1971 article, “The Ten Best Cars in the World,” without having ever tested one, but accurately described it as “the Valhalla of road motoring.”
Between 1971 and 1973, Lamborghini constructed just 150 examples of the P400 SV – a figure that represents less than one-fifth of total Miura production. Regarded as one of the most exciting high-performance cars of its day, the SV now ranks among the top tier of collector cars and stands as an undisputed icon of automotive design.
According to factory records, this Miura P400 SV, chassis 5066, was completed on May 12, 1972. Assigned production no. 733, it was originally finished in Bleu Tahiti (Tahitian Blue) paint with gold accents over white leather upholstery; it is the only Miura known to have been supplied new in this fantastic color scheme. A late-production, European-specification example, it was factory-equipped with improved split-sump lubrication and optional Borletti air-conditioning. At $555, air-conditioning was among the most expensive options available for the SV, and it is believed that just 30 examples were so equipped.
Upon completion, 5066 was invoiced to official Lamborghini concessionaire Righetti in Vicenza, making it one of approximately 49 SVs delivered new in Italy. Its first owner, Domenico Schiavo of Padua, reportedly purchased the car to honor the memory of his late brother, who had dreamed of owning a Miura. Sig. Schiavo registered the car in Padua as “PD 319260” and retained it for the next 38 years, driving it nearly 80,000 km during his ownership.
The SV remained in the hands of its original owner until 2010, when it joined a private European collection. Between 2011 and 2013, chassis 5066 was extensively restored, with the project overseen by Cremonini Carrozzeria of Modena, one of the world’s leading Miura specialists. Consistent with that company’s reputation, the SV was restored to the highest standards, while taking care to preserve its rare factory options and distinctive color scheme.
The current owner acquired the SV in 2018 and has used it sparingly, most recently in the South of France. Today, 5066 remains in excellent condition throughout and is meticulously detailed, down to the correct-type hose clamps and period-correct Pirelli CN12 Cinturato tires. Significantly, this outstanding Miura retains its matching-numbers engine (no. 30728) and is accompanied by its original Padua license plates.
Never before offered in the US, and yet to be exhibited on the international concours scene, this exceptionally rare P400 SV is a brilliant example of the most highly sought-after Miura. Given its ideal factory specification, superb three-owner provenance, and Italian marque specialist restoration, 5066 is among the finest of its kind extant – a Lamborghini fit for the most discerning collector.
