1969 Lamborghini Miura S ‘Jota Spec’
The Miura, with its mid-engine layout, was a groundbreaking feat when it first roared onto the scene. Designed by Marcello Gandini and engineered by Gian Paolo Dallara, it was a car that not only looked like it belonged on the racetrack but performed like it as well.
The Miura S, which debuted in 1968, was a more potent version of the original P400, boasting an additional 20 horsepower, bringing the total to an impressive 370 horsepower. This increase in power further solidified the Miura’s position at the top of sports car performance of its time.
The Miura’s evolution continued with the SV variant, which pushed the power envelope to 380 horsepower.
However, the most intriguing part in the Miura’s history is undoubtedly the creation of the Jota. This singular beast was the brainchild of Bob Wallace, Lamborghini’s test driver, who envisioned a car that could comply with the FIA’s Appendix J racing standards.
The Jota was a lighter, more powerful version of the Miura, with substantial weight savings and an engine that eclipsed the 400 HP mark.
Although the original Jota was destroyed, its spirit lived on through a few factory-produced Miura SVJs and in the hearts of enthusiasts who converted their Miuras to mirror the Jota’s specifications.
One such example is the car shown here. This 1969 Miura S ‘Jota Specification’, chassis 4280, which began its life in Sant’Agata and was delivered to its first owner in Italy.
Eventually making its way to Japan, the car underwent a significant transformation, swapping its original S-spec engine for an SV engine and later receiving extensive bodywork modifications to align with the Jota’s performance standards.
This reimagined Miura S ‘Jota Specification’ changed hands several times, journeying from Japan to Sweden and finally to the UK. The car’s striking Arancio Miura paint today is as much a part of its identity as the Jota-inspired modifications that it carries.
The modifications gave the Miura an even more aggressive stance and a heightened level of performance that would have made Bob Wallace proud.
As a vehicle that has been both a witness and a participant in the evolution of supercar design, this 1969 Lamborghini Miura S ‘Jota Specification’ stands as a tribute to the innovation and spirit of Lamborghini.
Credit: RM Sotheby’s
