Lamborghini restores the iconic Miura SVR
Lamborghini Polo Storico has completed restoration of one of the most famous Miuras ever built: the Miura SVR. Only 763 Lamborghini Miuras were produced between 1966 and 1972, at the company’s plant in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy. The number of Miuras built outside of Sant’Agata, however, is much greater, as numerous model car manufacturers have created scale versions of what is one of the most iconic sports cars ever made.
Among these was Japan’s Kyosho, which produced 1:18 scale models of both the Lamborghini Miura SV and Miura SVR. The Kyosho SVR, in particular, has achieved legendary status among collectors, since it depicts one of the most astonishing Lamborghinis ever built, the Miura SVR: a race car evolution of the fabled Jota developed by Lamborghini test driver Bob Wallace. It was even featured in the Japanese manga comic 'Circuit Wolf'.
After Wallace’s Jota was lost in an accident, incessant customer demand in the following years led Automobili Lamborghini to build a few Miura SVJ models and - remarkably - a single Miura SVR. The latter was eventually sold in Japan, where it served as the ‘model’ for both the vehicle used in the comic book and the Kyosho toy version. The car is the Miura SVR chassis number #3781, which has been returned to its former splendor by the Polo Storico specialists. Here it can be seen at the Nakayama Circuit in Japan.
The Miura with chassis number #3781 was born as an S version painted in trademark Verde Miura and finish with a black interior. It was originally delivered to the Lamborauto dealership in Turin, Italy, on 30 November 1968, following its display at the 50th Turin Motor Show.
After changing hands eight times in Italy, the vehicle was bought in 1974 by German Heinz Straber, who took it back to Sant’Agata in order to have it transformed in an SVR - a job that required 18 months of work. In 1976 the car was sold to Hiromitsu Ito and made its way to Japan, where it caused quite a sensation, including the inspiration for the ‘Circuit Wolf’ comic book series.
The vehicle’s legend was further cemented when it was chosen by Kyosho as the base for its renowned scale model, whose lines and colours made this SVR an indelible part of toy car lore.