In 1926 Ernest Hemingway immortalized the legendary Miura bull in his modernist novel The Sun Also Rises, describing a creature both powerful and lithe, menacing and majestic. Forty years later, Ferruccio Lamborghini introduced his automotive interpretation of the Miura, and in every way the new car projected the values of its namesake. Replete with all the grace and power of Pamplona’s bulls, the Miura P400 was a revolutionary sports car in every sense, from its transversely positioned mid-rear-mounted V-12 engine, to the sinewy and voluptuous coachwork by Bertone’s Marcello Gandini. For a short time, the Miura proudly claimed to be the fastest production sports car in the world.
At the Geneva Salon in March 1970 Lamborghini introduced an updated version of the Miura, the P400S. It featured minor cosmetic updates, including exterior chrome trim, and revised interior switch gear with a new ceiling-mounted center console, as well as power windows. An enlarged intake manifold added 20 horsepower over the standard Miura, making the new car both aesthetically superior and more powerful than the original.
Among a combined output of approximately 753 total examples produced across all Miura variants, the P400S was built in a relatively modest quantity of 338 examples. To this day the model remains prized by discerning collectors for its uprated performance and elevated cosmetics, making it one of the more desirable versions of Lamborghini’s legendary bull.
Featuring a beautiful and distinctive color combination, and benefiting from a restoration by a marque expert, this Miura S is a breathtaking example of the groundbreaking supercar. As confirmed by an entry in the Lamborghini Miura Register, chassis number 3919 is an early-production S model, and it was factory-finished in Giallo Miura paint over an interior of Nero faux leather and Bleu cloth. In late January 1969 the Lamborghini was dispatched to the Turin-based dealer Lamborauto, from which the car was delivered to the first owner, an influential Italian film critic and director named Renzo Renzi.
While much of the Miura’s interim history is currently unknown, by the early 2000s the P400S had relocated to the United States and was finished in purple. Reportedly not running for several years, the car was submitted for complete restoration to the Bobileff Motorcar Company, the well-known Lamborghini specialty firm in Southern California. Following completion of the refurbishment in 2008, the rejuvenated Miura S was presented at a small number of events, including the 2011 Concorso Italiano, where it won the Early V-12 Class and the People’s Choice Award, and the Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance, where it won its class again.
In 2017 the Lamborghini was treated to a refinish in the dazzling original color scheme of Giallo Miura over a Bleu interior, as currently presented. Mechanical service in the ensuing years is reported to have included installing a 100-amp alternator and other work on the electrical system in 2018; rebuilding the triple-choke Weber 40 IDL 3C carburetors in 2020; and replacing the starter crown gear in 2021 and the clutch slave cylinder and muffler in 2023. In January 2026, work by specialists Fast Cars Ltd. in Redondo Beach, California, included servicing the distributor, as indicated by an invoice on file.
This beautifully presented Miura S is one of the most visually arresting examples to be offered in some time, further enhanced by the presence of its numbers-matching engine, as indicated by stampings corresponding to register data. The P400S is accompanied by owner’s manuals, and it is documented with entries in authoritative model-specific sources such as the International Lamborghini Registry, the Lamborghini Miura Register, and The Lamborghini Miura Bible. Ideal for presentation at Italian car shows or Lamborghini-focused events, this sensational P400S is a benchmark V-12 supercar sure to add distinctive flair to any sporting collection.
