Factory documented as the very last Miura built for America, it was one of 21 cars built for U.S. production in 1971-72 (11 in '71, 10 in '72). It was the only one factory finished in PPG "Bianco Miura Acrillico," 2.441.018 (White), with Gold sills and wheels. The original spec included a factory split-sump engine, air conditioning, U.S.-required air pollution equipment, safety belts, steering lock and U.S.-required center-bolt hexagon nuts.
Delivered new via U.S. Lamborghini importer Alberto Pedretti's Modena Racing Car Co. of New York, the bill of sale shows the first owner to be ex-WWII Air Force pilot George Rosen of White Plains, New York. He paid $23,400. Rosen registered the car on New York plates and used it extensively, including on long trips to Florida, Missouri, Minnesota and Nevada, often seeing 165 mph along the way! By 1975, #5064 had covered over 32,000 miles.
Purchased used with 32,947 miles on the clock by Tom Nara of Pittsburg, Penn., in 1975, #5064 was registered next on Pennsylvania plates. Nara's meticulous log, invoices and retained letters and documents show that he retained the services of ex-factory Chief Development Engineer Bob Wallace to perform a total mechanical restoration in 1979. Invoices and letters show all necessary parts were purchased by Nara himself on a trip to the factory. Wallace spent a total of 985 hours on the extensive project, which included:
Chassis #5064
Engine #30726
Prod. #730
30 May, 1972
•Jota spec deeper sump
•Sump baffle modifications to counteract oil surge
•Teflon(R) transmission isolating seal
•Separate transfer gear oilers
•Lightened reduction gears with reinforced pins
•Modified oil intake guides with Teflon seals
•A/C condenser changed to rotary type and relocated to the front of car by radiator (60 hours spent on this alone)
•Full-flow oil radiator located in A/C condenser prior location
•All wiring and cables near the engine sheathed in aircraft-spec thermal insulation
•Ignition replaced with breakerless electronic ignition
•Chassis seam-welded and reinforcing gussetting added
•Gas tank base sheathed in fiberglass to prevent corrosion
A typical meticulous Wallace rebuild covered all components on the engine, transmission, suspension and brakes. Thus, Miura #5064 has the benefit of being a completely mechanically sorted car to the very highest standards. Nara sold it to Ferrari collector Bruce Perrone, also of Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1987, after enjoying the car until it had 36,582 miles on the clock. Perrone only covered about 1,500 miles in 6 years of ownership but reported that the car was very stable and tracked exceedingly well for a Miura, at high speeds around 145 mph.
Perrone sold it to Ron Miller of Norman, Okla., in 1993. A Lamborghini enthusiast, Ron established the International Lamborghini Museum, and Miura SV #5064 was displayed there from 1994-98, when the owner passed away. Virtually no additional miles were added during this period.
Number 5064 was sold to the trade in 1999 and came to be owned by Christies, the London-based autioneers in 2000. In February 2001, it was sold by Christies to me with 37,606 miles on the clock. Not surprisingly, the restoration by Wallace 20 years ago is a major factor in the first-class mechanical condition of this Miura SV, with all cylinders in the engine showing very high compression (about 200 psi each) and demonstrating superb performance.
Miura SV #5064 has since undergone a comprehensive cost-no-object restoration by world-renowned Miura specialists Bobileff Motorcars Inc. of Southern California. The restoration involved total rebuilds of engine, transmission/gearbox, suspension and brakes. It also covered complete restoration of the chassis, a completely new interior and a Pebble Beach-quality bare-metal paint refinish. Every single component of the car was renewed or rebuilt. It was decided to refinish the body in factory European specification (without the horrendous U.S side-marker lights, which do nothing for the beautiful Bertone body). It was also decided that the original white color (white and black are, in fact, considered "non-colors" by artists!) deserved something more exciting and representative of the early '70s era. Factory classic "Verde Chiaro" (Lime Green, sometimes referred to as Pistachio Verde) was a natural (and enthusiastically received!) choice.
There is little doubt that this special SV is the most comprehensively restored one of recent times.
Miura SV #5064 exists today as a "new" Lamborghini with handling and performance to match, perhaps the end of its owners' challenging and sometimes interesting quest for the perfect Miura SV.
Cosmetic details include paint in Factory "Verde Chiaro" (2.465.070), leather in pelle "Bleu Le Mans," and carpeting in "Argento Longchamps." This trippy period color draws crowds whenever the car is at standstill and exuberant responses from appreciative motorists on the road.
Even though 5064 has had a complete restoration, it is not pampered. It was restored simply so that it could be driven reliably. It is driven multiple times a week and gets better the further and harder it is driven. Recently, I took it on a Lamborghini Club weekend that covered 600 miles of driving that included keeping up with Diablos at 130 mph.
Interestingly, since the car's restoration, I have had many unsolicited inquiries or offers on the car. The market for a fully restored late Miura SV with all the factory options has rocketed since the 2000 Miura Reunion, and collectors or enthusiasts should consider price guides for SVs as completely out of date! This means as time goes by these cars will only continue to increase in value.