| The Lamborghini Miura was the world's first true | | | | surface were even more extensive changes to |
| mass-production, mid-engine super car when it | | | | the basic Miura design. The interior was completely |
| was introduced for 1966. It was a striking blend, | | | | stripped, and the floor was made of aluminum |
| offering the styling and mechanical configuration of | | | | instead of steel. What's more, the suspension was |
| the era's wildest, all-out endurance-racing | | | | modified to accommodate wide wheels and tires, |
| machines, all rolled into a package that was | | | | the front-mounted fuel tank was replaced by a |
| reasonably streetable.But for all the Miura's | | | | tank in each door sill, and the engine got |
| obvious race-car underpinnings, Lamborghini never | | | | extensive modifications that increased output of |
| fielded a competition version of the car. Of | | | | the Miura S's engine by 48 hp, to 418.Adding it all |
| course, it wasn't that the idea of putting its | | | | up, the Jota was obviously a thrilling car, and it |
| pioneering exotic on the track hadn't occurred to | | | | stirred the imagination as to what was possible |
| anyone. Plenty of people within the company | | | | with the basic Miura components. But Wallace |
| hoped they'd eventually be called on to prepare a | | | | knew all along it would be a waste of time to |
| Miura for such use.Foremost among those | | | | argue that the cash-strapped manufacturer should |
| competition proponents was Lamborghini's chief | | | | go racing with it.Soon after the only Jota was |
| development driver Bob Wallace. From the | | | | built, Lamborghini put the car up for sale. The |
| beginning, he'd been championing the idea. But | | | | floundering automaker simply couldn't afford to |
| resources within Lamborghini were chronically | | | | have assets tied up in what was considered an |
| limited in those early days -- the former tractor | | | | esoteric experiment. According to Wallace, the |
| manufacturer had built its first production | | | | Jota was purchased by a rich industrialist in |
| automobile just three years before the Miura's | | | | Brescia.Shortly thereafter, the wealthy owner's |
| introduction.Throughout the Miura's production run, | | | | mechanic destroyed the car in a fiery crash. And |
| Wallace played with the idea of a racing version. | | | | thus in one quick flash ended the short, bright life |
| In 1970, this culminated in the Jota, a | | | | of the ultimate Miura.Fortunately, super-car fans |
| company-funded, one-off "toy" he built in the | | | | can draw some consolation from the fact that |
| Lamborghini shop. The car differed from stock | | | | the Jota legend was perpetuated in a number of |
| Miuras most obviously in styling revisions that | | | | Miura-based replicas -- several of which were |
| included broader fenders, a prominent front | | | | reportedly built by Lamborghini itself at the |
| spoiler, air vents behind the front wheel wells, and | | | | request of customers. |
| fixed instead of pop-up headlights.Beneath the | | | | |