For Sale at Auction: 1968 Lamborghini Miura in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. 3637
Engine No. 2157
Body No. 333 (See text)

Unveiled in production form at Geneva in 1966-a mere three years after Automobili Lamborghini's founding-the Miura shocked the motoring world with Marcello Gandini's fiercely futuristic coachwork for Bertone and a transverse mid-engine layout that placed its V12 directly behind the cockpit. Gone were the conventions of front-mounted powerplants; the Miura's sculpted lines and pioneering packaging seemed born of the racetrack, rewriting the rules for all future high-performance road cars.

Under Bertone's sleek panels rested a somewhat conventional sports car architecture consisting of upper and lower A-arm suspension with coil springs over telescopic shock absorbers and anti-roll bars at each corner, ventilated disc brakes, and rack-and-pinion steering that granted exceptional handling. It was the Giotto Bizzarrini-designed 3.9-liter V12's transverse, mid-engine geometry that allowed the driver to exploit the engine's 350 horsepower in standard tune on winding roads and high-speed straights alike-reaching a production-car-record top speed of 174 mph.

The world's well-heeled clientele-princes, oil sheikhs, film icons-lined up to secure this exotic thoroughbred, and Enzo Ferrari himself was forced to put the rush on a mid-engine response to Lamborghini's triumph. These clients forgave the Miura's ergonomic quirks in exchange for a truly visceral driving experience, which Road & Track described as: "One of those beautiful experiences every enthusiast owes himself." In total, just 274 examples of the initial P400 model were built through April 1969, and although the Miura would continue to be produced in increasingly more powerful iterations, none captured the unadulterated innovation and purity of the original P400.

The car's Original Configuration document from Lamborghini Polo Storico confirms that chassis 3637 was completed by the Sant'Agata factory on 19 July 1968 as a reinforced-chassis, Series II example, finished in the striking combination of Bianco (White) with a sumptuous Rosso (Red) leather interior. Its factory options are identified as follows: large wheels, Koni shock absorbers, orange front indicators, White side mirrors (not mounted), radio and cassette with electronic antenna, and seat belts. Bearing engine number 2157 and Bertone body number 333, factory records document the car's delivery to Lamborghini Concessionaires Ltd., the marque's official U.K. representative formerly known as R.A. Woolsgrove, located on Alie Street in London's East End. The Miura's first owner was His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Elah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia-son of King Ibn Saud and a passionate connoisseur of exotic sports cars-who maintained residences in both Riyadh and London, underscoring the Miura's immediate status as the ultimate automotive trophy among the global aristocracy.

A copy of an original delivery letter from Lamborghini Concessionaires Ltd. invoiced to Beirut, Lebanon, details chassis 3637's delivery and fascinating original specifications, which included a "special modified 380 BHP" engine. The Lamborghini Miura Register by Simon Kidston notes that the Miura was purchased by Prince Abdul Elah after a "10-percent diplomatic discount" for a total price when new of $12,150. His research also indicates that upon its delivery to the U.K., the car was likely displayed on the Lamborghini GB stand at the Earl's Court show in October 1968 and later featured in The Sandie Shaw Supplement television program.

According to research conducted under previous ownership, chassis 3637 was registered in the U.K. with the plate "020?GH" during the Prince's ownership. By the 1980s, the Miura had passed to furniture businessman Mr. Carlos Ayoub in Beirut, Lebanon. Copies of purchase documents on file show that in 1989, chassis 3637 was sold to a Mr. Williams Ayoub (unrelated to Carlos Ayoub) and remained in Beirut.

It should be noted that, likely while in Lebanon, the original body of chassis 3637 (body no. 333) is thought to have sustained damage and was subsequently repaired using panels from Lebanese-delivery Miura P400 S chassis 4242. Body number "511" (associated with chassis 4242) is stamped on the door handles and jambs, while the firewall and both clamshells lack any stamping. However, the trunk latches and rear louver stampings do correspond with body number 333, indicating that some original components remained with the car. This suggests that body sections from 4242 were possibly grafted onto 3637 while both cars were in the country-a theory further supported by the unknown current whereabouts of chassis 4242.

After 16 years with the Lamborghini, Williams Ayoub sold chassis 3637 in 2005. The car traveled from Lebanon to Kuwait, joining the respected personal collection of Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the former Prime Minister of Kuwait, who cherished his Miura until his passing in September 2024. During the Sheikh's ownership, the Miura underwent a major restoration. Initiated in 2018, the project was carried out by Aston Martin of Kuwait and saw the car returned to its original Bianco over Rosso specification. Some components were outsourced to Colin Clarke Engineering for rebuild and refurbishment, including wheels, brake calipers, starter motor, alternator, and steering rack, with final sorting and cosmetic attention completed by Tomini Classics in the UAE. Following completion of its restoration, chassis 3637 was imported to the United States in preparation for the sale, where it now presents in superb condition.

From its princely original ownership to its return to Gulf royalty, chassis 3637 offers the collector a fine expression of Lamborghini's earth-shattering supercar. It retains its original, matching-numbers V12 engine (serial number 2157) per factory records, alongside its stunning factory color scheme. As one of only 274 P400s ever built, the Lamborghini Miura stands as a quintessential "must-have" in any supercar collection.