1971 Lamborghini Miura S
Ah, the 1971 Lamborghini Miura S in orange—that’s not just a car, that’s the poster child of automotive lust. The Miura is widely credited as the world’s first true supercar, and by 1971, the “S” version had refined the formula just enough to make it even more desirable—without losing an ounce of its raw, untamed charm.
Photos by Chris Jones
The 1971 Lamborghini Miura S, especially in blazing Arancio Miura (that unmistakable shade of orange), is pure supercar royalty. Designed by the then-27-year-old Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the Miura turned the car world upside down with its mid-engine layout, jaw-dropping silhouette, and radical proportions. It wasn’t just fast—it was art, and in this color, it practically glows with rebellious energy. Think Monaco hairpin, shirt unbuttoned, and V12 thunder echoing off the cliffs.
By the time the “S” version arrived, Lamborghini had smoothed out some of the early Miura’s rough edges. The engine—still a howling 4.0-liter V12 tucked transversely behind the seats—got more power, better carbs, and revised cams, pushing it to around 370 horsepower. Inside, the S brought modest luxuries like electric windows and optional A/C (theoretically), but the car never lost its raw, visceral edge. Every drive was part ballet, part bar fight—and that was the charm.
Today, a 1971 Miura S in Arancio Miura isn’t just rare—it’s legendary. It marks the sweet spot between the purity of the original P400 and the beefed-up SV, offering classic lines and modern-enough reliability in one drop-dead-gorgeous package. More than 50 years on, it still steals hearts, dominates concours lawns, and serves as a rolling reminder of when Lamborghini redefined what a car could be: fast, fearless, and absolutely unforgettable.
Quick Overview
Model: Lamborghini Miura P400S (commonly called Miura S)
Year: 1971 (final production year before SV)
Engine: 4.0L DOHC V12, mounted transversely
Power: ~370 hp
Top Speed: 170+ mph
0–60 mph: Around 5.5 seconds
Production: ~338 Miura S units built (1968–71)
Color: Arancio Miura (a bright orange that became iconic)
Design & Drama
Finished in Arancio Miura (yes, it has its own shade of orange), the car is nothing short of a head-turner. That bold color only amplifies what was already one of the most radical designs of the era: low, wide, and impossibly sleek. Designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone when he was just 27 years old, the Miura introduced the world to the “cab-rearward” layout that would define the modern supercar—long nose, short deck, engine behind the seats.
The Miura S brought a host of improvements over the original P400: better brakes, upgraded carburetors, revised cam timing, and interior refinements like electric windows and optional air conditioning (still rare and barely effective, but glamorous nonetheless). But what really mattered was that V12 symphony just inches behind your head—raw, high-revving, and mechanical in the most glorious way.
Legacy
The Miura S is right in the sweet spot of the model’s evolution: faster and more refined than the original, but still purer and more lithe than the later SV. And in orange, it's almost mythical. Think rock stars, oil sheikhs, and ’70s jet-setters—everyone who wanted to make a statement wanted one in that color. Today, it's one of the most collectible Miura specs out there, revered not just for its beauty and sound, but for the fact that it practically invented the idea of a supercar.
