1971 Lamborghini Miura SV Jota (SVJ) Conversion
- Engine
- 3.9L DOHC transverse V12 with wet-sump lubrication, four triple-barrel Weber carburetors, ~385 bhp
- Colour
- 'Rosso Granada' (red)
Chassis number 4892 is a Lamborghini Miura SV built at the factory in July 1971 and subsequently converted to SVJ (Jota) specification — one of only five to seven such factory-modified examples ever produced. Originally delivered in white to a Roman customer, the car was later refinished red, exported to Japan, and eventually restored in the late 1980s. A comprehensive two-year restoration by Miura specialist Gary Bobileff was completed around 2009, with the conversion's authenticity confirmed in writing by both former Lamborghini Special Projects head Claudio Zampolli and chief test driver Bob Wallace.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,897,500
- 1971 →Factory deliveryDr. Alcide of Romepartial documentation
First registered owner, based in Rome; took delivery of the car new from the factory in its original white-over-blue configuration.
- → 2007Acquisition unknownKazuo Takahashipartial documentation
Carried out a restoration of the car during the late 1980s while still in Japan; car subsequently moved to the United States in 2007.
- 2007 → 2010Private saleCollector in northeastern Pennsylvaniapartial documentation
US-based collector who commissioned a full expert restoration by Miura specialist Gary Bobileff at a cost of roughly $225,000; also had the car inspected and authenticated by former Lamborghini special-projects head Claudio Zampolli.
- 2010 →Private saleCurrent custodianfull documentation
Has kept the car in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition with limited use; personally contacted Bob Wallace to verify the factory SVJ conversion, and assembled a comprehensive documentation file.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownTomita Automobile Inc.partial documentation
Japanese dealership or importer that brought the car to Japan after its SVJ conversion and repainting in red; a 1974 factory letter already listed the car as an SVJ at this stage.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFirst Japanese owner after Tomitanone documentation
One of two intermediate Japanese custodians between Tomita and the restorer Kazuo Takahashi; no further detail provided.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSecond Japanese owner after Tomitanone documentation
Second of two intermediate Japanese custodians prior to the Takahashi restoration; no further detail provided.
Competition
- 20072007 William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Concours d'EleganceVanderbilt Award
Event held in Newport, Rhode Island; the car earned the named award shortly after arriving in the United States under its Pennsylvania-based owner.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2007Inspection
Formal examination of the car by Claudio Zampolli, former head of Lamborghini's Special Projects Division, who verified in writing that it carries all the correct attributes of a genuine factory SVJ conversion.
Zampolli's letter is included in the car's documentation file.
- —ModificationAutomobili Lamborghini
Car converted from standard Miura SV specification to SVJ (Jota) configuration at the Lamborghini factory, receiving body modifications, mild engine tuning, and a wet-sump motor; exterior was refinished in red at the same time.
A 1974 factory letter confirms the car was already listed as a 'P400 Miura SV Mod. Jota' by that date, placing the conversion within three years of the car's 1971 production.
- —Restoration
Restoration carried out in Japan by or under the direction of Kazuo Takahashi; scope not fully detailed in available records.
Conducted in the late 1980s; preceded the car's eventual move to the United States.
- —RestorationGary Bobileff
Comprehensive two-year, ground-up restoration undertaken by Miura specialist Gary Bobileff at a cost of approximately $225,000; car was finished in Rosso Granada and found to have no prior accident damage or significant mechanical deficiencies.
Entire restoration process was photographically documented; completed around 2009 based on the 2007 start date and stated two-year duration.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.