For 2016 Automobili Lamborghini SpA is not only celebrating the 100th anniversary of their founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, but also the 50th anniversary of one of the most legendary cars in automotive history … the Lamborghini Miura.
Back in the late Sixties the Miura came as a big surprise from a company that was only in business a few years, but this mid-engine supercar was years ahead of the competition when introduced, and when Peter Collinson needed a special car for the opening scene of ‘The Italian Job’ in 1969 the choice was quickly made … a bright orange Lamborghini Miura would be driven on the Great St Bernard Pass, taking the hairpins at speed … only to have a fatal encounter in a tunnel.
The original Miura used back in 1969 wasn’t destroyed during filming, in fact she has surfaced again in November 2015 when she was offered for sale by UK based Cheshire Classic Cars, who stated this specific Miura was one of only three made in 1968 finished in Arancio Miura, she was driven by factory client manager Enzo Moruzzi to the Gran San Bernardo pass in Italy for 3 days of filming, returned to the factory and dispatched to the Lamborghini dealer Zani on 2nd July 1968 … in late 2015 this car had 19,000 km on the counter and was in perfect condition.
With an iconic movie appearance like this, Automobili Lamborghini SpA had the great idea to take two of their amazing museum cars to the same route used for the movie back in 1969 … the gold finished Miura S and the yellow Miura SV which are usually on display in Sant’Agata.
But there was one little detail … the Great St Bernard Pass is closed at this time of year. Normally the pass in only open to the public from mid-June to mid-September … but for two magnificent looking Lamborghini Miura an exception could be made.
An escort from Anas (the Italian government owned company that maintains the roads) and the Polizia Stradale allowed the pass to be opened just for this celebration event, and not only did two amazing Lamborghini Miura went up the Great St Bernard Pass … they were joined by the people that made this exotic possible back in the Sixties.
Engineer Gian Paolo Dallara and engineer Paolo Stanzani were joined by the actual designer of the Lamborghini Miura, Marcello Gandini who worked for Carrozzeria Bertone back in those days … that were a lot of automotive legends together on one of the most iconic roads in the world … absolutely breathtaking.