Archive first published
Geneva 1966: How the Lamborghini Miura Changed the Supercar
In March 1966 Lamborghini showed the Miura P400 at the Geneva Motor Show. Its 3.9-litre V12 sat crosswise behind the two seats, a layout then found only in racing cars. Bodied by Bertone and styled by Marcello Gandini, it became the star of the show. The Miura was built until 1973 and set the pattern that mid-engined supercars still follow in 2026.
Key takeaways
- A bare rolling chassis appeared at the Turin show in November 1965; the bodied car followed at Geneva in March 1966.
- Lamborghini also launched the front-engined 400 GT 2+2 at the same show.
- 763 Miuras were built in three main versions, from 257 kW (350 PS) to 283 kW (385 PS).
- The Countach replaced it, and Lamborghini marked the 50th anniversary in 2016.
The Lamborghini stand at Geneva in 1966
Lamborghini was only three years old in 1966. Its first car, the 350 GT, was a front-engined grand tourer, and the 400 GT 2+2 presented at the same Geneva show followed that formula. Visitors saw two ideas on one stand: a touring car and a low, mid-engined Lamborghini coupé.
Our June 2016 report, written for the 50th anniversary, retold how Fiat's Gianni Agnelli supposedly led his staff to the stand and told them this was how cars should look. We found no primary record of the anecdote. One detail in our old text was wrong: the Geneva show moved to Palexpo only in 1982, and in 1966 it used the older hall in the city centre.
The Miura prototype on show could not drive under its own power, and Lamborghini kept its engine bay closed.
Lamborghini Miura versions and figures
| Version | Introduced | Power | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| P400 | Geneva, March 1966 | 257 kW (350 PS) | 275 |
| P400 S | Turin, November 1968 | 272 kW (370 PS) | 338 |
| P400 SV | Geneva, 1971 | 283 kW (385 PS) | 150 |
The P400 cost about 20,000 US dollars new. Its measured top speed was 275 km/h, against a claimed 300 km/h. Compare it with modern cars using the power-to-weight calculator or convert its outputs with the power converter.
Why a road car with a racing layout mattered
In the mid-1960s the mid-engine layout belonged to the race track: Ferrari, Lotus and Ford raced with it, while their road cars kept the engine in front. Ferruccio Lamborghini refused to race, preferring fast, comfortable road cars without the cost of a racing team.
The Miura came from three of his young engineers: Giampaolo Dallara, Paolo Stanzani and test driver Bob Wallace. Mounting the Miura's V12 crosswise, in one casting with the gearbox, kept the car short.
Joe Sackey, author of a book on the Miura, put it in musical terms: if Ferrari was the Beatles, Lamborghini had become the Rolling Stones.
What happened after Geneva 1966
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 1965 | P400 rolling chassis at the Turin show |
| March 1966 | Miura P400 and 400 GT 2+2 at Geneva |
| November 1968 | Miura P400 S at Turin |
| 1971 | Miura P400 SV, and the Countach prototype at Geneva |
| 1973 | Miura production ends |
| 1974 | Lamborghini Countach production begins |
| January 2006 | Miura Concept for the 40th anniversary; not built |
| June 2016 | Aventador Miura Homage, 50 cars, shown at Goodwood |
Rivals soon followed. Ferrari moved its 12-cylinder behind the driver with the Berlinetta Boxer in the 1970s. Today almost every hypercar, from Bugatti to Pagani, uses a mid-mounted engine.
Collecting a Miura in 2026
March 2026 marked 60 years since the Miura's Geneva debut, and it is now a top-tier collector car. In 1997 an SV/J sold at auction for 490,000 US dollars, then a record for the model; another SVJ later fetched more than 1.9 million.
Lamborghini's current flagship, the Revuelto, keeps the mid-engined V12 layout, though its engine sits lengthwise and works with electric motors. For the full story of the car, read our Lamborghini Miura guide, then follow the brand through the Lamborghini catalogue and the 1960s classics.
FAQ
When was the Lamborghini Miura first shown?
The bare chassis appeared at the Turin show in November 1965. The complete Miura P400 made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1966.
Who designed the Lamborghini Miura?
Marcello Gandini styled the Miura's body at Bertone, the Turin coachbuilder. The chassis and transverse V12 layout came from three Lamborghini men: Giampaolo Dallara, Paolo Stanzani and test driver Bob Wallace.
Was the Miura the first mid-engined road car?
It was the first high-performance production road car with a transverse mid-mounted engine. Earlier mid-engined cars existed, but mostly for racing or in small numbers.
How many Lamborghini Miuras were built?
About 763 were built between 1966 and 1973 in the three main versions: 275 P400, 338 P400 S and 150 P400 SV. A few one-off specials, such as the SVJ cars, came on top.
