Lamborghini Miura leads June issue of C&SC

| 30 Apr 2013

As Lamborghini celebrates its 50th anniversary we take a closer look at the firm’s halo model and the world’s first supercar – the Miura.

For years debate has raged over whether the Miura’s beautiful shape should be attributed to Giorgetto Giugiaro or Marcello Gandini, so we settle the argument once and for all with the definitive story.

Then we get behind the wheel of the legendary Lambo to confirm just what all the fuss is about, before talking to one lucky owner about driving the car day-to-day.

And if you are, or could be, lucky enough to buy your own, we talk to an expert about how to choose a good one.

Then we take a look at another of the Raging Bull’s landmark models – the Countach.

When Ken Imhoff’s eyes fell on the flagship Lamborghini he knew he had to have one, but could never afford it. So began his 17-year project to build his own.

C&SC follows the story from Imhoff taking measurements from the real thing in a showroom to releasing the finished article from the cellar of his house, with the help of a digger.

Thankfully, Mick Walsh didn’t have to build his dream car – Mercedes-Benz had already done that for him – and he jets off to the Nürburgring to drive the fabulous 300SLR.

Walsh retraces the steps of Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio at 1955’s ADAC Eifelrennen, before taking a look in detail at what makes the Benz so special.

Then he jets to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to drive the local secret – the IKA Torino.

A mixture of Italian design, an Argentinian engine – based on a Jeep unit – and a gearbox from ZF, combine to make this one of South America’s best-kept secrets.

Martin Buckley has been investigating two hidden gems of his own – Jaguar’s Mk2 2.4 (a car we examined in our SFTW feature) and Ford’s Zodiac.

He sees how the entry-level model of one marque competed with the flagship car of another. How did the two firms tackle the same problem and which, ultimately, would Buckley like to take home?

Meanwhile, James Page has been weighing up the pros and cons of another pair of contemporary rivals – Riley’s 12/4 and MG’s VA. Page looks at how the car from the independently owned Riley compares to the MG machine, which had already been swept up by the Nuffield Organisation.

Then we have a huge Abarth test covering everything from the gorgeous 750GT Zagato to the 595SS, OT1000 and the 124 Abarth Stradale, as we take a fine-toothed comb to the Italian tuner’s legacy.

As usual, we have our regular articles in the form of a buyer’s guide for the cheapest Ferrari – the Mondial – reports from Our classics, letters, art, columns, market news and historic motor sport. The June issue officially hits UK shops on Thursday (2 May), but if you can’t wait another two days, here’s our traditional free wallpapers, including:

A wonderful static shot of the Lamborghini Miura.

Mick Walsh in a Mercedes-Benz 300SLR at the Nürburgring.

A fantastic seaside image of the Riley 12/4 and MG’s VA.

Plus a Miura launching a full-blooded attack on a cambered corner.