1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone

When the Lamborghini Miura first broke cover in 1966, the car did not so much launch as it did land—i.e., from another planet. A perfect marriage of futuristic styling and borderline experimental engineering, the model began life as an after-hours exercise by Bob Wallace and Paolo Stanzani, as well as Giampaolo Dallara (of Ferrari 250 GTO fame), with an engine designed by Giotto Bizzarrini. Within the space of a year the quartet’s revolutionary design was ready to be shown—initially, in chassis form—featuring a transversely arranged, mid-mounted V-12 sharing its casting with a compact five-speed transaxle, neatly arranged for optimal balance and a low center of gravity.

The Miura’s function was equally matched by its form, executed by a 22-year-old Marcello Gandini (then working for Bertone) who penned a strikingly beautiful design that was both deeply attractive and menacingly purposeful; headlamp surrounds that evoked eyelashes, doors that, when opened, conjured the image of a raging bull’s horns, and a wild interior unlike anything previously seen on a production car.

The Miura would go through a number of changes throughout its eight-year production life, but it was the first edition—the P400—that cemented the model’s reputation as the greatest supercar of its era. The first 120 or so Miura chassis were constructed from thinner steel, and remain highly prized for their purity of design and lighter construction.

Chassis number 3057 is one of these early “thin-chassis” examples, being just the 39th Miura to leave the Sant’Agata factory. Unlike many of its brethren, 3057 benefits from a known history among a short chain of just three recorded enthusiast-owners, a world-class restoration executed by leading marque specialists, factory-blessed originality, and a trophy case big enough to need its own garage.

Originally finished in Rosso Miura over black leather, this left-hand-drive, home-market Miura was dispatched to dealer SEA (Societa Esotica Autovettura) during July 1967. It was reportedly sold new to Ben Johnson, an American tourist traveling in Italy, and exported to his Los Angeles-area home shortly following the completion of a lengthy high-speed tour around Europe. One struggles to fathom just how truly alien and breathtaking the sight of this Miura was for the residents of Los Angeles who were lucky enough to catch Johnson and 3057 at speed in the early morning hours along Mulholland Drive—the wail of its naturally aspirated V-12 echoing into a cacophonous terror against the canyon walls.

In 1978, this early Miura was purchased from Johnson’s estate by fellow Angelino and Lamborghini enthusiast Dr. Dean Aberman, at which time chassis 3057 showed just 2,464 miles on its odometer.

Dr. Aberman did not just own Miura chassis 3057 for the following 37 years—he lived with it. He drove it regularly, sharing his passion with anyone lucky enough to witness it in motion. He frequently took the car on spirited weekend runs to Mexico, thereby building a famous reputation for himself among West Coast enthusiasts. Beyond the road, he proudly showed 3057, earning a First in Class at the 1992 Santa Barbara Concours and participating in multiple Italian Stampede rallies between Los Angeles and Monterey.

Throughout his tenure, Dr. Aberman entrusted marque specialist Jeff Stephan (a.k.a. Mr. Miura) with maintaining the Miura—a charge he seems to have executed with fanatical diligence based upon Aberman’s reputation for extremely high-speed touring. In his ownership, Aberman preserved 3057’s mechanical integrity while making only one notable modification: fitting an SV-specification dry-sump system for improved oiling under aggressive driving. It remains unclear whether Aberman or the original owner was responsible for 3057’s early-life color change from Rosso Miura to Arancia Miura.

In 2015, the consignor purchased this car from Aberman; interestingly, his post-purchase inspection was entrusted to none other than revered Lamborghini test driver and expert Valentino Balboni. Balboni was reportedly most impressed by 3057’s exceptional state of preservation, having noted the car’s original alloy bodywork, glass, and mechanical components, and subtle signs of authentic use acquired under Dr. Aberman’s care.

Inspired by the car’s history and guided by the desire to return it to factory splendor, the consignor immediately commissioned a no-expense-spared restoration, assembling an elite team of Miura experts from across the country organized by Jeff Stephan. Invoices (on file) illustrate well over $700,000 spent between 2015 and 2017!

Stephan partnered with Debbie Sidera of Debbie Motors—herself trained under Lamborghini restoration luminary Gary Bobileff—to manage the project and handle mechanical execution. Renowned fabricator Andy Palmer of Palmer Coachworks led the bodywork, while Hot Rods and Hobbies, BB Stile, and Ed Pink Racing Engines contributed component expertise.

Upon disassembly, 3057’s original Bertone coachwork was observed to be remarkably intact without any evidence of previous accident damage or rust, well-preserved and with its body number stampings throughout, most notably upon both clamshells, on the underside of the door handles and outer lining of the doors, trunk lid and its hinges, and the decklid louvers, which have been so commonly replaced on Miuras of all types. The car’s set of window glass was also determined to be the complete, original factory windscreen and windows. Palmer subtly reinforced the chassis, thereby improving panel fit and achieving astonishingly straight lines without altering the Miura’s iconic silhouette.

Stephan rebuilt 3057’s mechanicals from the ground up, including the original Armstrong shocks and five-speed transaxle. He sourced all critical parts from Lamborghini Polo Storico for ultimate period accuracy, while BB Stile restored the interior using factory-correct upholstery, trim, and Italian-sourced carpets. Even the tires are period-correct Pirelli Cinturatos reproduced for the model’s 50th anniversary.

The original matching-numbers engine was fully rebuilt by renowned engine builder, Ed Pink. They replaced the cast pistons with forged, short-skirt graphite-coated units and blueprinted and balanced the entire rotating assembly. Stephan also restored the Weber carburetors and reinstalled its factory P400 oiling layout. With the powerplant transformed and chassis geometry perfected, the consignor applied his racing knowledge of chassis tuning to fully exploit 3057’s new structural enhancements—delivering dramatically improved precision, balance, and drivability.

The completed car made its public debut at the 2016 The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, where it celebrated the Miura’s 50th anniversary by winning Best Restored Miura against the largest field of assembled Miuras in history. It followed that achievement at Concorso Italiano, where it swept all the major categories: Best Miura, Best Lamborghini, and the coveted Best of Show. In recognition of its quality, Automobili Lamborghini America presented 3057 with the Bull Award, the marque’s highest honor for a historic Lamborghini.

In August 2023, 3057 returned to Monterey and again took Best Miura and Best of Show at Concorso Italiano—a rare repeat victory among vintage Lamborghinis. It marked a fitting conclusion to Jeff Stephan’s legendary restoration career and stands as a testament to what many consider the finest early Miura restoration in existence.

With its unmatched provenance, world-class restoration, and sweeping concours success, Miura 3057 stands among the most significant early Miuras extant. It is unquestionably eligible for, and worthy of, entry into the world’s most prestigious concours events—and astute collectors will note that the list of elite venues at which this Lamborghini has appeared includes neither Pebble Beach nor Villa d’Este, where this magnificent Miura has yet to be shown.