1970 Lamborghini Miura Jota #5084

1970 LAMBORGHINI MIURA JOTA
Chassis #5084
Engine #30744
Prod. #747
2 Aug 1972

In recent times it has been suggested that the Jota perhaps did not even have a chassis number (as an 'experimental' vehicle). Therefore 5084 may not be the correct identity of this one-off Miura.

Built in 1970 by factory's chief development engineer, Bob Wallace, and his team in their spare time, it quickly earned the moniker "Miura Privata" at the 'works', in reference to Bob's intimate association with the project. "Let him do whatever he wants" was Ferruccio's response when engineer Stanzani had asked permission for Wallace to build the experimental car in late 1969.

The Jota was built simply as an excercise "to see what could be done to improve engine oiling, stabilise handling and provide overall better build quality," according to Bob Wallace himself. "No, it was NOT intended to go racing" says Wallace, who knew full well that his employer, Automobili Lamborghini SpA, had a written law in the company's by-laws which prohibited any involvement in racing.

The car featured lightweight Avional in its construction, a split sump engine with a dry sump application, open trumpets, "Megaphono" exhaust pipes, fuel tanks in the sills etc. "The Jota had nothing to do with the upcoming Countach, but was a test bed for engineering ideas we implemented in the Miura SV," a prototype, if you like, for the ultimate production version of the Miura, the SV.

Its purpose served, our factory source tells us that the car was sold in 1971 to a loyal customer who kept it for a year, returning it for repairs in the summer of 1971. England's Doug Blain and Ian Fraser saw it there, photographed it, and featured it in the August issue of CAR magazine. "It was definately there in mid-1971" says Fraser when spoke I to him in 2004 regarding the Jota (and the later model LP400).

At any rate, the Jota was sold in early 1972 (February 8th is the date given) to Alfredo Belponer, a Brescia-based collector. The local dealer overseeing the transaction decided it was a good idea to take his customer's car out for a drive to show a colleague just how fast it could go... good fortune has it that they didn't kill themselves (or anyone else for that matter!), but the poor Jota was wrecked beyond repair, with its remains burning to the ground. Just think, if the irresponsible action of the joyriding dealer had not come to pass, we might have been spared the onslaught of replicas and copies that Jota-lovers (seeking to keep the car's memory alive) have subjected Miura enthusiasts to. There was only one real Jota, a truly special car, whose spirit lives on, for better or worse, through various reincarnations of sorts.

	*Bob Wallace Jota*		Last updated Oct 15, 2004
	This image Copyright © 2004 CAR/Joe Sackey		1970 LAMBORGHINI MIURA JOTA Chassis #5084 Engine #30744 Prod. #747 2 Aug 1972 In recent times it has been suggested that the Jota perhaps did not even have a chassis number (as an 'experimental' vehicle). Therefore 5084 may not be the correct identity of this one-off Miura. Built in 1970 by factory's chief development engineer, Bob Wallace, and his team in their spare time, it quickly earned the moniker "Miura Privata" at the 'works', in reference to Bob's intimate association with the project. "Let him do whatever he wants" was Ferruccio's response when engineer Stanzani had asked permission for Wallace to build the experimental car in late 1969. The Jota was built simply as an excercise "to see what could be done to improve engine oiling, stabilise handling and provide overall better build quality," according to Bob Wallace himself. "No, it was NOT intended to go racing" says Wallace, who knew full well that his employer, Automobili Lamborghini SpA, had a written law in the company's by-laws which prohibited any involvement in racing. The car featured lightweight Avional in its construction, a split sump engine with a dry sump application, open trumpets, "Megaphono" exhaust pipes, fuel tanks in the sills etc. "The Jota had nothing to do with the upcoming Countach, but was a test bed for engineering ideas we implemented in the Miura SV," a prototype, if you like, for the ultimate production version of the Miura, the SV. Its purpose served, our factory source tells us that the car was sold in 1971 to a loyal customer who kept it for a year, returning it for repairs in the summer of 1971. England's Doug Blain and Ian Fraser saw it there, photographed it, and featured it in the August issue of CAR magazine. "It was definately there in mid-1971" says Fraser when spoke I to him in 2004 regarding the Jota (and the later model LP400). At any rate, the Jota was sold in early 1972 (February 8th is the date given) to Alfredo Belponer, a Brescia-based collector. The local dealer overseeing the transaction decided it was a good idea to take his customer's car out for a drive to show a colleague just how fast it could go... good fortune has it that they didn't kill themselves (or anyone else for that matter!), but the poor Jota was wrecked beyond repair, with its remains burning to the ground. Just think, if the irresponsible action of the joyriding dealer had not come to pass, we might have been spared the onslaught of replicas and copies that Jota-lovers (seeking to keep the car's memory alive) have subjected Miura enthusiasts to. There was only one real Jota, a truly special car, whose spirit lives on, for better or worse, through various reincarnations of sorts.