Lamborghini unites last NA Aventador
Following its build in late September, Lamborghini’s last naturally-aspirated Aventador, an LP 780-4 Ultimae (final) roadster, was recently united with the unique Miura P400 roadster from 1968 which inspired the finish and detailing of the final Aventador to use purely internal combustion power.
Miura Roadster – the Original
The sole factory-approved Miura P400 roadster was designed and built for Lamborghini by Bertone and debuted at the Brussels Motor Show in April, 1968.
More than just a coupe with the roof removed, the Miura’s underlying structure was reinforced to compensate for the rigidity lost with the roof’s removal. Bertone also removed the rear louvres, had the exhaust tips re-routed, changed the tail lights and enlarged the side air intakes.
The roofline was also lowered and the windscreen reset at a shallower rake, while the side and rear glass was removed entirely.
A unique Lamé Sky Blue metalflake acrylic paint outside was contrasted by Pelle Bianco (White Skin) leather seat trim and red carpets inside, with a bespoke steering wheel fitted and roof-mounted switchgear replanted to the centre console.
As it was stock mechanically, the Miura roadster was roadworthy and would be test driven by Lamborghini after its motor show appearances.
While there was a lot of interest in a roofless Miura, the costs associated with engineering the roadster meant Lamborghini never put it into production and sent the one-off back to Bertone. In 1969, Bertone sold it to American company, International Lead and Zinc Research Organization (ILZRO), who were looking for a high-impact vehicle to demonstrate the use of zinc, lead and chrome parts for the automotive industry.
ILZRO replaced many parts with zinc-plated, chrome-plated and lead equivalents, from small items like switches, to engine parts, intake and exhaust systems, bumpers and wheels, while also adding some parts of their own, with the work done under the direction of former Ford designer, John Foster.
ILZRO also had the Miura’s body repainted in Olive Green over a black base and the interior retrimmed in complementary green leather (some sources say brown leather) before sending it to car shows, car design firms and trade events for the next decade as a demonstrator for ILZRO products.
Known as the ‘Zn75’ after its transformation (the name inspired by the code for zinc in the periodic table), the Miura roadster spent almost four decades in this form, passing through several owners in various countries over the same period before it was restored to its original appearance in a two-year process that started in 2006.
Upon completion, the restored Miura roadster was displayed at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it won second in its class and was driven across the podium by Valentino Balboni, Lamborghini’s former chief test driver.
At one point in the 1980s, the one-off Miura roadster was being offered for sale for just US$50,000, but a decade ago, it had risen in value to an estimated US$8 - 10 million.
Aventador Roadster – the Tribute
The buyer of the final Aventador utilised Lamborghini’s Ad Personam personalisation programme to have his car painted in Azzuro Flake that replicates the metalflake blue of the 1968 Miura roadster, but with a finer flake to update the “glitter element”, according to Lamborghini.
Lower sills finished in Grigio Liqueo (Liquid Grey) with a Nero Aldebaran (Aldebaran Black) pinstripe also replicate the finish of the Miura roadster, but visible carbon fibre elements remain on the sills, as well as the front splitter and rear diffuser.
The outer sills also feature bespoke badges that pair the original ‘Miura’ logo with modern ‘Roadster’ wording in the same style as the ‘Aventador’ font that graces the inner sill scuff plates.
It’s worth noting that ‘Aldebaran’ is a star in the constellation of Taurus, which being the ‘bull’ in the zodiac, has obvious connections with Lamborghini’s identity.
Up top, the Aventador roadster’s removable carbon fibre roof panel and engine cover have been given a gloss black finish, with matte black exhaust tips, black air intakes and black detailing on the bonnet and front end aiming to emulate similar touches on the Miura roadster.
Like the Miura’s wheels, the final Aventador’s alloy rims are finished in bright silver, with black brake calipers deliberately chosen so they don’t distract.
The Miura inspiration didn’t finish outside, with the customer also requesting the interior be trimmed to replicate the one-off from 1968. That meant Bianco Nepa (Lead White) leather trim on the seats, centre console and doorcards. The headrests have been given Nero Aldebaran accents, while the dash features Nero Ade (Hades Black) Alcantara rim, offset by more Lead White leather in front of the passenger that also features the ‘Miura’ logo stitched in to further reinforce the connection to this car’s inspiration.
The drivetrain is standard Aventador LP 780-4, consisting of a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 that drives all four wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission. Producing 574kW at 8500rpm and 720Nm at 6750rpm, the final NA Aventador’s top speed is 355km/h, with 0-100km/h acceleration in just 2.8 seconds.
Similarly, the carbon fibre monocoque body, flat undertray, electronic rear spoiler, magnetorheologic active suspension, dynamic four-wheel steering and carbon ceramic brakes are unchanged for the other Aventador LP 780-4 coupes and roadsters, which in Ultimae Edition form like this, were limited to 350 and 250 units, respectively.
