Discover the Vehicles | Miura and Beyond
1968 LAMBORGHINI
MIURA P400
HORSEPOWER: 345
TOP SPEED: 174 mph
ENGINE: 3.9-liter V-12
NUMBER BUILT: 475
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1966-1969
Lamborghini introduced the Miura in 1966, seizing the opportunity to become the first automobile manufacturer to offer a civilized mid-engine automobile worthy of supercar status. Likely inspired by the Ferrari 250LM, Ford GT40, and other successful mid-engine race cars, the Miura had one of the lowest profiles of any production car built up to that time. The ultra-sleek coupe designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone helped redefine the look of supercars as other manufacturers emulated Lamborghini’s mid-engine layout and aggressive design.
COURTESY OF A & A PREMIER CLASSICS LLC
At the 1966 Geneva show, Lamborghini debuted the P400 Miura designed by Bertone and stunned the attendees who had assumed it to be a race car, not a production vehicle.
Courtesy of Bertone
1974 LANCIA
STRATOS HF STRADALE
HORSEPOWER: 190
TOP SPEED: 144 mph
ENGINE: 2.4-liter Ferrari Dino V-6
NUMBER BUILT: 492
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1972-1975
The first series-produced car built from scratch to compete in World Rally racing, the Stratos signaled the beginning of a new era in which manufacturers created thinly disguised race cars to homologate as production cars. Like the dramatic 1971 “Stratos Zero” concept car that preceded it, the production Stratos was designed by Marcello Gandini and debuted in 1972. Its short, wide, wedge-shaped body and Ferrari-sourced engine attested to its ability to achieve serious, race-winning performance.
COURTESY OF DAVE AND LISA ATCHERLEY
Concept art for the Lancia Stratos shows a compact design intended for rally racing drivers.
Courtesy of Bertone
1981 BMW
M1
HORSEPOWER: 277
TOP SPEED: 162 mph
ENGINE: 3.5-liter fuel-injected inline-6
NUMBER BUILT: 400 (est. roadgoing M1s)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1978-1981
Introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1978, the Giugiaro-designed M1 was BMW’s first mid-engine production car. It was powered by a twin-cam, fuel-injected 3.5-liter straight six-cylinder engine. Acceleration from 0-60 miles per hour took a mere 5.4 seconds. Conceived with racing in mind, the M1 was equipped with an elaborate suspension that included double wishbones on each wheel, gas-pressure dampers, and anti-roll bars. It was hailed by magazines of the day as the world’s first supercar that was as civilized to ride in as it was formidable to race. This BMW was originally owned by BMW factory racing driver Johnny Cecotto, winner of the 1989 Italian Touring Car Championship.
COURTESY OF PETER AND JENNIFER GLEESON
In 1979, famed pop artist Andy Warhol painted the M1 that was to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a livery meant to “show speed as a visual image.”
Courtesy of BMW
[ON DISPLAY IN THE LOBBY]
1987 PORSCHE
959
HORSEPOWER: 450
TOP SPEED: 196 mph (est.)
ENGINE: Turbocharged 2.85-liter flat-6
NUMBER BUILT: 292 (Total 959s)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1986-1988
Introduced in 1986, the Porsche 959 won immediate acclaim as “the world’s fastest” and most technologically advanced road-going production car built up to that time. Its twin-turbocharged engine and sophisticated all-wheel-drive system transferred power to the road in a way that improved traction under all conditions, while features like run-flat tires and a shatter-resistant windshield helped increase the car’s safety at high speeds. To keep weight as low as possible, the 959’s body was built from an aluminum and Kevlar composite.
ON LOAN FROM DEMPSEY MOTORSPORTS
The 959 introduced an innovative engine that combined an air-cooled block with water-cooled heads.
Courtesy of WSupercars
1989 FERRARI
TESTAROSSA
HORSEPOWER: 380
TOP SPEED: 180 mph
ENGINE: 4.9-liter flat-12
NUMBER BUILT: 7,177 (total Testarossas)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1984-1991
One of the most successful race cars built by Ferrari, the late-1950s 250 TR, or “Testa Rossa” (Italian for “red head”), lent its name to the early 1980s version, which was characterized by a fashionably wide rear fascia and strakes (side-mounted radiator vents) along almost the entire length of the car. The Testarossa, which was named for the red valve covers, became an icon of pop culture, appearing in television, movies, and video games. In addition to being Ferrari’s flagship model, the Testarossa had one of the longest production runs of any Ferrari.
COURTESY OF DONNIE CALLAWAY
The name and design of the 1980s berlinetta was inspired by the infamous Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, a race car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958, 1960, and 1961.
Courtesy of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
1989 RUF PORSCHE
CTR YELLOWBIRD #001
HORSEPOWER: 470
TOP SPEED: 211 mph
ENGINE: Turbocharged 3.4-liter flat-6
NUMBER BUILT: 29
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1989-1996
This CTR, an abbreviation for “Group C, Turbo Ruf,” is the first production Yellowbird (chassis #001) built by RUF Automobile of Germany. After reaching 211 miles per hour during a test performed by Road & Track magazine, the highly developed car was crowned the fastest production automobile in 1987 and given the nickname “Yellowbird” by magazine staff. Derived from the 911 Carrera 3.2, and equipped with a twin-turbo engine, upgraded suspension, lighter body materials, and a custom five-speed transmission, customers could order a Yellowbird directly from RUF or have their dealer-purchased version converted.
COLLECTION OF BRUCE MEYER
1993 VECTOR
W8
HORSEPOWER: 625
TOP SPEED: 242 mph (est.)
ENGINE: 6.0-liter V-8
NUMBER BUILT: 17
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1989-1993
Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Jerry Wiegert designed the Vector to compete in the international supercar market of the 1970s. Hailed by many as the first modern American supercar, the W8, Vector’s first production model, was built in the Los Angeles suburb of Wilmington. Though unconfirmed, the car, powered by a modified GM engine, was promoted as having a top speed higher than many of its supercar competitors. This car was the sixteenth, and second to last, W8 ever built.
PRIVATE COLLECTION
The Vector W8 was based on the W2 concept car, shown at the 1976 Los Angeles Auto Expo.
Courtesy of Jerry Wiegert
1991 ACURA
NSX
HORSEPOWER: 270
TOP SPEED: 165 mph
ENGINE: 3.0-liter V-6
NUMBER BUILT: 3,163 (total US 1991 NSXs)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1991-2005
The exotic mid-engine NSX was the Honda company’s leading street performance vehicle. Track-tested by legendary Formula One champion Ayrton Senna, the Acura NSX was intended to offer Ferrari performance in a lower-priced package. Innovative in both design and construction, the NSX was the first production car with an aluminum monocoque chassis that made use of advanced materials such as titanium, which resulted in a low curb weight. The NSX was first sold in the United States in 1991 and was instantly praised by the motoring press for its combination of performance and comfort.
COURTESY OF AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
The 1991 NSX introduced the US to Honda’s revolutionary Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control system, or VTEC, which it still uses in a number of Acura and Honda models today.
Courtesy of Kevin Hulsey
[ON DISPLAY ON THE 2ND FLOOR]
1994 BUGATTI
EB110 GT
HORSEPOWER: 552
TOP SPEED: 210 mph
ENGINE: Turbocharged 3.5-Liter V-12
NUMBER BUILT: 126 (Total EB110s)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1992-1994
The EB110 was the first Bugatti built since production of the company’s automobiles ceased in 1963. Meant to evoke the mystique of original Bugattis, the mid-engined car was called the EB110 to celebrate the 110th anniversary of Ettore Bugatti’s birth. The car’s design was established by notable Bertone designer Marcello Gandini, and later revised by Giampaolo Benedini, the architect of Artioli’s factory. The styling of the EB110 laid the foundation for the Bugatti Veyron. Though the EB110 was successful, production of the car coincided with a dramatic decline in the supercar market and few cars were built.
COLLECTION OF THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
The company’s signature egg- or horseshoe- shaped radiator, which appeared on the Type 13 (upper left) and Type 35 (upper right), was incorporated into the grille of the EB110 (lower left) and Veyron (lower right) to provide continuity in design.
Courtesy of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S
1992 JAGUAR
XJ220
HORSEPOWER: 542
TOP SPEED: 213 mph
ENGINE: Turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6
NUMBER BUILT: 281 (est.)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 1992-1994
Though conceived by Jaguar engineers in their spare time, the XJ220 held so much promise that company executives elected to put it into production. The fastest of any production vehicle produced by Jaguar up to the time, and later the fastest production car in the world, the XJ220 was not well received by potential buyers who cancelled their orders because it was not equipped with a V-12 as originally intended. Customer resistance to the V-6 engine, combined with a declining demand for supercars during the 1990s, led to Jaguar producing far fewer than the already low 350 originally intended.
COLLECTION OF THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
In 1993, Jaguar entered three XJ220s in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of which (#50) was driven to a win by John Nielson and David Brabham, only to be later disqualified for a “procedural error.”
2003 SALEEN
S7 WITH COMPETITION PACKAGE
HORSEPOWER: 550 (2003 Saleen S7)
TOP SPEED: 220 mph (2003 Saleen S7)
ENGINE: 7.0-liter Ford Windsor V-8
NUMBER BUILT: 78 (total S7s)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 2000-2009
First introduced as a prototype in 2000 by Southern California-based Steve Saleen, the S7 went on sale in 2002 as the only street-legal car in the US with more than 500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. Prompting other manufacturers to follow suit with similarly powerful cars, Saleen then updated the S7 for the 2005 model year into an even more intimidating performer with twin turbochargers, suspension and chassis upgrades, and improved braking. The astonishing performance achieved by the S7, along with the unparalleled competition successes of the S7R racing variant, elevated the American supercar to an echelon previously occupied only by its more established European counterparts.
COURTESY OF ANGUS MITCHELL
In 2005, Saleen tuned the geometry of the tubular chassis of the mid-engined S7 and improved suspension with dual-stage coil springs to provide for extreme downforce.
Courtesy of Supercars.net
2005 MASERATI
MC12
Formerly owned by Michael Schumacher
HORSEPOWER: 630
TOP SPEED: 205 mph
ENGINE: 6.0-liter V-12
NUMBER BUILT: 55 (total MC12s)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 2004-2005
The development of the MC12 signaled Maserati’s return to the track after nearly four decades. Just 30 examples were built in 2004, five of which were retained by the factory, but customer reaction was so positive that an additional 25 were produced one year later. The MC12 is built on a Ferrari Enzo platform, but is larger in every external dimension and less angular, factors that contribute to its more favorable aerodynamics. This car was specially prepared for Michael Schumacher, who participated in the development of the MC12, and it is the only one to have been released from the factory with a black paint scheme and custom interior.
COURTESY OF A & A PREMIER CLASSICS LLC
Thanks to its MC12 racing cars, Maserati achieved numerous victories in the FIA GT circuit, including an overall win in the Manufacturer’s Championship in 2005.
Courtesy of Michael Jurtin, for Jan B. Lühn
[ON DISPLAY IN THE LOBBY]
2006 FORD
GT
HORSEPOWER: 550
TOP SPEED: 205 mph
ENGINE: 5.4-liter supercharged V-8
NUMBER BUILT: 2,011 (total 2006 Ford GTs)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 2004-2006
Based on an in-house design exercise, the 2006 Ford GT is the first Ford supercar constructed entirely in America. Introduced to the market more than 40 years after its Le Mans-winning predecessor, the GT40, the modern GT is a slightly scaled-up version, with a supercharged mid-engine configuration and modern performance, comfort, and safety features. Despite remaining relatively inexpensive when compared to its Italian competitors, Ferrari and Lamborghini, the extremely well engineered GT outperformed other top-tier road cars thanks to its greater horsepower and higher top speed.
COLLECTION OF THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
The 2006 Ford GT was based on the 2002 Ford GT40 concept that debuted at the North American Auto Show.
Courtesy of Ford Motor Company
[ON DISPLAY IN THE LOBBY]
2008 SPYKER
C8 LAVIOLETTE
HORSEPOWER: 400
TOP SPEED: 187 mph (C8 Aileron)
ENGINE: 4.2-liter V-8
NUMBER BUILT: 58 (total C8 Laviolettes)
PRODUCTION YEARS: 2001-2011
The boutique car company Spyker, named after the Dutch automobile manufacturer founded in the late 19th-century, began producing high-performance vehicles in 2000. The C8 Spyder, the company’s first model, was introduced at the 2000 Birmingham Motor Show, and the C8 Laviolette, the first coupe iteration of the C8, debuted a year later. Inspired by vintage aeronautic design, the Laviolette features an aerodynamic profile, roof mounted intake duct, and classically styled aluminum interior accents that mimic the style of vintage aircraft.
COURTESY OF PRIVATE COLLECTOR
The design of the C8 Laviolette takes inspiration from that of high-performance aircraft like the Spyker V-3 biplane, which the original Spyker company, also known as the Trompenberg firm, produced after World War I.
Credit unknown
