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Super-rare Lamborghini Miura SV Jota promises to break records

The prototypical mid-engined exotic, the Lamborghini Miura is fast becoming a collectors' favorite. While they were trading hands at around a quarter of a million dollars less than a decade ago, prices have been skyrocketing, with the last few examples to go up for auction trading at over a million. But this particular example is expected to fetch well over $2 million when it crosses the block later this month. That's because this is no ordinary Miura – it's an SV Jota, one of only five or so originally made by the factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese. A pet project of the company's Kiwi test driver Bob Wallace, the Jota project was meant to explore what would happen if Lamborghini went racing. Old man Ferruccio wasn't interested though, and the original Jota prototype was destroyed. Word soon got out, however, of the Jota's modifications, and a handful of customers sent their Miuras back to the factory to be upgraded to Jota specification. With so few Miuras built to Jota specification, it's rare to see one trade hands. The last one we saw actually sell at auction went for $1.15 million in October 2010, but this particular example is estimated to rake in between $2 million and $2.6 million at RM's upcoming auction in Arizona on January 15-16. In fact, the last time this particular one crossed the block, it failed to sell despite a high bid of $2 million. Chassis number 4892 was initially ordered new from the factory as a Miura SV in 1971 by a customer in Rome in white with a blue interior. Within the following three years, it returned to the factory for Jota upgrades, and was then sold to a customer in Japan where it resided until moving to the US in 2007, taking top honors at the William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Concours d'Elegance in Rhode Island. Despite its excellent condition, it underwent a comprehensive two-year restoration, and its authenticity has been certified by numerous experts, including by the late Bob Wallace himself. If it sells this time around, data from Sports Car Market tells us it will smash the record for Miuras and challenge even the $2.5 million paid for a Reventon in 2009 and the $2.16 million paid for Bertone's one-of-a-kind Lamborghini Marzal concept in 2011 to take its place among the most expensive Lamborghinis ever sold. Featured Gallery 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV Jota #4892 View 31 Photos News Source: RM Auctions, Sports Car MarketImage Credit: Sean Smith/RM Lamborghini Auctions Supercars Classics rm lamborghini miura

Artist gives Lamborghini Huracan fierce rattle-can paint job

It is nearly impossible to make a car as flashy as a Lamborghini even more so, but Miami-based artist and car customizer Rich B Caliente did just that. Caliente recently unveiled a piece where he painted an Imperial stormtrooper helmet from Star Wars in a striking mixture of matte blues, silvers, and golds. Not long after, Caliente was contacted by an artist known only as ZEVIGG who saw the customized stormtrooper helmet and wanted the same treatment for his Lamborghini Huracan. "I asked him to give me a day to think about this project since it involved major amounts of time and effort, on top of that it had never been done before as far as color blending an entire car. After some careful thought, I felt confident that I could knock it out of the box even though it was a $200,000-dollar car I'd be using as my canvas," Caliente told DUB Magazine. Dubbed "Project Inspire", the work took place over the course of three days in a paint booth at Exclusive Motoring, a high-end customization shop in Miami. Using nothing but spray paint cans, Caliente hand painted the Lamborghini like a grafitti artist spraying an underpass. The mixture of paints gave the car a rich patina and provided a base on which the car's owner added his own personal artistic touches. The car's look was capped off by Vossen Precision Series wheels, which were painted to match the car, and a set of grippy Toyo Proxes to keep the powerful Lambo planted. Soon after completion, the car was driven at the Miami leg of the Bullrun Rally. It now resides with its owner in New York City, where ZEVIGG parades it around as a rolling piece of art. Related Video: News Source: Motor Trend, DUB Magazine, @raymondneice Weird Car News Lamborghini Ownership Coupe Supercars Videos paint huracan street art

Lamborghini agrees to produce Urus in Italy

The Lamborghini Urus is apparently on the way, and it looks like it will be built in Italy. The news comes from Bloomberg, which claims Lambo CEO Stephan Winkelmann and Audi CEO Rupert Stadler will be joined by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Wednesday to announce a series of tax breaks to bring SUV production to Italy. The report cites multiple "people familiar with the matter." The details of the deal include up to 500 new jobs in exchange for $87 million in tax breaks along with "other benefits," according to Bloomberg. Just over a year ago, it was looking like Urus production was headed for Slovakia, where it'd be built alongside its MLB platform-mates, the Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg, and Porsche Cayenne. News of Italy's bid surfaced this spring. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for any official news as it becomes available. Related Video: