Shah's Other Cars.

Slow day I guess, but Kaveh Nouraee was nice enough to point out a couple of Lamborghini's original super car that were also owned by the Shah. One is a late SV model, one of less than 150 produced, and in one of the nicest color schemes I've seen.

The other is much more rare, and is part of one of the great legends of Sant'Agata Bolognese. In 1970, Lamborghini's development drive, Bob Wallace, built a powerful Miura. A test mule of sorts, this one off "Jota" served more as Wallace's personal toy for about a year. It was sold off to a customer who promptly crashed it, burning it to the ground.

In its less than two years of existence however, the Jota had become famous, and a few customers set about badgering Lamborghini to build versions of the car for them. In the end, five of these Miura SV-Js were built with largely cosmetic modifications by the factory. One of these rare cars, of course, ended up in the garage of the Shah of Iran. There's video of both cars, including an old Top Gear segment with Tiff Needell about the SVJ. It's a fun little piece with a bit about the Shah trying to outrun his bodyguard in the Lamborghini. You can find further information on the cars, here.

SV

SVJ