recombu
By Ben Griffin
12th August 2015
Ever considered what the most beautiful car ever is? Some petrolheads will say the Lamborghini Miura, so it's no wonder a man waited more than a decade to own one.
YouTube channel Petrolicious decided to showcase both the car and its owner, Dennis Varni, in a documentary that really does the Italian supercar justice.
Varni first got a taste of the Miura P400 S when it turned up at a sports car shop near where he worked in the 60s. Bowled over by its Italian charm, he went over to talk to the owner, which ended up with him going for a short drive.
An eighth of a mile later he was sold – but unable to buy his own. "These things were US$19,000 new in those days and I had just bought a house with my wife for US$11,000 in 1966 and I said I'll never be able to own one of these," Varni explained.
In 1979 Varni was in a better financial situation and so parted with an unknown amount of money for the red example from 1970 seen in the video. 37 years later and he admits he will never sell it.
So the story goes (one of them anyway), Lamborghini was too busy making tractors to create its owner and founder Ferruccio Lamborghini a supercar so he turned to fellow Italian manufacturer Ferrari. When Enzo said no, he decided to make himself one and so the Miura was born.
Varni admits the Miura's value has rocketed, but it was never about the money. In fact, he has built up his enviable collection of cars and paraphernalia because he simply liked what he saw, although the Maserati 200S – one of just 27 ever built – is hardly a banger.
A Jaguar D-Type is another classic many petrolheads would give their left arm to own. Did we mention the Mercedes-Benz 300SL and a Healey bus? Suffice to say, his collection is inspiring. "This guy's garage needs its own video," one YouTuber rightfully commented.
It's no surprise, then, Varni "eats, sleeps and drinks cars". He added: "I hope I'm around long enough to enjoy my toys and then when I go somebody else will have them."
Somewhat ironically, Varni is the owner of Green Valley Disposal, proving it is very much possible to go from rubbish to riches.
Not only is the Miura – built between 1966 and 1973 – a stunning car that proves good design is timeless, it put Lamborghini on the map and was one of the first cars to prove the brilliance of a rear-mid engine, rear-wheel drive layout.
It also is a reminder why the inefficient but ferociously powerful and wonderfully loud V12 engine, which takes the Miura from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and had around 350bhp, is such a masterpiece.
Car porn rarely gets as good as this. Good job, Petrolicious.
THE LAMBORGHINI MIURA IS STILL UNTAMED
- 132 views