Early P400 Cars

The easiest way to tell a P400 from an S or SV is that the headlight, windshield, and side window trim is black while on the later cars these parts are chromed or polished.

Black Headlight Trim Early P400 Side Marker

Very early Miuras had elongated side lights on the nose, wooden steering wheels, and a straight shift lever.

P400 side badges.
(Above photo from Eric Muller's Miura photos.)		 P400 coachbuilder badges for Bertone, on the body between the doors and the tail section.

In addition, the frame sheet metal on the first 125 cars was 0.9 mm in thickness. This was increased in chassis 3312* to 1.0 mm due to some areas of weakness in the frame. These early cars can be strengthened by adding gussets and braces in critical areas. While perspective buyers are wary of the "thin frame" cars, the cars are lighter and reported to be quicker than later Miuras. I have heard some people say that the thickness of the metal continued to increase, but I have never seen that in print, nor have I measured it.

* According to Stefano Pasini's book on the Miura, chassis 3312 was car #125. The Coltrin & Marchet book says #125 was chassis 3306, and that 3312 was car #126.

Early steering wheel Early Miura P400s had a wooden steering wheel, with two slots in each spoke. Click the image to enlarge.