To One Man, the Lamborghini Miura is a “Forever Car”
For many people, cars come and go. Whether it’s because they get totaled in accidents or sold off because a baby is on the way, most cars are just transient parts of life to most of us. The Lamborghini Miura S is not like most cars – for more than the obvious reasons.
In the following footage, 1320 Video interviews a man named Jeff who owns one of the mid-engine masterpieces. His family had told him about an orange Lamborghini somewhere in Oregon. Luckily for Jeff, his sister was a reporter in the state and her camera man had previously shot a piece about the exact Lambo Jeff was curious about. He ended up meeting and chatting with the man named Earl who had originally bought the car for himself as a retirement gift. After years of being driven, the Miura eventually wound up in Earl’s barn, where it stayed for 15 years.
Then Jeff came along. When Earl died, Jeff arranged things through the late man’s estate so that he could become the new owner of the car. Instead of stripping it down to its frame and restoring every last nut and bolt, Jeff decided to keep the original paint and upholstery. He made a wise choice; the unrestored Miura has won awards at Pebble Beach and the Lamborghini nationals.
Jeff also decided that he’s going to stay with his dream car for as long as he lives…and after. His will states that when he dies, his cremated remains will be kept in the Miura S, whether his son or a stranger ends up owning it. That attachment to such an aesthetically and sonically beautiful machine is understandable, but it could making judging at future car shows a little awkward…
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
