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LONDON — A wealthy businessman lost a prized posession as his rare 1971 Lamborghini Miura went up in flames in the middle of the road last week.
YouTube video shows the car burning, with thick black smoke pouring into the west London neighborhood. The man recording the video notes that the traffic jam caused by the flaming yellow sports car prevented firefighters from getting access and putting out the flames.
According to the Daily Mail news, there is no word on what actually caused the fire, but it likely started in the area where the engine sits, in between the front and rear axles. That spot for the engine makes the Miura rare among cars.
Fire gutted the vehicle completely, leaving a charred metal shell and burst tires. But some experts are still hopeful for a restoration.
"The Lamborghini Miura SV is never beyond repair," car specialist James Cottingham told the Daily Mail. "It will need a full restoration, but the car will be back on the road."
The 1971 Laborghini Miura was the fastest production car in the world at the time it was released. Fewer than 1,000 are in existence, making them a prime item for wealthy collectors.
A prototype model of the Miura sold for $1.7 million in 2011, but this model was likely worth between $675,000 and $850,000.