This Lamborghini Miura Tribute Has A Working Headlight, But It's Not A Car

Lamborghini has built some truly spectacular machines over the years, but many would argue that none matter quite as much as the Miura. The Marcello Gandini-designed mid-engine V12-powered machine is often called the world's first supercar. In short, its success is so vast that it contributes to the brand's identity even today. Now, as the Miura celebrates its 60th anniversary, another Italian brand is paying tribute to it. And this time, you won't need a garage or a mechanic to enjoy the result.

Luxury writing instrument manufacturer Montegrappa is releasing the Miura Limited Edition, a fountain pen and rollerball collection inspired by the iconic supercar. It might sound like an unusual collaboration at first, but we promise, this isn't just a very expensive pen with a Lambo badge slapped on the side of it. In fact, there's even a functioning version of the Miura's famous pop-up headlights. Talk about a car lover's ultimate fidget toy. We talked to the CEO about it, and he gave us the details on this new special-edition pen.

The new collection follows a previous partnership between the brands called the Automobili Lamborghini 60° series. That was back in 2023, and it was about celebrating the Lamborghini's 60th anniversary. This time, it's all about focusing on the car that really planted the brand's flag firmly in the automotive world.

Montegrappa CEO Giuseppe Aquilla talked to us about how the partnership came about and just how much of the Miura's design could realistically translate into something small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. Speaking of the 60° series, he tells Carscoops, "That first project confirmed that there was a very natural affinity between Montegrappa and Automobili Lamborghini."

According to Aquilla, Lamborghini's own team was involved throughout the development process, providing input and approval while leaving Montegrappa room to interpret the car's design. Those familiar with Montegrappa will know that it's crafted some absolutely wild writing instruments in the past. All of them share one major focus, though.

Freedom to interpret the design was key, because Montegrappa didn't just want to make a miniature Miura in the shape of a pen. The instrument still needs to function properly. It needs to be comfortable to use. It needed to avoid being overly complicated, and it needed to still feel very special. All of this was key while at the same time keeping the ethos of Gandini's work of art, which was in production from 1966 until 1973. The delightful details from the Miura had to shine even on a tiny scale.

"The silhouette of the writing instrument echoes the Miura's elongated, aerodynamic form," says Aquilla. "Details such as the engine grille, the front bonnet slats, the side air vents and, most importantly, the pop-up headlights all influenced the design. Our objective was not simply to decorate a pen with Lamborghini references, but to translate the car's character into a writing instrument."

Montegrappa uses all sorts of wild materials, including, and I'm not joking, ethically sourced woolly mammoth tusk, in some of its pens. So don't be shocked when you learn that the miniature retractable headlight found in the cap is made from rock crystal and comes complete with a push-button action that activates the pop-up light. That's an almost absurd level of detail for something you take notes with.

Other references are more subtle. The end of the pen takes inspiration from the Miura's grille. The clip resembles the slats found on the car's hood. Even the cap ring gently references the side air vents.

Perhaps the best part, depending on your view, is that these aren't in-your-face nods to the car. They're meant to be appreciated over time by the discerning eye. Frankly, that's probably a good thing. Can you imagine trying to write with something shaped almost too much like an Aventador?

That said, Aquilla acknowledged the challenges inherent to the project. "One of the most difficult aspects was balancing sculptural detail with ergonomics. The Miura is sensual and dramatic, but a pen must remain comfortable in the hand. We had to refine the proportions carefully so that the object felt like a true writing instrument, not simply a miniature car-inspired sculpture."

Beyond the elaborate exterior, the fountain pen features an 18-karat gold nib with ruthenium plating, engraved with the Lamborghini shield. It's paired with an ebonite feed that regulates ink flow. The feed is machined and often only found in high-end pens like this one. Then, atop the feed, you'll find an 18k gold nib plated in ruthenium. The pens themselves are available in three colors inspired by the original Miura. They include Giallo Fly (yellow), Verde Miura (green), and black.

Montegrappa has also gone to considerable lengths with the presentation box. Rather than a conventional presentation box, each pen comes in a case constructed from lacquered wood and genuine leather, drawing inspiration from the Miura's interior. "Even the packaging was conceived with the car in mind. The case is made in lacquered wood and genuine leather, with inspiration drawn from the refined interior environment of the Miura. These details create a more intimate connection for those who know and love the car."

Montegrappa is building three colorways across two types of pen, and each is limited to 60 examples. That's a total of just 360 pens for the entire globe — to put that into context, only 764 Miuras were ever produced. Montegrappa says the collection will be available through selected retailers and its own site in mid-November.

Pricing hasn't been announced, but we have some insider info there as well. The first collaboration between these two brands started at $5,495 for the rollerball and $6,495 for the fountain pen. A source tells us the Miura Limited Edition has a value of $10,000, though we haven't confirmed which type that's for. Even at that price, it's just a drop in the bucket compared to the car's current value that easily eclipses $1.5 million.

Aquilla says the company wanted to recreate some of the emotion people experienced when the Miura first appeared. "We hope they feel the same sense of wonder that the Miura created when it was first unveiled in 1966. The Miura was seductive, bold, and completely unexpected. It changed the language of automotive design and created the idea of the supercar as we understand it today."

Can a writing instrument truly capture the experience of a V12 supercar? Absolutely not, but that doesn't take away from the attention to detail and the thoughtful nods to the world's first supercar. The Miura helped establish Lamborghini's reputation for building extraordinary things that nobody strictly needed. Sixty years later, perhaps that's the most appropriate tribute of all.