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This is another of those sixties vintage masterpieces of Italianate automotive sculpture that I love. The "wind tunnel be damned" school guaranteed cars that looked like they were doing 200mph at rest, but couldn't reach 120 without going airborne. Ultimately they evolved into aerodynamic wonders like Ferrari's 365 GTB/4 when graced with dams, spoilers, canards and strakes which added a certain machismo to the almost feminine lines of the original. The Jota SVR is no exception.
The basis of the Jota was the beautiful Miura (fighting bull) that debuted in 1966. The Bertone body, which took a certain inspiration from the GT40, was designed by Gandini and Giugiaro. It was a was an incredibly desirable car that evolved over the years with engine, chassis and drivetrain upgrades which made it better handling and more powerful. The final version was the 385bhp 180mph P400SV. In 1970, their engineer Bob Wallace was given the go-ahead to create a hot rod from the Miura and the original Jota was born. The name appears to be a reference to the FIA's Appendix J regulations that it was built to comply to. Wider, ground scrapingly lower (by changing the suspension geometry), the new look was capped off with huge 9 x 15 and 12 x 15in Campagnolo cast magnesium wheels fitted front and rear and shod with Dunlop racing tires. Wallace's reworking of the engine yielded a 420bhp@8500rpm 4L V12 that allowed 185mph speeds and 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. This beauty was sold and destroyed by the collectors mechanic after logging about 20000 miles of testing. Five more of these were made (named the SV J).
Kyosho's image represents the version from the line which was finally raced. They've done a remarkable job. The first thing you notice is just how little ground clearance there is. The protected oil cooler is less than 5/32" off the ground and yet the operating suspension will not allow bottoming. The beautiful body lines are enhanced by a flawless red paintjob. The intakes and vents are all open and screened except the bulkhead intakes behind the door windows which are painted so well, it took me a month to notice. The roof vent grills are blackwashed and also do not detract from the look. The exterior lights are beautifully rendered. The delicate directionals and tiny side lights are carbachons, the rest of the lenses are optically realistic. The fuel cap is functional, the nose badge is 3-D, glazed and perfectly legible - if you have a microscope. The wheels are gold toned spidery beauties. Kyosho saved a few bucks on licensing and installed generic tires that seem to have the Dunlop tread anyway. The Bertone logo and script are 3-D PE and the script is properly blackwashed. Distortion free glazing on the windscreen and doors provide easy viewing of the well appointed but business-like interior. The 5-point restraint system is modeled to perfection combining tutone cloth, photoetched and cast hardware. The carpeting has a nice sumptuous scaled pile to it. The rest of the interior is competently done, mostly paint detailed, with chromed bezels on the AC vents, legible gauge faces and wheel center badging.
The hood opens on a metal hydraulic piston, but has no stop. Dominating the front compartment is the rectangular fuel tank with multiple clear fuel lines, a wired battery with proper signage. There appear to be 5 horns mounted on the front of the gas tank in ascending order of length. If that's what they are, then it looks like what Paulie Walnuts has in his Caddy that plays "the Godfather" theme. The real joy comes when you lift the rear engine cover and expose that beautiful transverse mounted V12 all plumbed ant wired. The mesh domes over the 12 carbs is simulated but believable. The wiring is all individually braided and the overall level of detail is commendable. The chassis cage is an impressive patois of metal beams, and chromed plastic that looks incredibly real. The obligatory trunk opens to reveal a space that would allow you, with a 3hr trip, to cook a Thanksgiving turkey. From the rear, framed by realistic screening and beautiful trimmed light clusters are four chromed and hollow trumpeted exhaust tips. Lovely
OK, what's the downside for me? With all of these beautiful, well thought out featues, the front and side window trim are painted... and not even well painted to boot, as the paint occasionally strays beyond to borders of the molded-in trim. It doesn't sound like much, but it's kind of like a small wart on a fashion model's nose... once you see it, you can't forget it. Realistically, though. in the bang for the buck perspective, I have to give this beauty a 4.9 out of 5.... it's that wart thing.
(12/15/2003)
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