What's under the Miura S 'grills'?

[pdisme]

I hate to call them grills but for lack of a better word, what is under the grills on the hood of the Miura S? It looks like possibly the gas cap but that seemed like an odd place to fill it up even though the tank does sit there over the front axle.

Can you believe the insane cleanliness of this restored Miura? The frame looks like it left the factory yesterday.

http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/Miura/MiuraS/4170.html

[Matt]

That is a sexy car. Not sure what you mean about the gas cap under the grills though. Picture?

[pdisme]

I found this pic of the Miura S at ultimatecarpage.com which does look like the gas filler tube comes up in the middle where those grills would be:

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/pic.php?imagenum=11&carnum=1363

Here's the pic that got me thinking about it:

http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/4926headlight.jpg

[Matt]

that just seems really impractical when the engine is in the back. radiator fluid maybe?

[Tofu]

I personally have no clue what it is, but...

It makes sense to me to be the fuel fill point.

Where is the gas tank for a vehicle when the engine is in the front?
Also makes sense for weight distribution to have it up front in a rear/mid engine car.

[pdisme]

Well I don't believe everything I hear on Top Gear but they said one of the complaints about the Miura is having the gas tank there because evidently when the tank is full, the car tends to understeer but as it empties from driving, it transitions to oversteer, so you have to keep your fuel level in mind if you're going to be doing any aggressive cornering because it may behave completely different on full vs low. :)

[RIE921]

It's the filler for the gas tank. There were a lot of complaints about high speed stability after the car got under 1/2 tank. The weight sits low and right over the front axle line. Full of flaws, but still one of the most beautiful cars ever built.

[pdisme]

The Top Gear episode I have on it said the Miura likes to spit gas all over the engine too from time to time. :) The front man for Jamiroquai has a red one, it was a good interview, he took it for a drive and said he hates people that buy these nice cars and leave them in the garage.

[Matt]

Jaykay has a lot of fantastic cars in his collection, say for example a black enzo!

[RIE921]

Rumor has it that he sold the SV a year or so ago. He is pretty much a die hard Ferrari guy. Other than that, he seems to be a pretty cool guy......

[pdisme]

Wow, you're right, seems he has a lot of Ferraris:

http://cars.uk.msn.com/Fun/article.aspx?cp-documentid=474676
http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/jay%20kay%20chooses%20cars%20over%20women

Although that first one says he has a G-wagen too! :icon_super:

[pdisme]

Is that little grill-like thing on the back of the Miura door functional? I know it comes out with the door but it looks like a scoop to direct air into an intake when the door is closed.