SeaRoader Lamborghini Countach

I remember seeing this on TV back in the day and just being amazed by it. I mean who looks at a Countach and thinks “I wonder if I can make that amphibious?” well the long established Searoader Company did just that. Oh and you may not know the name but I guarantee you’ve seen their work on Top Gear.

Lamborghini Marco Polo/ Delorean DMC 24 / Lancia Medusa

Yes I know it’s a saloon from the 80’s by Giugiaro's built for Lamborghini as a possible way to go in the future. It’s bland and to be honest very boring looking for a Lamborghini concept, however the concept its self has an interesting history with a few famous names attached.

The Dawn of the Hypercar

Really it should read “The Demise of the Supercar” because that’s exactly whats happened over the last 10 or so years. I grew up in the 80’s which meant the poster of the white Lamborghini Countach on my wall or maybe the Ferrari F40, it was the golden time of the Supercar. It was an arms race to build the fastest car, with the main prize for breaking the 200mph marker.

Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition

After nearly 25 years both in production and at the top of its game, Lamborghini decided on last furore with the Countach with a new full body kit to ensure it went out with a bang. I was privileged enough allowed to photograph this one at last year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Car at the NEC, with the owner letting me get up close. The first thing you notice about the Countach is how relatively small it is when compared to say the Murciélago.

Lamborghini 400 GT Flying Spur II

Built by  Carrozzeria Touring as possible way to seal the deal with Lamborghini to build the 400’s replacement, it made its debut in 1966 at the Turin Motor Show. Designed to be the ultimate way for 2 people to travel in luxury with luggage, this Grand Tourer was certainly different.

Random Video- Lamborghini Countach on 60 Minutes in 1987

After 16 year in production the Lamborghini was still making a stir, the 60 Minutes coverage below of this car is just fantastic and I don’t think you’d get a piece, on say the Aventador, showing it doing 180mph on a public road even if Valentino Baloni is “licenced” to do it. Just like back then, this car still draws a crowd where ever it goes even though it’s another 19 years on. Take some time out of your day and enjoy-

 

Lamborghini Sogna

Taking a Lamborghini Countach as a base vehicle and then crafting a flowing curvy body out of aluminum to create a supercar dreamt up by a 13 year old boy, it not something that major manufacturers do. It was also the case with this one built by Japanese company Art &Tech independently from Lamborghini, it was debuted at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show.

Lamborghini Faena

Just like with the Porsche Panamera not being the first time the German builder had looked at four doors car, the 989 pre-dates it by 20 years, the Estoque wasn’t the Italian supercar makers first attempt either. Created by Pietro Frua over 8 months he took a 1974 Espada and extended its chassis by 7”s to accommodate those rear doors, it debuted in 1978 at the 57th Salone internazionale dell'Automobile.

Lancaster Insurance Classic Car Show, NEC, Birmingham

Thanks to Lancaster Insurance I headed down to what is probably the largest indoor car show in Europe last Friday, the first time I’ve attended since 2008 and how it’s grown. Over those years it’s gone from filling three of the NEC’s massive halls to now spanning five. The quality and abundance of metal now on show has also improved from “just a classic car show that’s in doors” to showcasing the best of the best as well as club projects, rare gems and concept cars. Enough to make walking round this colossal show take six hours, and some of that was at some pace!!!!

Lamborghini Jalpa

I love Lamborghini’s particularly rare ones so when I spotted this on the Lamborghini stand at the recent Manchester Classic Car Show I knew it deserved some attention. I say rare but the Jalpa was the most successful V8 car Lamborghini had produced until the recent batch, selling 410 examples between 1981 and 1988. Which means it stays in the “little known” category of Lambo’s which it a shame as it’s a well-proportioned mid engined sports car.

Manchester Classic Car, Eventcity

Although there had been indoor classic car shows staged at Eventcity in Manchester, Passion and Power was earlier this year, this was the first outing for the “Manchester Classic Car Show”. Looking at the adverts for it in the local press and on the web it looked like it was going to be a good inaugural event. Ran over the weekend I dropped in on the Saturday morning and I knew I was in for a treat when in a fenced off area six or so classic rally cars came driving past the entrance, including a shot wheel based Audi Quattro!!!!

Lamborghini Boxer Bike

Back in the 80’s Lamborghini were out to expand the brand after a shack part of their history. They had already expanded into off roaders with the LM002 and into speed boats with their V12 being offered to turn the propellers!!! However they weren’t finished there. Boxer Bikes were a French company synonymous with leading-edge racing bikes using the latest technologies and all hand built.

Lamborghini Urraco

Previously on here I did an article on the forgotten Lamborghini's and this was one. First debuted at the Turin Motorshow in 1970 it was quiet a departure for Lamborghini that had built high performance and highly priced sports cars and GT cars. It was also a complete clean sheet design by Macello Gandini, working for Bertone at the time, sharing no parts with the previous cars. It was also smaller, with a nod to practicality with it being a 2+2 and cheaper to buy. Revised tax laws and a need to fill spare capacity as well as compete with a new fleet of smaller sports cars by Ferrari and Maserati, entry level so to speak.

Passion for Power, Eventcity

Now in its 3rd year, this indoor show has come a long way (2011, 2012). Now rebranded this classic car show now included for the cancelled "passion for power" event from late last year. What this meant was the usual classic car event with all the car clubs, traders and individual showers, all up on numbers from last year, now joined by some classic and modern day prestige machinery, by the likes of McLaren, Roll Royce, Lamborghini and Ferrari.

Lamborghini 350 GTS

A year after the launch of Lamborghini's debut car, the 350 GT they showed a drop-top version at The Turin Motor Show in 1965. I think you'll agree that the simple lines of the 350 GT have been enhanced by the work done by Touring. This included frameless doors and new boot to both accommodate the folding roof.

Cizeta-Moroder V16T

I know what you’re thinking “that’s a Lambo Diablo with some extra lights” right?
Well to an extent you’re not wrong, although independently built from the ground up is the result of a number of ex Lamborghini employee’s setting up a new car building company. Created by automotive engineer Claudio Zampolli in a joint venture with music composer Giorgio Moroder and designed by Lambo styler Marcello Gandini (he did the Countach no less). The reason this looks like a Diablo is simply because it’s the original design for it that Gandini drew.

Cannonball Run Lamborghini Countach

There are those iconic moments in your youth when you see something and it’s just right, it’s perfect and that memory just sticks with you through your life. One of those moments for me was the starting credits of the Cannonball Run with “that” Lamborghini Countach, the sound the speed that panning shot as it creeps up behind the cop car, the tan leather interior and of cause the drivers!!!!!

Lamborghini Miura Jota

The Jota started life as a P400 chassis for a Miura in 1970 No.5084, it was refitted and modified conform to the FIA's Appendix J racing regulations by Bob Wallace at Lamborghini in his spare time.

The revised look of the car and new technologies created an interest and demand around the car. With its additional air vents to cool the brakes and engine, the fixed headlights, single front window wiper, completely changed interior, spare wheel moved the the back to aid weight distribution and to make room for the revised suspension to accommodate the wider wheels, the list goes on. Only 1 was built and during Lamborghini’s troubled past was sold to private hands as an asset in 1972. Unfortunately this car was involved in an accident and the ensuing fire completely destroyed it.

Less well known Lamborghini’s

If you were asked to list the cars built by Lamborghini chances are it would look similar to this-

Miura
Countach
Diablo
Murciélago
Gallardo




Okay some may have started with a tractor!!!! But Lamborghini has produced a variety of cars, including some 4 seaters, over the years. Below are a number of alternatives starting with the very first back in 1964-

1963 GT 350





1968 Islero 400 GT




1968 Espada





1970 Jamara




1972 Urraco 250




1976 Silhouette






I have no doubt i’ll visit a few of these again in more detail as well as a few specials built by Lamborghini. But I think you'll agree theres more to Lamborghini than the usual supercars.

For more information-

http://www.lamborghiniclub.co.uk/web/index.php?option=com_content&task;=view&id;=17&Itemid;=30

Lamborghini LM002

Lots of people know about Lambo’s 4 wheel drive system fitted to most of there cars, and the fact the original company made its money rebuilding the then building its own tractors. But here’s a blip in the tractor to supercar transition that may be new to you.

The LM002, was produced following a failed attempt by Lamborghini to get a military contract for its Cheetah from the US. This was a bit of a hybrid, partially ripped of from another manufacturers concept (who sued them) and produced by MIT (Mobility Technology International) before being shipped to Italy to have not Lambo engine but a 5.9-litre Chrysler V8 fitted in the back. The USA turned down the design and ended up in bed with AMG and produced the iconic Humvee. The USA never returned the concept, instead saying they had destroyed it!!!!