Lamborghini - Murcilago - Sales Brochure - 2002 - 2002

Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine index MAR/APR 2007 Some information about the Magazine you should know ... You can’t have a Magazine without an index ... Editor & publisher Mark Smeyers Distribution Magazine.LamboCars.com Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine is written by enthusiasts, their names are listed with the articles, together with the original photographer or source of the images that accompany the text. Note that the graphical layout, the articles and all photographs in this publication are protected by Federal US and International copyright laws and may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author. If you would like to use one or more of the photographs from this issue, or any other material found on these pages for non-commercial reasons, you can request a written permission by contacting Lamborghini Cars at [email protected] It is however NOT allowed to modify or to create a copy of the magazine on any other server or to publish it in any other form, written or electronic. The digital edition of Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine is available from the Lamborghini Cars Magazine web site as a free download, please post only the link to this page on your servers, posting of the original PDF document is not allowed, nor making any modifications to this electronic version. The electronic edition of Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine has a lot of interactive items added to the PDF document, so you can enjoy your reading experience even more, just a little word on how to navigate inside Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine is described below : In-line links : you can click on any section in our CONTENTS page and you’ll go directly to that page inside the Magazine. Also when clicking on the page number or the ‘Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine’ footer on each page, you’ll come back to the contents page. Online connection : when you see the web cursor on an internet address or an add, you’ll be able to visit that site right from inside the Magazine ... if you have an active connection naturally. Several of the photographs you’ll find in this Magazine will be ‘hot-linked’ to the Magazine’s site were you can download this image in the most popular screen resolutions so you can use it as a background on your computer. Note that some detail shots or special images will not be linked to a wallpaper version for obvious reasons. For any further information or other questions you might have, feel free to contact me at : [email protected]. ONLINE : Magazine.LamboCars.com  I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I NAVIGATION EDITorial 4 QUICK look 5 A small word from the editor ... All about Lamborghini you just need to know ... PHOTO album 8 Our cover car seen from every angle ... Sneak PREVIEW 12 LAMBO power 14 SpotLIGHT 26 TUNING corner 28 the PIT LANE 36 In DEPTH 50 LIFEstyle 60 AUTOmobilia 62 A look at what the future could bring ... Once you have it, you love it ... Some very interesting Lamborghini Cars ... Taking the Bull one step further ... Lamborghini’s on the race track ... Creating the legend ... Lamborghini style ... From scale cars to books ... LAMBORGHINI online 64 NEXT time 65 the Magazine’s links to the internet. EDITORIAL issue 3 Quick LOOK A small word from the author ... All about Lamborghini you just need to know ... MURCIELAGO TUNING BY HAMANN Text Mark Smeyers - Photo’s : Hamann Motorsport Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine has reached it’s third issue, again filled with amazing news, articles and photographs on some of the most impressive Raging Bulls. Talking about an impressive Raging Bull, I’ve been invited by Reiter Engineering to attend their test session on the Salzburg Ring of their new 2007 Murciélago R-GT Le Mans edition. Also I was able to visit IMSA GmbH in Germany, the people that created the awesome Gallardo GTV and recently an equally amazing Gallardo Spyder version, read all about this experience from page 28. Do you know Allan Fiedler ? Well I do, and he actually owned some very nice Lamborghini’s in the past, most of them highly tuned, and today he owns a great looking Gallardo SE.  I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I EDITORIAL issue 2 Naturally the other items are back in this third issue, like a really nice scale model, a new selection of lifestyle material ... and much, much more, so let’s start reading all about these amazing cars and enjoy this new March-April 2007 issue. Happy reading Mark Smeyers © 2007 Lamborghini Cars ONLINE : www.LamboCars.com Neither this magazine nor the website Lamborghini Cars is associated with the Automobili Lamborghini Holding SpA. Lamborghini Cars is a non-commercial enthusiast website, we do not sell cars or parts, the Lamborghini name, all model names and the Raging Bull logo are registered trademarks of Automobili Lamborghini SpA It was only a matter of time before the well known tuning specialist Hamann Motorsport GmbH would turn to the Lamborghini flagship, after taking the Gallardo one step further with their Ventus S1 Evo model featuring ‘in house’ developed gullwing doors. Naturally the Murciélago didn’t need these door modifications, why tamper with a typical trademark like those upwards opening doors, so Hamann worked their magic on the bodywork, the engine remained standard despite matching it to a new exhaust. Hamann made this exhaust from high end V2A stainless steel with a dual tip measuring a whopping 120 mm each, giving a massive impression of power, not to mention the amazing sound this new exhaust emits ... On the outside only a trained eye would note the additional front spoiler, it is so nicely integrated into the overall design of this Lamborghini one could be forgiven to think it was mounted at the factory, however that impressive rear wing wouldn’t fool anyone, we all know that Automobili Lamborghini SpA doesn’t offer a rear wing mainly because the Murciélago doesn’t need it, the design of the bodywork creates enough down force at speed with that small adjustable spoiler at the rear. Quick LOOK I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I  Quick LOOK Quick LOOK All about Lamborghini you just need to know ... But you must admit it does look nice anyway, so adding a rear wing by Hamann isn’t such a bad idea after all, looks are important too you know, if only to impress your neighbor who happens to be driving a ‘normal’ Murciélago. To complete the outside looks of the Hamann Motorsport GmbH Murciélago there are massive 20-inch wheels mounted, black crossspoke center with a high gloss polished outer rim and titanium bolts are what is contained All about Lamborghini you just need to know ... in the ‘Race edition’ wheels by Hamann, 8.5x20 inch at the front axle and a wide 13 x 20 inch at the back, wearing 235/30 ZR20 and 325/25 ZR20 respectively. Add a few Carbon Fiber touches in the interior, like the vents, shift gate cover and a little trim around the instruments and you’ve got a personalized car, and it happens to be a Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster in this case ... what more could you want ? Perhaps the same tuning on the latest LP640 model ? That is also possible, Hamann will treat this new car in the same way ... when you take delivery of it that is, with a waiting list reaching 12 months you could be in for a long wait ... after that the possibilities are endless ... albeit limited by your cash flow ... For more information and prices, please feel free to contact the friendly sales staff at Hamann Motorsport GmbH via their official web site you’ll also be also to find a local dealer which is authorized to distribute these magnificent parts for your Murciélago. ONLINE : www.Hamann-MotorSport.com  I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I Quick LOOK Quick LOOK I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I  PHOTO album PHOTO album Our cover car seen from every angle ... Our cover car seen from every angle ... RED BLOODED The Lamborghini Murciélago Photo’s Mark - SP Engineering  I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I PHOTO album PHOTO album I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I  PHOTO album Our cover car seen from every angle ... 10 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I PHOTO album PHOTO album Our cover car seen from every angle ... PHOTO album I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 11 Sneak PREVIEW Sneak PREVIEW A look at what the future could bring ... A look at what the future could bring ... Whatever the management at Automobili Lamborghini SpA decides, I’m sure we will be pleasantly surprised when Geneva opens it’s doors for the 77th Salon International de l’Auto et Accessoires on March 8th. My friend Gabesz made a few rendering that could give us a look at the future, like the wild yellow Murciélago with Carbon Fiber air intakes and wide bodywork at the bottom of page 14, or perhaps a mild re-style of the Gallardo featuring a more aggressive front spoiler in line with the Murciélago LP640 model. And if you really want to take a look at a possible Murciélago successor that could be introduced in a few years, why not go for the amazing rendering on the previous page, also done by Gabesz. The rendering at the bottom of this page was done by another artist, ‘Jakusa’ designed the next generation SUV in full Lamborghini style, named LM003, this massive off-roader sits on large wheels and shows a long wheelbase together with an impressive wide track. SCIENCE FICTION ... OR NOT ? Text Mark Smeyers - Renderings : Various artists The world famous Geneva Auto Show opens it’s doors in a few days, and it will surely be showing us the latest and bravest from Automobili Lamborghini SpA, but let’s already dream about what could possibly be on the Raging Bull stand this year. Combine this with a ‘broad shoulder’ bodywork, a high waist line, a rather low roof and you end up with one very special looking car. Whatever it will be is still unknown at the time of publishing, but rest assured that we’ll bring you all the news from Geneva on the Lamborghini Cars website as soon as it becomes available. Many thanks to Gabesz and Jakusa ONLINE : www.htvm.hu. the pipeline, only further development of the current models, while on the other hand they keep talking about an SUV using the massive Audi Q7 or Porsche Cayenne chassis ... some rumors even state that a diesel powered SUV could be possible. It could very well be a prototype of the long awaited Espada successor we’ve been hearing about for several years, you could admire a rendering of such a new front engine GT in our previous issue, and the idea still remains, it would be a nice expansion of the line up at Sant’Agata to introduce a new 2+2 seater in style with the classic GT’s from the Sixties. However some contradicting rumors have been emitting from Italy, on one hand they insist that an expansion of the line up is not in 12 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I Sneak PREVIEW Sneak PREVIEW I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 13 LAMBO power LAMBO power Once you have it, you love it ... Once you have it, you love it ... LAMBO POWER And on the eighth day, Allan bought a Lamborghini ... Text Mark Smeyers • Photo’s Allan Fiedler Many people dream about it, Allan fulfilled his dream when he bought a Lamborghini Countach, which he later replaced with a Diablo, then a Diablo SV, a stunning Murciélago and recently a Gallardo ... all personalized by the way ... Many people fell in love with the Lamborghini Countach back in the late Seventies or early Eighties, especially when the S-models appeared, Allan was no exception. A stunning white Lamborghini Countach was Allan’s first experience with a Bull ... He was only 13 years old when he saw his first article on this amazing exotic in the Car and Driver magazine, and he couldn’t get this car out of his mind for many years to come. Allan Fiedler is a self made man, so he had to work to be able to afford his first Lamborghini, hence it took him several years before he could fulfil his childhood dream ... a 1987 Countach Quattrovalvole finished in flawless white. Note that, even today, he still owns the very Car and Driver issue that ignited his love for the Raging Bull. The Countach was acquired with great trepidation actually, Allan had several friends owning Ferrari’s and other exotic cars, and they all advised him not to buy a Lamborghini. They all judged the Lamborghini as being a money pit, and pure hell when it came to maintenance, but Allan pursued his childhood dream and bought his very first Lamborghini anyway, and even today he calls it his “greatest achievement”. He actually owned some Ferrari’s beforehand, but was rather disappointed by the reliability and build quality of these Prancing Horses. Maintenance was a nightmare on them, and even after making sure the engine was tuned as it should be, performance was a let down for Allan, so he turned to the Bull instead ... and never looked back, “nothing compared to the moment of purchasing my first Lamborghini, the Countach”. 14 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I LAMBO power Allan later discovered that the sheer enthusiasm among fellow Lamborghini owners was something he never could imagine, most people he met that owned a Bull too were down to earth people, real car enthusiasts that were generally self made like himself, 1987 Countach QuattroValvole Removed black front and rear bumpers. Euro style Anniversary front bumper. Custom hand made exhaust and cat bypass pipes Bosch CIS fuel injection removed, replaced by Electromotive Tec II electronic fuel injection and ignition without distributor. All smog equipment removed. K+N air filters installed. Keith Collins Custom floor mats Custom Alpine stereo Momo shift knob LAMBO power I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 15 LAMBO power LAMBO power Once you have it, you love it ... Once you have it, you love it ... and very interested in the performance of the car instead of how it looked ‘on’ them. He just loved his Countach, but Allan wanted more, so he started looking around for ways to personalize ‘his’ Lamborghini, and one of the most popular ways to do this in the US was by removing the rather ugly black front and rear bumpers, so Allan installed a front bumper taken from a Euro specs 25th Anniversary edition. But he didn’t stop there, getting rid of the original Bosch injection and replacing it with an Electromotive TecII system improved fuel economy and cold start, but more importantly it also boost performance of this V12, Allan even claims this was the strongest running Countach he ever rode till this day. the yellow Diablo was fitted with an SV style engine cover and a custom exhaust The custom made exhaust and cat bypass pipes surely helped here too, and the total power increase was no less than 100 Hp on this QV engine. By now Allan was hooked to the brutal attraction of the Raging Bull, and after owning the Countach for some time he found a nice yellow Diablo for sale, so he upgraded his car to this more recent model. 1992 Diablo Cams advanced about 5 degrees Custom hand fabricated exhaust and test pipes In-dash switch installed to shut off power robbing a/c compressor K+N air filters Custom cinder dash carbon fiber panel Custom hand fabricated SV style engine cover Custom Alpine stereo Keith Collins floor mats Momo Shift knob Momo Steering wheel Momo foot pedals 16 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I LAMBO power Naturally he couldn’t resist putting his trademark on this new Lamborghini, so he started modifying it again, similar custom exhaust, K&N Air filters, advanced cams and a very impressive SV-style engine cover, really love those dual air intakes actually. A rare white Diablo SV would be heavily tuned by Allen who even installed NOS in it ... ment and regular oil changes, which proves that a Countach is not a unreliable as some people state (driving other makes naturally), all it takes is the correct maintenance and driving the car regularly, they don’t get better by sitting in the garage. But Allan wouldn’t be the man he is today if he didn’t always want more, so when the Diablo SV appeared he was hooked again, he went out and bought a white 1998 SV. Driving the Diablo was big fun for Allan, and he found that he liked this newer model more and more compared to his first Countach, so much that he actually stopped driving the Countach after a while, so he subsequently sold it to it’s next happy owner. Talking about maintenance, when Allan sold the Countach it had no less than 76,000 Miles on the clock, and the only maintenance ever performed on this exotic was a valve adjust- LAMBO power I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 17 LAMBO power LAMBO power Once you have it, you love it ... Once you have it, you love it ... Probably one of the last before the fixed headlights were installed on the 1999 model year cars. A white Diablo with massive black SV scripting on the side and multi-piece chromed wheels can hardly be unnoticed on the open road, and that’s why Allan doesn’t drive his Bulls on a daily basis. Lamborghini’s just attract way too much attention, and people always ask the same questions over and over again ... How fast does it go ? How did you make that much money ? Are you a drug dealer ? a 150 shot of Nitrous ! That’s right, NOS in a Diablo, how’s that for pure power ? Allan got so tired of all these ignorant questions he also bought a few other cars for his daily commutes, so he could drive along without having to answer the same questions every single day. But let’s get back to this amazing white Diablo SV, you wouldn’t think Allan could leave it alone now would you, one of the first things he installed on his new toy was a 150 shot of Nitrous ! 1998 Diablo SV Custom hand fabricated exhaust and test pipes Sp Engineering Custom headers Dry nitrous system K+N air filters O.S. Gilken Race Clutch 18+19 Inch Lowenhart Wheels Red brake calipers SP Engineering custom stainless brake lines Custom carbon fiber rear taillight surrounds 6.0 brake lights SVR style front lip Momo Shift Knob Keith Collins floor mats 18 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I LAMBO power That’s right, NOS in a Diablo, how’s that for pure power, talk about stock not being good enough ! This time Allan went all the way and installed custom wheels on his Diablo, amazing Lowenhart wheels with a black centers. To complete the modifications Allan mounted an SVR style front spoiler, red brake calipers with SP Engineering stainless steel brake lines, a race clutch and those nice looking Diablo 6.0 taillights complete with Carbon Fiber surrounds. LAMBO power I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 19 LAMBO power LAMBO power Once you have it, you love it ... After six years of owning this SV, maintenance comprised only of the regular oil changes and necessary tire changes, the legendary V12 engine didn’t hesitate once. After five years of NOS this engine was taken apart just to be sure, and the internals were still in perfect shape, even the clutch wasn’t worn out, so the joy of owning a Diablo is feasible after all without having to re-mortgage the house. After owning the Diablo SV for six years Allan felt it was time to upgrade again, and by that time the brand new Murciélago was available, so his choice fell on a bright red over light tan leather model. 20 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I LAMBO power Once you have it, you love it ... This new Lamborghini was again a big leap forward, the animal attraction of the Murciélago made Allan almost forget about his amazing Diablo SV, he hardly ever drove it after taking delivery of his Murciélago. even an Affolter rear wing, the only one in the United States mind you ! Naturally this new Bull underwent similar modifications as his previous cars, stunning Maya wheels, custom parts, tinted taillights, lowered suspension and even an Affolter rear wing, the only one in the US mind you ! LAMBO power I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 21 LAMBO power LAMBO power Once you have it, you love it ... The Lamborghini Murciélago is real automotive artwork, surely after Allan worked his magic in it, so why would he change it again after a short period of owning it ? Easy, Allan likes to enjoy life to the fullest, so why deny yourself a toy now and again ? When the Gallardo was unveiled this car was considered as the ‘small’ Bull, somehow the Murciélago’s ‘little brother’, but what you have to remember is the fact that the 2006 Gallardo and the SE model are among the best built Lamborghini’s ever. These ‘small’ Bulls accelerate faster than the original Murciélago, offer better brakes and simply drive easier than the large V12 flagship, but unfortunately they lack those dramatic upwards opening doors and the Gallardo will always be considered as the ‘smaller’ Lamborghini, no matter how mature it will become. 22 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I LAMBO power Once you have it, you love it ... 2002 Murciélago Sp Engineering Carbon-Tec carbon fiber Headlight surrounds, exhaust shroud, and headlight washer surrounds. Custom painted brake vents 19-20inch Maya wheels Sp Engineering Custom brake rotors Custom painted brake calipers Vehicle lowered by SP Engineering All lights smoked by SP Engineering Affolter rear wing ( only one in the U.S.) Keith Collins Floor mats K+N air filters 2006 Gallardo SE Vehicle lowered by SP Engineering Calipers painted to match body color All Lights smoked Custom exhaust and cat bypass pipes Gruppe M Carbon Fiber intake Custom I Forged 18+19 Inch wheels Front and Rear remote Radar units Keith Collins custom floor mats That’s why Allan just had to buy a 2006 Galalrdo SE model, these limited editions models are very rare and really amazing to drive. LAMBO power I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 23 LAMBO power LAMBO power Once you have it, you love it ... He only took delivery of this car very recently, but that hasn’t stopped him from adding his personal touch all over the car again ... dark tinted side windows, lowered suspension, brake calipers color coded to the bright Arancio bodywork, custom exhaust and cat bypass pipes, Gruppe M Carbon Fiber intake, custom forged 18 and 19 inch wheels, again with black centers, front and back radar detectors and special Keith Collins floor mats. And that is only the start for this new ‘Lamborghini by Allan Fiedler’, prepare yourself for much more tuning on this latest Bull in Allan’s garage. www.LamboPower.com Started by Allan and SP Engineering about two years ago, this automotive forum quickly became the largest Lamborghini forum on the internet. Once you have it, you love it ... Nothing compares to the moment of buying my first Lamborghini ... After owning several Lamborghini’s over the years I thought Allan was well placed to judge which model was his all time favorite, which one brought the biggest smile on his face while driving it ? “Nothing compared to the moment of buying my first Lamborghini.” he responded, “For me buying the Lamborghini Countach was the realization of a childhood dream, it was my greatest achievement, even though I don’t consider it to be my favorite car, as each of them I’ve considered to be my favorite at time of ownership, but then the replacement as always much better” So what’s next ? At the moment Allan is reluctant to buy the LP640 Murciélago, after owning an earlier model already he feels the price increase on the new LP640 is just too high, and the Gallardo SE he owns is real fun to drive, it will not be for sale, not before Allan buys another Lamborghini that is. But he is waiting for the next move from Lamborghini, hoping for an aluminum frame for the flagship V12, like the Gallardo today, and a diet for the Murciélago, it could easily shed some weight making it an even better performing car, perhaps an SV model for both the V12 and the V10, the latter is already so well balanced that without any real changes it could handle another 200 hp with ease. Currently Allan is looking forward to buying an amazing McLaren SLR, which he’ll modify naturally as he so aptly stated himself : “I always tune my cars, just to give them that something that sets them apart from others, 24 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I LAMBO power I’m never satisfied with stock, I always want more.” Allan’s dream car ? The Bugatti Veyron ... And we can rest assure Allan wants more, when asking about his dream car his response was clear and simple : “The Bugatti Veyron” He had the pleasure of driving this amazing exotic on the streets of LA and called it ‘love at first drive’, the Veyron is just amazing, and I’m sure that one day Allan will put it into his garage, but will it still have ‘only’ 1001 hp ? I don’t think so ! I’m sure that Alex Shen at SP Engineering will again put a lot of hard work into Allan’s new car, just like he did on most of Allan’s earlier Bulls Many thanks to Allan Fiedler, Alissa Fiedler, Jennifer Groh and Cara Chilson for the great photographs and the awesome interview. LAMBO power I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 25 SpotLIGHT SpotLIGHT Some very interesting Lamborghini Cars ... Some very interesting Lamborghini Cars ... NARDO HIGHSPEED should theoretically be able to reach 325 Km/ h ... so what speed did it reach on Nardo ? Text Mark Smeyers - Photo : Edo Competition GmbH A top speed of 321 Km/h was measured on the famous Italian circuit, which not only met the expectations but even surpassed them. Do note that we are talking about a street car here, so fully drive able on the open road, not a race car or a modified car without exterior rear view mirrors, windscreen wipers, custom wheel covers or smooth bodywork. No this was the basic Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder tuned by Edo Competition which can be driven just like any other automobile. Ever wondered just how fast your Lamborghini would go on an enclosed circuit with a professional driver behind the steering wheel ? So did the people at Edo Competition, who built some amazing Gallardo’s like the black Spyder we’ve covered in our Issue 1 last year. Probably one of the best locations to test the actual top speed of a car in Europe would be the Nardo circuit in Italy, even Lamborghini tests their cars on this circuit, so it was decided that Edo would take two of their masterpieces to Italy to settle this score once and for all. They took the stunning black Lamborghini Spyder and an amazing Porsche Cayenne Turbo to Nardo for some serious top speed driving, and the results were extremely positive. 26 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I SpotLIGHT Do note that the Porsche also took first place in the SUV class during the Tuner Grand Prix 2006 while on the Nardo track a measured top speed of no less than 287 Km/h was achieved, very impressive for such a large car. So let’s take a look at their Gallardo Spyder now, with modified exhaust catalyst, Carbon Fiber Airbox and re-programmed engine management the famous V10 engine was able to unleash 550 Bhp on the test bank. With a torque figure of 540 Nm this black Gallardo Naturally the custom, lowered suspension improved road holding capabilities and the special exhaust emits a thundering sound, but other than that this black Gallardo Spyder sure looks like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, just the way I like them. ONLINE : www.Edo-Competition.de SpotLIGHT I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 27 TUNING corner TUNING corner Taking the Bull one step further ... GT VELOCE ! Lamborghini Gallardo by IMSA GmbH Text Mark Smeyers • Photo’s IMSA and Mark Smeyers Located in Germany, IMSA is quickly becoming one of the major tuning companies for Lamborghini, their amazing Gallardo GTV was warmly welcomed around the world and there is still much more to come from this amazing company ... 28 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I TUNING corner Taking the Bull one step further ... The Lamborghini Gallardo is without a doubt one of the most successful models ever built at Sant’Agata, just look at the numbers, after a little over two years of production the 5000th Gallardo left the factory doors, it took the Diablo over 10 years to reach a total production figure of only 2903 units, the Gallardo shattered that record a mere 24 months. So it was no surprise that several tuners started noticing this new V10 Bull, and many have presented their interpretation of the Baby Lamborghini over the past few years, but none as dramatic as the IMSA Gallardo GTV model. This stunning grey metallic wide body Gallardo clearly showed what German based IMSA GmbH was able to do with this Lamborghini. But Mr Mohr didn’t just mount some body appendages to the Bull to make it look more aggressive ... he went a lot further, first of all the 14 body parts in total that make up the GTV kit are all made in lightweight Carbon Fiber and Kevlar. TUNING corner I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 29 TUNING corner TUNING corner Taking the Bull one step further ... Taking the Bull one step further ... Gallardo, just a lot wider and more intimidating, without making the mistake of completely ruining the already great looking design of this V10 Lamborghini. IMSA decided to have an exclusive exhaust system built for their Gallardo ... The entire GTV kit consist of a new front spoiler including an extra Carbon Fiber ‘lip’, wide front fenders that connect to some very wide rear wheel arches by two new side sills and ending in a stunning rear bumper, again with a Carbon Fiber lower insert. But when you take a first glance at the IMSA GTV you’ll be wondering what is so special looking about this car, apart from the wheels perhaps, that is because Mr Mohr went that extra mile and actually designed the entire wide body conversion along the lines of the original Gallardo, the GTV looks like a normal 30 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I TUNING corner Do note that Mr Mohr initially bought the silver metallic Gallardo as his personal car and took two weeks of clay modeling on the actual car to create this awesome kit. After numerous little modifications and fine tuning he had molds made for all 14 parts and therefore he’s now able to offer this one of a kind package to customers worldwide, in very limited, hence highly exclusive numbers since only one kit per week can be fabricated from these unique molds, expect no more than about 40 IMSA GTV Gallardo’s to be built per year. all of these body parts are made in lightweight Carbon Fiber Naturally a new rear wing hasn’t been forgotten and a stunning new exhaust system is also available with two extremely nice ‘tips’ in a totally innovative design. Talking about that amazing exhaust, it is built by Mamo, a company that is already building exhausts for the most prestigious tuning companies around the globe, so when Mr Mohr decided to have an exclusive exhaust sytem built for his Gallardo tuning package, Mamo was an obvious choice. Mamo was able to take the already very well designed exhaust system from the Gallardo one step further, thus increasing power output by a healthy 30 hp in mid range torque, where it matters the most. When designing a new exhaust system, function is mostly more important than looks, but Mamo created a stunning, highly polished system that looked like no other system on the market today, and it is an IMSA exclusive, so don’t expect to see a similar exhaust anywhere else. TUNING corner I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 31 TUNING corner TUNING corner Taking the Bull one step further ... But the bodywork and exhaust are only part of the visual package, an impressive car like the Gallardo GTV needed some very special wheels, so IMSA created their own rim with equally high specifications as the rest of their tuning package. The IMSA Challenge, central locking, multipiece wheel is available in various sizes. When installing them on a standard Gallardo you can opt for 9x19 inch and 11.5x20 inch on respectively the front and the rear axles. But by adding the stunning GTV bodywork you can go for 9.5x19 inch up front and 12x20 inch at the rear with 265-30ZR19 and 30525ZR20 rubber respectively. Prefer similar sizes for both axles and you can also install 9x20 inch wheels up front with 245-30ZR20 tyres. It is however still possible to use the standard Gallardo wheels after installing the GTV kit. Taking the Bull one step further ... When taking a look through these wheels you’ll be able to see the completely new brakes IMSA can install, massive 380x36mm up front with 8 pistons and 360x32mm at the back with 6 piston calipers that will make sure you are able to really decelerate when needed, also note that IMSA uses steel braided lines for this high performance brake system, that outperforms the original brakes easily. a high gloss, Carbon Fiber rear bumper insert Naturally a fully adjustable suspension can be mounted too, electrically adjustable with 5 different ‘damping’ settings and even able to lower the vehicle another 40mm when driving on the Autobahn ... And this is what the Gallardo GTV was made for, high speed driving, this Bull is a complex piece of mid-engine engineering but it is still highly suitable for everyday use, even after installing their engine tuning. already custom exhaust system and naturally altered the ECU programming on the original V10 engine. IMSA was able to modify the engine to reach a power output of no less than 610 Hp at 7900 rpm, while a torque of 655 Nm at 5300 rpm was achieved by modifying the cylinder heads and both intake and outlet manifolds using high precision CNC equipment normally used for Formula One engines. Imsa didn’t stop here, they also replaced the standard airbox on the engine, installed custom cam shafts, new sport catalysts on their 32 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I TUNING corner TUNING corner I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 33 TUNING corner TUNING corner Taking the Bull one step further ... Taking the Bull one step further ... With all that extra power on tap it was a wise choice to take a closer look at the 4WD system and modify it to be able to cope with this increased power. An option could be to turn to RWD only, but that would require a certain amount of self control when driving this rare exotic with that much power on the rear wheels only, today in it’s 4WD shape the Gallardo GTV (both the Coupé and the Spyder) offer unparalleled stability and driving control. creating a high quality unity of Italian temperament and German engineering All this is seen or heard from on the outside, but let’s not forget the interior of the IMSA Gallardo either, finished in the finest leather or alcantara the driving position of these amazing automobiles can further be individualized by mounting Carbon Fiber or aluminum parts inside the cockpit in perfect harmony, and after numerous meetings with the final owner of the car Mr Mohr and his team at IMSA will be able to create a personal expression like no other. A few of the possibilities are color coded dials inside the dashboard, so on a pearl white So now you can head to IMSA GmbH to have both the Gallardo Coupé and the Spyder turned into a one of a kind GTV edition, thus creating a high quality unity of Italian temperament and German engineering. And many owners of the successful Gallardo are doing just that, the orders are flowing in, and currently there is a waiting list to have your own Lamborghini converted into an IMSA GTV. metallic bodywork you could be faced with white dials, while a red car will receive red dials. Also the door handles and other parts inside the Gallardo can be finished in color coded Carbon Fiber, much like the Carbon kit from the factory, but now completely complementary to the bodywork of your car, imagine white Carbon Fiber in a Balloon White car ! Most cars in the highly professional workshop in Brüggen are actually Gallardo Coupé versions, but recently IMSA installed the GTV kit on a Gallardo Spyder, the magnificent white car seen here was ordered by a customer outside of Europe, which clearly shows that IMSA is fast becoming a household name in Lamborghini tuning all over the world, cars are arriving from either local dealerships or from the other side of the world. When I visited Mr Mohr a few weeks ago there were five GTV’s in their workshop, two completely finished cars, and three more in various states of completion, there was even a custom ordered red car being worked on, this Middle Eastern customer requested a bright red bodywork, but that shade isn’t offered from Lamborghini on the Gallardo, so he received a totally unique mixture on his car, which he then shipped to IMSA to be turned into the wonderful GTV edition. Because of the rather long waiting list these days at IMSA, Mr Mohr even sold his original car, the silver metallic Gallardo GTV that started it all, a customer just wasn’t willing to wait for his own Gallardo to be delivered, and afterwards have to wait again to have it converted by IMSA, so he made Mr Mohr an offer he couldn’t refuse, and with only a few thousand Kilometer on the counter, this Gallardo is nearly brand new anyway. You might ask yourself what IMSA is currently working on for the future ? A special Gallardo GTV ‘Club Sport’ version for one, featuring lightweight Carbon Fiber 34 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I TUNING corner doors, hood and engine cover, special lightweight IMSA sport seats and an aluminum roll-over cage for the Gallardo. But IMSA is also looking into tuning the flagship Murciélago, only problem is getting an LP640 in their workshop, Mr Mohr has been looking around to buy one for months because he would like a very specific color, but the waiting list is getting very long these days on this stunning supercar, however it is obvious IMSA GmbH is taking their tuning programme seriously, I can’t wait to see more of their creations in the near future. Many thanks to Mr Lohrbach (PR representative) and Mr Mohr, for taking the time to respond to all my questions and allowing me to take photographs inside the IMSA workshop during a very busy business day. ONLINE : www.imsa-tuning.de TUNING corner I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 35 the PIT LANE the PIT LANE Lamborghini’s on the race track ... Lamborghini’s on the race track ... LE MANS BY REITER The Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT 2007 Le Mans Edition Text Mark Smeyers • Photo’s Mark Smeyers 36 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I the PIT LANE the PIT LANE I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 37 the PIT LANE the PIT LANE Lamborghini’s on the race track ... The Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT was introduced back in 2003 during the IAA in Frankfurt, but as with all racing cars, there was still some evolution to follow ... Reiter Engineering who actually builds these R-GT models constantly is looking to improve their Murciélago race car, and the latest evolution is aptly called the Le Mans Edition. Lamborghini’s on the race track ... When Audi AG took over the factory back in 1998, things were going to change in Sant’Agata, Lamborghini started to show an interest in racing, admittedly there had been the Diablo SVR that was used in a mono marque championship back in 1996, and they even took this concept one step further with the 1999 Diablo GTR Supertrophy series. Peter Kox getting ready to take the Le Mans out on the track for further testing ... When the Diablo was replaced by the Murciélago in 2001 it looked like the racing program was put on hold, but within two years the very extreme Murciélago R-GT was shown to the public during the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show. We have to admit that this time Automobili Lamborghini SpA went looking for help in the best places, the Murciélago R-GT was built by well known Reiter Engineering from Germany with additional technical input from none oth- 38 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I the PIT LANE er than Audi Sport to ensure this new racing Lamborghini would have a great pedigree. the PIT LANE I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 39 the PIT LANE the PIT LANE Lamborghini’s on the race track ... But the Murciélago was still a new car, hence the R-GT lacked some valuable experience that could only be gathered on the circuit ‘in the heat of the race’, so the car was prepared to comply with the FIA GT Championship and the American Le Mans regulations. Torque output from this new engine was a healthy 443 Lb Ft at 5000 rpm This meant that the 4WD had to replaced by a RWD configuration, the gearbox that was now a little out of place ahead of the legendary V12 was replaced by a totally new sequential unit, and the engine displacement was decreased to 6 Liter instead of 6.2 Liter on the Murciélago road car. Lamborghini’s on the race track ... This was done by applying a bore and stroke similar to the earlier Diablo 6.0 model, however power output was still in the same region as the original engine but now available over a much wider range. Torque output from this new engine was a healthy 443 Lb Ft. at 5000 rpm, taking into account that the Murciélago R-GT went on a diet to shed it’s weight to a mere 1098 Kg, this new Italian Bull looked like a potential winner. But as with many race cars performing at this high level, the Murciélago R-GT needed a constant development and follow up to be able to keep up with the competition, and that was exactly what Reiter Engineering was doing when the black Carbon Fiber finished RGT was returned to their workshop after the IAA, so it could be prepared for the final races of the 2003 FIA GT at Estoril and Monza. The Le Mans edition during testing on the Salzburg Ring During the 2004 season the R-GT was entered into several races, but sadly the car couldn’t reach many finishes, however in 2005 Reiter Engineering took over the entire Murciélago Racing program from the Lamborghini Customer Sports Programme. So they were on their own now, taking further development of the Murciélago R-GT to the 40 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I the PIT LANE next level, because Hans Reiter and his team of highly skilled engineers were convinced of the potential this amazing car showed over the previous seasons. Reiter Engineering unveiled the real potential of the R-GT during the 1000 Km at Monza in 2005, with less than an hour to race the Murciélago R-GT driven by Peter Kox and Norman Simon was leading a pack of Le Mans winning Ferrari’s, in the final straight an unfortunate oil fire put an end to what would have been a magnificent victory. the PIT LANE I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 41 the PIT LANE the PIT LANE Lamborghini’s on the race track ... Lamborghini’s on the race track ... Reiter Engineering was asked to built a special R-GT for the Japanese Super GT series, this car was subsequently re-badged as the RG-1 when the JLOC entered it as number 88 in the 300 Km Super GT’s opening race at Suzuka, which it subsequently won, a well deserved first race victory for this revised Murciélago R-GT. R-GT. So when the 2006 season came to an end things finally started to look very promising for the intimidating Murciélago R-GT. This very RG-1 again managed a pole position in Round 5 of the Super GT while back in Europe the 2006 FIA GT championship would finally show several top 10 finishes for the Now it was time to show the competition exactly what the Murciélago R-GT could do, hence Reiter Engineering started working on a brand new 2007 edition. a new dashboard and a tall lever for the sequential gearbox Towards the end of November 2006 Reiter Engineering booked the nice Salzburg Ring in Austria to test their new Murciélago R-GT Le Mans Edition, a totally different car compared to the original R-GT from previous years. constantly fine tuning the 2007 R-GT Le Mans Edition during the test sessions Located in a narrow Alpine valley, the 4.2 Km Ring circuit is just east of Salzburg and well known by Reiter Engineering since they use this extremely fast track regularly for testing purposes, the circuit combines very fast straight sections and slow bends that require really skillful driving when sitting in a car with a massive V12 just behind your back. 42 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I the PIT LANE the PIT LANE I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 43 the PIT LANE the PIT LANE Lamborghini’s on the race track ... Lamborghini’s on the race track ... The Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT by Reiter Engineering Take a closer look at this impressive looking orange and black Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT, this very car was entered by DAMS in the four final races of the 2004 FIA GT Championship. It made its series debut at Imola in September 2004 when it was driven by Jean-Denis Deletraz and Andrea Piccini, unfortunately this amazing R-GT wasn’t able to reach any victories during the 2004 season. Right from the start it was obvious the Murciélago R-GT had racing potential, so Hans Reiter and his team never ceased to continue their search at perfecting these ‘Super’ Lamborghini’s during the 2005 and 2006 FIA GT1 Championship by entering their ‘test car’ in as many sessions as possible, thus gaining valuable experience that would allow them to create the ultimate R-GT ... the 2007 Le Mans Edition that was tested on the Salzburg Ring in late November 2006. Finished in dark grey, the 2007 Le Mans edition would be driven by Peter Kox who has acquired an unparalleled experience with the earlier R-GT models and the Gallardo GT3 cars. The car is extremely fast and still comparatively easy to drive I was invited by Hans Reiter to attend this test session in Salzburg so i was able to see the amazing power of this new race car in action, naturally I talked to Peter Kox after his initial testing rounds and asked him what his impressions on the Le Mans edition were. “The car is extremely fast and still comparatively easy to drive, it was quite a surprise the car handled so good during these first tests” according to Peter, he also added “the chassis and suspension only needs a little more fine tuning to find the exact setting, it is still rather ‘brutal’ to drive”. 44 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I the PIT LANE the PIT LANE I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 45 the PIT LANE Lamborghini’s on the race track ... the PIT LANE Lamborghini’s on the race track ... Dark grey bodywork with ‘old-school’ gold painted wheels, an amazing combination on the 2007 R-GT Le Mans 46 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I the PIT LANE the PIT LANE I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 47 the PIT LANE the PIT LANE Lamborghini’s on the race track ... Lamborghini’s on the race track ... One of the first differences you’ll immediately notice is the totally new front spoiler with different air intakes and built in spotlights behind Plexiglas covers to improve aerodynamics, and to supply the much needed vision during night time racing, naturally the big central air intake feeds fresh air into a massive radiator. But Reiter Engineering constantly tuned the car over the next few days, and at the end the car performed at the level expected by both Peter Kox and Hans Reiter, who stated that the R-GT was ready to take on the battle during the 2007 racing season. To really be able to compare this new model against the earlier R-GT, Reiter Engineering had two Murciélago’s in Salzburg, the 2007 Le Mans Edition and the orange and black ‘Scream’ R-GT (more on this car in our insert on page 44). A less well visible modification is a totally flat ‘bottom’ ... the entire chassis of the 2007 Le Mans Edition is completely flattened out, not a single interference with the airflow can be detected underneath this amazing Bull, and it only sits about 8 cm above the tarmac, by adjusting the suspension it can even be lowered to a staggering 4 cm ! A wider front track is also obvious when looking at the fenders, which again feature air outlets just in front of the new lightweight doors , these doors again use plastic windows to further lower their weight, they still open upward, however do note that there are no sliding windows here like on the earlier race cars. the Reiter Engineering team with two of their masterpieces As a result of Reiter’s constant search for the delicate balance between aerodynamics and down force, the lower air intakes in front of the rear wheels have been removed to offer a better air flow around the car. Swinging around to the rear you’ll notice a slightly different rear diffuser but your glance will immediately be drawn to that massive rear wing, again completely reworked and now offering a lower drag coefficient but still doing a great job at keeping the rear firmly planted on the tarmac at high speeds, which are no problem for this new model when it will race down the straight on some of the race tracks that will see this new car during 2007. Different rear view mirrors, a roof mounted air intake and additional air vents on top of the front fenders complete the exterior modifications on the 2007 R-GT Le Mans Edition. When taking a look inside the 2007 R-GT you’ll be greeted by a new dashboard covered in dark colored cloth instead of clear Carbon Fiber, a ‘flat’ steering wheel and a tall lever that controls the sequential gear box dominate the interior together with a special race type seat with multi-point seat belts. 48 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I the PIT LANE Talking about the sequential gearbox, Reiter Engineering managed to modify this gearbox in such a manner that the shift sequence is actually too fast for the engine management system to follow, hence they are now also reprogramming the entire system to allow the engine to respond quickly enough to a gear change. The 2007 Le Mans Edition uses a similar 5998cc V12 engine from the original R-GT, again with an air flow restriction system to comply with FIA regulations, hence the shoulder mounted air intakes are now fixed, no need to increase the air flow into the engine compartment anymore, by the way, in the new 2007 edition the engine pumps out 520 hp to the rear wheels. I am really looking forward to seeing this new Murciélago R-GT in action on the various circuits worldwide since two cars have been entered into the FIA GT Championship by All Inkl.com Racing, one of these will be driven by Peter Kox and Jos Menten, while the other car will be piloted by triple FIA GT Champion, Christophe Bouchut and Stefan Mücke. ONLINE : www.reiter-engineering.com the PIT LANE I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 49 in DEPTH in DEPTH A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... CREATING THE LEGEND It all started with this prototype back in 1963 Text Mark Smeyers • Photo’s Mark Smeyers Recently one of the rarest Lamborghini’s was sold, the Miura Roadster, the price for that car could be an indication of how much the one of a kind 350 GTV could be valued at, but it is safe to say this unique legend is nothing less than a work of art ... Ferruccio’s own signature was featured on the amazing 350 GTV prototype ... Legends are built by legendary men, and you surely can’t argue with the fact that the late Ferruccio Lamborghini was a legendary man, judge for yourself by the much told story on how he actually started building high performance Gran Turismo automobiles. According to this story Ferruccio Lamborghini, who was already very wealthy in the late Fifties, owned several exotic cars from various makes, but he encountered some problems with the gearbox in his personal Ferrari. So he decided to drive to Maranello and demanded to see Enzo Ferrari himself, but the people who surrounded Enzo Ferrari at that time didn’t pay any attention to this ‘farmer’ and kept him waiting for hours at the Ferrari factory. 50 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I The 350 GTV Ferruccio was so angry, he decided to build his own car, and it would be more refined than any Ferrari or any other high performance car of that period, just to show the world he could do a better job. He did however start by replacing the original clutch from his Ferrari, which was causing the trouble in the first place, by a standard unit from one of his own tractor models, after this simple modification his car ran without any trouble. Ferruccio started investing in a brand new factory, just to create his ideal GT, but the very first Lamborghini car ever, the 350 GTV was actually designed and built in a small, secluded part of the tractor factory at Cento, because his Sant’Agata factory wasn’t completed yet and he didn’t want to waste any time to show the world what he could do. The engine just had to be a V-12 of course, Ferruccio contracted Giotto Bizzarrini, who recently had left Ferrari after working on the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO, to design the Lamborghini V12, a base that would actually be used right up to the Murciélago. The 350 GTV I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 51 in DEPTH in DEPTH A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... Ferruccio insisted that his new car couldn’t borrow it’s heart from any other manufacturer, it had to be an engine especially built for the car he was going to create. This beautiful engine first roared into life on Lamborghini’s new Schenk Dynamometer on May 15, 1963, the power output on these first tests was as high as 350 DIN (374 SAE) horsepower at 8000 rpm. a nice detail were the six exhaust pipes at the rear, three at each corner However, Ferruccio didn’t want a highly tuned racing engine, but a smooth running GT car, so he insisted on lowering the output to ‘only’ A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... 270 bhp at 6500 rpm for the 350 GT production car. Rumor stated however that the engine was later even pushed further and delivered a higher hp value, mainly because it was said the exact payment to Bizzarrini would be based on the final output of his engine. This wasn’t the performance Bizzarrini had in mind when he started working for Lamborghini, he was convinced he could take this new V12 engine over 400 hp at 11,000 rpm, but Ferruccio had no intention of building a race car, he couldn’t come to terms with Bizzarrini and the latter left the company to pursue his own ideas, however years later a Lamborghini Miura engine would be used in the race inspired P538 model. The departure of Giotto left Dallara and Stanzani in charge of de-tuning the engine to the specifications Ferruccio wanted for his first Grand Turismo Veloce model. Some early publications from Lamborghini stated the new GT would be the car sold to the public, and a special GT Veloce model would be available on special demand only. Franco Scaglioni designed the Lamborghini 350 GTV with Ferrucio’s input ... Ferruccio also requested his new engine to be able to run at least 70,000 Km before major overhaul work had to be performed on it, this was another reason the power output was lowered to a more ‘normal’ value, which didn’t stress the engine components as much either. 52 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I The 350 GTV Many parts manufactured by ATS Microfusioni at Sasso Marconi were used on the new V12, the rough castings from ATS were shipped to Cento to be machined and assembled, but since there wasn’t enough time left before the official presentation only one engine would be completely finished. The gearbox was bought directly from ZF using a Fichtel & Sachs clutch, mounted to a differential from Salisburry, just because Ferruccio didn’t have time to design and built his own gearbox yet, he would do so later on actually. Naturally, the engine was the most important part in this new car, but it still needed some other components too, like a chassis and a beautiful bodywork, Ferruccio wanted to impress people with his first car, so he had to get it right from the start. The 350 GTV I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 53 in DEPTH in DEPTH A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... The dark blue leather upholstery found inside the prototype was created by an external upholsterer, again because Ferruccio’s factory just wasn’t ready to do the job yet, other than some careful assembling of the different components, not much was really build by Automobili Lamborghini SpA, not yet anyway. The prototype was finished in a bright metallic blue shade and was presented to the gathered press at Sant’Agata on October 29th 1963. During this preview Ferruccio proudly showed his first attempt at the automotive market. The factory still wasn’t completely finished but this didn’t bother Ferruccio right now, he had another problem at hand, his awesome engine didn’t fit into the finished car. The complicated square steel tube chassis used for the prototype was also designed by Bizzarrini and built by Neri & Bonacini of Modena, who actually made two slightly different chassis, one using box shaped tubes, while another one used light weight round tubes, Ferruccio proudly proclaimed this would become the one used for the Veloce version of his new car, a version that would never be built as we would discover later on, but still he made an everlasting impression with this statement. Franco Scaglione designed the 350 GTV under close supervision of Ferruccio himself, who nearly directed Franco towards the final design, Franco was a well known designer in the early Sixties and he was responsible for the styling of the famous Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint from 1954 and the wild Bertone Bat Alfa prototypes from the Fifties. The reason why Ferruccio selected Scaglione was another of those special stories from the early Sixties, Lamborghini explained his choice with this answer : “Well, in the early 54 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I The 350 GTV The car itself featured a lot of chrome, neatly integrated into the overall design, even Ferruccio’s own signature was bolted onto the front and rear hood, combined with a stunning, chrome surrounded curved windshield and a very angular rear section, the 350 GTV looked refreshingly new when compared to other cars during the Sixties, a nice detail were the six exhaust pipes at the rear, three at each corner, which were even retained on some very early 350 GT production models. The large rear window allowed a very good rearward vision, while the thin pillars didn’t really got in the way when seated behind the slim wooden steering wheel, outward visibility was extremely good, only the driving position was a little strange, the seats were rather hard and too close to the steering wheel to find a comfortable position, but these minor problems would be resolved before the first Lamborghini 350 GT was to be delivered to his lucky owner. Sixties there was quite a number of designers and stylists to choose from. But Scaglione arrived at my place in a big shiny Mercedes, immaculately dressed and accompanied by a breathtakingly beautiful secretary. ‘Your car will be ready in a week’ he told me. So I gave him the job.” This is just another indication of the kind of personality Ferruccio had, he was a very charismatic man who knew exactly what he wanted and how he could make people perform up to their limits when working for him. Scaglione didn’t have much to work on, he only received some vague chassis dimensions and various ideas from Ferruccio, but he never even got detailed engine measurements for this new car, so when the small Sargiotto Bodyworks of Turin actually built the car from nothing more than some profile drawings you have to give them credit for the difficult task they managed to perform, the special, rotating headlight treatment wasn’t even on the original design, they built it from scratch. to get the car level while being displayed to the critical journalists surrounding it on this first presentation. It is however very strange to find a photo of the car during the presentation at the factory, with the engine cover open and an engine in place … I wonder how they pulled that one off. Probably it was just another nice legend that surrounded Lamborghini in those days. The brand new 3.5 Liter engine was a real work of art, showing six dual throat Webers in a central position, truly a magnificent sight, but as usual this engine was surrounded by it’s own legend which stated that these extremely expensive carburetors used vertical air intakes, and after the engine was ready to be fitted into the finished car, they noticed it just wouldn’t fit underneath the sleek bonnet. A solution was found by displaying the engine next to the car and putting some boxes of heavy ceramic tiles underneath the hood Ferruccio Lamborghini himself answered the many, sometimes difficult, questions from the members of the press, note that this very first prototype didn’t even have pedals or a windshield wiper installed, it was a true prototype. In fact the first chassis didn’t even have any mounts welded onto it to bolt the engine on when it would be installed, also the brakes weren’t connected and the impressive revolving headlights wouldn’t work either, but still, a few days after this initial presentation, the car was shipped to the 1963 Turin Auto Show were it attracted a lot of attention ... both good and bad reactions were received from the stunned public. The 350 GTV I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 55 in DEPTH in DEPTH A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... A fabulous looking engine was put next to the car on it’s own display and Ferruccio used a neat trick to create the impression of having a much larger stand; he mounted mirrors on the wall to create the illusion of having more than one car on display. Some people just didn’t like the styling, while others really loved it, it was even rumored that Ferruccio Lamborghini actually sold an example of this new car during the show. But the first Lamborghini model still needed a lot of work before it could be sold to the public, and Ferruccio decided his rather extreme design wasn’t right yet, he contacted Touring to redesign the Lamborghini and turn this one of a kind prototype into a true production car. The unique Lamborghini with chassis number 3500GTV 0001 would later be restored by Romano Bernardoni, owner of EmilianAuto in Bologna, one of the major dealers for Automobili Lamborghini SpA in Italy, after the prototype had been stored for over 20 years inside, and outside the factory. 56 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I The 350 GTV A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... During this time the unique GTV had to be pushed around, and when space ran out inside the factory, they actually left the car subject to the weather for several years, on an uncovered section behind the factory next to several other ‘forgotten’ Lamborghini prototypes and test cars. The original V12 engine was stored in a corner of the factory, where it later became hidden away from view by a large stock of automatic transmissions for the Espada model. The factory never had the budget nor the time to restore the car but still they didn’t want to sell it either, finally in 1985, during the Mimran reign, Romano and his cousin Stefano Pasini could convince Patrick Mimran to sell some of the older cars standing around, but Bernardoni had to assure Patrick he would restore the car to its original state. None other than Stefano himself searched after the engine inside the factory, when he finally located it, both the car and the V12 were shipped to EmilianAuto. It soon became clear that the remains weren’t in the greatest shape, it took a lot of time and money to restore this one of a kind Lamborghini back to it’s original glory. Restoration of the bodywork was trusted to Dino and Giuliano Torelli, who were really lucky the curved front windshield and the large rear window were still intact, imagine the work needed to create this front windshield from scratch, they did have to rebuilt the side windows which would be made of Plexiglas, just like they were back in 1963. Because the engine was ‘forgotten’ for over 20 years, the outside didn’t look great, but when Ezio Ambrosini disassembled it, he was impressed by the state of the interior parts, the cylinders were still as shiny as when they were installed over a quarter of a century ago, and after careful inspection it could be rebuilt again, together with the transmission and differential, Gino Bernardoni was in charge of installing it into the chassis for the very first time after all those years. Mounting the engine into the car required modifying the chassis and welding up some supports, the vertical Webers would even be used, which needed some modifications to the front air funnels on them, they were slightly shortened to be able to fit underneath the hood, the engine was also lowered a little further into the chassis and moved backward. The entire exhaust system had to be built from scratch, apparently it was never finished back in 1963, specialist Ansa Marmitte of Finale Emilia created the custom mufflers, the pipes ran underneath the door section of the car into the three small exhaust pipes at each side of the rear. The complete array of dials was lost over the years, so these too had to be rebuilt from parts taken from a 350 GT production model, the only dial that couldn’t be rebuilt was an alarm clock that was mounted on the central console, other than that they managed to built all the units back into the dashboard and have them completely wired. Bernardoni even had a windshield wiper system from a 350 GT installed on the GTV, just to show his attention to detail. It took four long years to rebuild the 350 GTV but on January 26. 1990, over 26 years after the very first public appearance and just a few days after the Diablo made it’s debut, the very first Lamborghini was started and was able to drive on it’s own power. The finished car was shown to Ferruccio himself, who appreciated the massive work that must have gone into restoring this unique piece of history, he even noticed his very own signature was back on the car, a feature that would never appear on any of the production cars built afterwards, note however that the original signature as seen on the 1963 photo’s was sadly lost over the years, so during the restoration they used a new, current signature from Ferruccio himself to recreate it. The 350 GTV I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 57 in DEPTH in DEPTH A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... A closer look at a specific Lamborghini ... Specifications sheet built because some photo’s of the green car were made, also a rumor of a 400 GTV was created, we now know that there was only one real 350GTV built and a wooden mock up of this prototype, the latter is currently shown in the Centro Studi e Ricerche Ferruccio Lamborghini in Cento, maintained by Tonino Lamborghini himself. The classic 350 GTV was now finished in a dark metallic green and received a new lighttoned leather upholstery, one of the very few things not original about the interior was the steering wheel, a classic Lamborghini unit from a Jarama was used, the original threespoke unit with the downward bend top spokes was lost during the long stay on the factory grounds. Note that this very rare prototype was now fully drivable and was even road tested by a car magazine in 1990, the test driver was rather impressed by the handling and performance of this very early Lamborghini, which was nearly 35 years old when it was road tested for the first time. It is very interesting to note that this dark green color was actually tested on the car back in 1963, but Ferruccio didn’t like it and had the car repainted in the known blue metallic, some sources stated that two cars were This first actual road test unveiled the special character of this Lamborghini, especially the engine was a surprise, it became obvious that this was still a prototype engine, mainly because of the vertical carburetors, very high revs were needed to drive away with the car, anything below 2000 rpm would kill the engine and a fast depressing of the clutch would be needed to keep it running, any early attempts from the driver would result in several jerks of the car, only about 4000 rpm or more would pull the car from a standstill, subsequently making a lot of noise, the 350 GTV couldn’t be called silent in any aspect. From the inside, the very nice leather seats and black upholstered dashboard looked ready to go into production, you wouldn’t say this was still an early prototype that really needed the skills from people like Bob Wallace to sort out the details like the hard rear suspension, the heavy clutch and gear change. Being able to drive the 350 GTV on the open road after nearly 30 years made clear that the general idea and setup of this car was right from the start, only some fine tuning would be needed to create a production car from this prototype. This priceless piece of Automobili Lamborghini SpA history was later acquired by Isao Noritake, president of the Japanese Lamborghini Owner’s Club, the car resided in the Noritake Collection until the renovation of the factory was finished, and this one of a kind Lamborghini was placed in the official factory museum, next to other cars like the Diablo Roadster prototype and the very last Countach made, also note that today the original steering wheel was installed, or at least a replica of it ... making the legend complete again. 58 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I The 350 GTV General information Engine Type of car Lamborghini 350 GTV Years built March 1963 Production 1 prototype and one wooden mock up Type V12, 60 degree, cast aluminium block with pressed-in cast iron cylinder liners, forged aluminum 3-ring pistons, front mounted, rear wheel drive Chassis numbers 0100 Cylinder heads aluminum with bronze valve guides and seats Presentation October 26. 1963 Turin Auto Show Distribution Dual overhead camshafts, chain drive, two valves/cyl. Type of car Two door coupe, two seater Designed by Franco Scaglione Main bearings 7, supported by forged aluminium caps, 4 studs each Built by Sargiotto Bodyworks of Turin Bearing diameter 2.48 in. Cylinder capacity 3464 cc (211.4 cu in.) Dimensions Bore and stroke 77 x 62 mm Wheelbase 2450 mm (96.6 in) Compr. ratio 9.5:1 (11:0 on first testing) Overall length 4500 mm (177 in) Maximum power 360 bhp at 8000 rpm 1730 mm (68.1 in) Maximum torque 326 Nm (240 lbs.ft) at 6000 rpm Overall height 1220 mm (48 in) Cooling system Water colling Front track 1380 mm (54.3 in) Rear track 1380 mm (54.3 in) Ignition Two coils and two Marelli distributors driven from front of each exhaust camshaft Plugs Bosch 125 Platinum Points Overall width Ground clearance n.a. Front overhang n.a. Rear overhang n.a. Weight 1050 kg (2314 Lbs) Distribution n.a. Front / Rear Electrical system 12 V Alternator 400 Watt Bosch Fuel system Dual electric Bendix fuel pumps, 6 twin-barrel Weber 36 IDL 1 racing carburetors in downdraft position Fuel type 100 Octane Fuel consumption 16 Lit./100 Km Chassis Structure Square steel tube chassis Body Steel and aluminium panelling Suspension All-independent coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers and tubular wishbones and anti-roll bars Brakes All-wheel Girling disc brakes, assisted by a weak booster Front 292 mm Rear 274 mm Steering type ZF Worm & roller (power assistance was to be optionally available) Lubrication Dry sump Drivetrain Type ZF all synchromesh five-speed + reverse manual with Salisburry limited slip differential Clutch dry-single plate, hydraulically operated Disc diameter 266.7 mm (10.5 in) 1st gear ratio 3.00:1 Max. speed 69 Km/h (43 Mph) 2nd gear ratio 1.705:1 Max. speed 119 Km/h (74 Mph) 3rd gear ratio 1.240:1 Max. speed 163 Km/h (101 Mph) Turning circle 13 m 4th gear ratio 1.000:1 Max. speed 209 Km/h (130 Mph) Front tyre size HS 205/15 5th gear ratio 0.850:1 Max. speed 280 Km/h (174 Mph) Rear tyre size HS 205/15 Reverse gear ratio 2.66:1 Type Pirelli Cinturato Belted Final drive ratio Front rim size 6.5x15 inch Rear rim size 6.5x15 inch Performance Type 72 spokes Borrani wheels Top speed Capacities Max. speed n.a. 3.31:1, 3.53:1 or 3.77:1 would be available 280 Km/h (174 Mph) 0-100 Km/h n.a. Standing Km n.a. Fuel 80 Lt in two tanks Engine oil 14 Lt Price in 1963 not listed Cooling system 9 Lt Luggage n.a. Lt Current value Priceless, a conservative estimate would be at least $1,000,000 The 350 GTV I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 59 LIFEstyle LIFEstyle Lamborghini style ... Lamborghini style Automobili Lamborghini Large Crest White Shirt Automobili Lamborghini Sparco Vintage Driving Shoes Text LamborghiniCollection.com - Photo’s : LamborghiniCollection.com Text LamborghiniCollection.com - Photo’s : LamborghiniCollection.com The Automobili Lamborghini Large Crest White Shirt is 100% cotton and is adorned with a screening of the famous Automobili Lamborghini crest. Available in both long and short sleeve, each shirt features the crest on the front and the Automobili Lamborghini script on the back just below the neck line. These Automobili Lamborghini Sparco Vintage Shoes are an essential item for driving your Lamborghini on the street. They were designed to be less extreme than our Racing Shoes so they could be worn every day, whether you’re driving your Lamborghini or not! They are made from extremely comfortable soft, black leather in a high-rise fashion. The first comfort driving shoe offered by Lamborghini makes a serious statement by incorporating the Sparco name and design traits while discreetly sporting the de-bossed Automobili Lamborghini stylized script on the side of each shoe, making them perfect for casual dress events. Made in Italy from a very high quality cotton - not your average T-Shirt! Women’s Jacket Text LamborghiniCollection.com - Photo’s : LamborghiniCollection.com The Women’s Automobili Lamborghini Jacket is made of waterproof fabric outside giving it an outstanding degree of water resistance. The inside features a quilted padded lining with padding. The front of the jacket sports the trademark Diablo mirror replica zipper pull and the side outer pockets are zippered as well. The Automobili Lamborghini shield is embroidered on the lower front. The first jacket by Lamborghini made exclusively for women. The composition 66% polyester and 34% polyamide. Gallardo Spyder T-Shirt Text LamborghiniCollection.com - Photo’s : LamborghiniCollection.com Long sleeve 100% cotton T-Shirt dedicated to the new Gallardo Spyder with an original silhouette sketch of the car by Luc Donkerwolke, the designer. The Automobili Lamborghini stylized script is screened in black on the right sleeve. Available in white only. Made in Italy. 60 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I LIFEstyle Automobili Lamborghini Sparco Racing Gloves Text LamborghiniCollection.com - Photo’s : LamborghiniCollection.com These Automobili Lamborghini Sparco Racing Gloves are an essential item for driving your Lamborghini on the track. So comfortable and effective, however, you’ll want to wear them even when driving on the street! The first real racing glove offered by Lamborghini makes a serious statement by incorporating the Sparco name and design traits while sporting the stylized Automobili Lamborghini script on the top of each glove. Extremely rare These original Automobili Lamborghini items can be ordered directly from the largest distributor of official Lamborghini merchandise in the world : the Lamborghini Collection. Phone : 949-715-0542 P.S.T. (Pacific Standard Time) ONLINE : www.LamborghiniCollection.com LIFEstyle I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 61 AUTOmobilia AUTOmobilia From scale models to books ... From scale models to books ... This is unclear, certain sources state the engine was bored out to nearly 5-Liter, others state it remained a 4-Liter. To create a personal Countach, the owner requested a special repaint, a black base with white stripes running over the car, including a large Raging Bull emblem on the front hood. The original car is currently still located in Japan, and acquiring it could be next to impossible, but luckily Kyosho recently created a stunning 1/18th scale model of this car, so adding this latter one to your collection is a lot easier, and won’t cost as much. LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH LP500 R Text Mark Smeyers - Photo : Mark Smeyers The black Lamborghini Countach LP500 R was a very special car back in the mid Seventies, this car started life as a 1975 LP400 bearing chassis number 1120144. When it’s Japanese owner took delivery of the car in 1977 he started modifying it, he installed a front spoiler and wheel arch extensions over the rear wheels, these wheels 62 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I AUTOmobilia This new Kyosho scale model is a great addition to a Lamborghini collection, finished to the highest levels ready to ‘park’ between your other Lamborghini models ... it is different from your everyday Countach model, but put this one next to the amazing Miura SVR from the same manufacturer and you’ve got two stunning models that will surely draw attention to your display, especially when you opt for the black Miura they made. This latter might not be original (the Miura SVR in Japan is finished in red), but the black one looks so intimidating that I’ve actually bought both, the red one for authenticity and the black one for sheer looks ... became massive BBS racing wheels. He also installed a big rear wing on his car, which was rather strange since it was a straight wing, not angled like those seen on the later Countach S-models or on the Wolf models. Interior was kept standard LP400 as was the engine, so where did the LP500 R designation came from ? AUTOmobilia I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 63 LAMBORGHINI online NEXT time the Magazine’s links to the internet A look at our next issue ... INTERESTING SITES WHAT WILL BE IN OUR NEXT ISSUE ? Are you looking for more information on something you’ve seen inside this issue of the Magazine, or would you just like to get some details on the cars found in this issue ? In that case, this list of interesting online sources is the place to go looking for an answer to all your questions : I will again write a new ‘in DEPTH’ feature on a major milestone in the history of Automobili Lamborghini SpA, which model I’ll put into the May-June issue hasn’t been decided yet, so it will be a surprise. Premium Lamborghini sites Lamborghini Tuning sites Thanks to a fellow enthusiast I will be having a nice factory visit section in the fourth issue, a multi page feature article illustrated with loads of amazing photographs of the place that brings us these automotive masterpieces ... Sant’Agata. Automobili Lamborghini SpA Reiter Engineering The Official Automobili Lamborghini SpA site www.lamborghini.com A highly professional Lamborghini tuner and the only Lamborghini racing team in the 2006 FIA GT3 Championship. www.reiter-engineering.com A selection of great Lamborghini related sites Lamborghini Cars, the enthusiast site Lamborghini Cars, the enthusiast site, the very site I created over eight years ago to share the amazing Raging Bulls with fellow enthusiasts from all over the world. www.lambocars.com SP Engineering Lamborghini Collection Hamann MotorSport GmbH The largest authorised distributor of official Lamborghini Merchandise in the world ! www.lamborghinicollection.com KLD Concept Michael’s Lamborghini site, an amazing source for photographs on Raging Bulls. www.kldconcept.com Lamborghini Registry Looking for an extensive list of chassis numbers on Lamborghini’s ? This is the place to be. www.lamborghiniregistry.com If you are looking into tuning your Lamborghini and you’re located in the United States, this is a great place to browse around. www.sp-power.com One of the best known tuners in the world, recently they also started tuning Lamborghini’s www.hamann-motorsport.com I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this brand new, power packed third edition, and do keep in mind that a subscription to the printed editon of Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine is still available, all it takes is a quick look on the Magazine’s web site and make a small donation to keep both the Magazine and the Lamborghini Cars enthusiast site alive and allow me to bring you more events from all over Europe in future issues ... Mark Smeyers Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine ONLINE : Magazine.LamboCars.com Edo Competition A rather new tuner on the market, their Gallardo tuning package is a great start. www.edo-competition.de IMSA GmbH Creators of the magnificent Gallardo GTV, if you want a very special Gallardo you’ll have to pay Mr Mohr a visit in Germany. www.imsa-tuning.de Supercar photo collections Lamborghini Forum Swiss Car Sightings Lambo-Power A Swiss based enthusiast created a massive collection of photographs on the most amazing exotics cars in and around Switzerland. www.swisscarsightings.com This exotic car forum was started two years ago and quickly became the largest Lamborghini forum on the net. www.lambo-power.com Super Car France Mark Smeyers Editor Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine A French based enthusiast site with an ever growing collection of photographs on the most amazing exotics. www.supercarfrance.com Naturally the usual sections will be back, like the LIFEstyle pages, a Quick LOOK, the PHOTO album, SpotLIGHT and AUTOmobilia ... and all those I’ve forgot the mention here, so keep an eye on the web site which will bring you Issue 4 from May 1st 2007 ... [email protected] 64 I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I LAMBORGHINI online NEXT time I Lamborghini Cars, the Magazine I 65