LAMBO SUN GODS: Three dazzling examples of one of the most extraordinary car companies in the business
June 12, 2017
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by independent automotive journalist Roger C. Johnson
This stunning 1988 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole (Lot #688) is one of several fine examples of the marque heading for Barrett-Jackson’s Northeast Auction.
The name Lamborghini carries as much street rep and curb appeal as any other supercars in the world. Even their early front-engine machines beamed of high performance and mesmerizing designs.
At the upcoming Northeast Auction you will see three modern-era Lamborghinis that look like they could fly when their doors are opened. Two of them even have vertical and horizontal stabilizers on the rear deck. With so much racing technology packaged so dramatically it’s easy to understand why owners feel like they can fly with the eagles any time they want. And each one flaunts the colors of the sun on the most compelling automotive designs in our solar system.
2002 Murcielago (Lot #702)
Representing its first U.S. model year, this Lamborghini (Lot #702) glistens with the sun on its carbon fiber, steel and aluminum body panels. It is actually a rare Aranco Atlas tri-coat and contrasts nicely with its black leather interior’s orange stitching. Power comes from a 60-degree V12 displacing 6.2 liters, which was the company’s largest V12 to date.
The freshly serviced engine also sports a new clutch for the factory 6-speed manual transmission. Advertised horsepower is 575 at 7,500 rpm. This all-wheel-drive machine raised the bar for even the highest-caliber performance cars when it came to controlling the horsepower available. Electronic ABS and traction control coordinate the process. An exotic quad-stacked exhaust by Albertone delivers a tone to beat all.
This car weighs 3,638 pounds and can reach 205 mph, given enough road. Only 4,099 Murcielagos were produced from 2001 through 2010. This particular example shows 17,550 miles on the odometer. That makes it a tremendous value for generations to come.
1991 Diablo (Lot #661)
Everything about these cars is rare, and here’s one more example. Lamborghini produced less than 3,000 of them. This first-generation U.S.-spec 1991 model (Lot #661) has only accumulated 7,300 miles in its lifetime. It has been professionally stored since 2003, and serviced regularly. That makes it virtually brand new. A 5.7-liter V12 engine and 5-speed manual transmission are all the tools you’ll need to drive this car into the future as quickly as you like. It was deemed the fastest production car in the world at the time.
The power plant offered 485 horsepower and brought 428 ft/lbs of torque to any event, thanks to multi-port fuel injection. This model also helped the company begin turning profits again. Chrysler was their new owner at the time, so Lamborghini now had an effective dealership/service/parts program, and sales began to climb once again for this ultra-exclusive car brand. Styling guru Marcello Gandini was responsible for the Diablo’s dynamic appearance.
An improved door arrangement made the car easier to enter and exit. Premium Italian leather adorns the interior, making it a great place to spend the majority of your time. This was actually the work of Chrysler designers, who did an impressive job on this exotic machine. Super Fly Yellow is also the color of the sun‒ and when you’re chasing it, you have 202 mph speeds to do so.
1988 Countach (Lot #688)
This is the car that kicked conventional supercar design to the curb when it was first introduced in 1974. We can thank the young stylist Marcello Gandini at Bertone Studios. His scissor-door design incorporated into this car would amaze anyone watching it operate ‒ then and now. The brilliant Gandini also penned the Miura when he was even younger.
Still, the Countach has a dominating and unforgettable visual presence. Its all-aluminum, 5-liter V12 fuel-injected engine makes 414 horsepower. A classic supercar chassis lets that power do its job enthusiastically. This package should weigh in at a little under 3,500 pounds. So, it’s a solid platform ‒ an extremely maneuverable, solid platform.
This car (Lot #688) was originally built to order for well-known engineering specialist Joe Natasi. One of the car’s sun visors was signed by Lamborghini legend Valentino Balboni. This Countach has only been driven 8,500 miles, ever! Its lifestyle now consists of attending special car shows or being shown in a collection. Less than 500 miles ago this machine was freshened up with an engine and clutch-out procedure.
Only about 2,000 of these cars were ever built during their production lifespan. That puts this car in the stratosphere of collectability. But you can park it down here on earth, right in the center of your driveway.
Lamborghini has always been one of the brightest stars in the sky. It pushes the limits of every automotive envelope. The results are invariably spectacular. To own a Lamborghini means you have a rocket ride to the edges of the known universe. You can come and go in the lap of Italian supercar luxury. And you can look better doing it than anything else under the sun.
For up-to-date information on these and other vehicles on the Northeast Auction docket, click HERE.