When Lamborghini introduced the Gallardo at the 2003 Geneva Motor, we were too young to recognize the yellow coupe as a Jalpa replacement.  Instead, we saw it as a baby Murciélago.  We were also unaware of the fact that Lamborghini had previously attempted to replace the Jalpa with a V10 entry-level model known as the P140 during development.  Under Chrysler ownership, Lamborghini had enlisted Gandini to pen up a smaller high performance sports car to accompany the Diablo, but the bambino never came to exist.

We'll leave the speculation of what could have been up to your collective imaginations, but the Gallardo was well worth the wait.  Over 14,000 made it out of the factory during its 10-year production run, eclipsing any semblance of commercial success enjoyed by its Jalpa predecessor.  With VW at the helm for development, Lamborghini had access to engineering resources unheard of for a firm so small, as well as a smart parts bin from the Audi group.  Take a look at the interior of a Gallardo, notice how the switchgear has hardly aged, and try to bring yourself to acknowledge the fact that VW ownership made more sense than another shot at buying switches off the rack from Fiat.  And, the 5.0L and 5.2L engine can attribute their successes as much to VW as they can to Lamborghini.

Year: 2005
Model: Lamborghini
Engine: 5.0L V10
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage:  3,221mi
Price: $139,888

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe

This yellow 2005 Gallardo comes from the last of the initial run; 2006 and later model years incorporated a modest power increase and some gear ratio tweaks to improve driveability.  The timeless shape is most pure in the early cars, while later cars with the updated headlights and taillights deviate a bit too far from the original concept, if you ask us.  And, we are 99% sure that the press release photos from 2003 were in this same shade of Giallo.  So, if you can live with the pre-update gearing and the paltry 493hp, you'll be rewarded with the right color on the right body iteration.

Though the magazines and Lamborghini marketing folks certainly compared this with the Ferrari F430, we don't see the need to.   Lamborghini as a brand has much less to hang its hat on, and as such, can't afford to write off development mishaps as a part of the ownership experience.  That lack of compromise is evident in the Gallardo.  In this condition, we're having trouble finding a fault in the nearly $140k asking price.

-Graham