Tag Archives: Marcello Gandini

1976 Lamborghini Urraco 300

While the Urraco wasn't the first mid-engined Lamborghini, it was certainly more accessible to ordinary enthusiasts than what many consider the original supercar, the Miura. True to Lamborghini form, few Uraccos were ever built, even though this model was in production for a decade. Even if you count the Silhouette and Jalpa models, which drew heavily on Urraco hardware, a mere 1,255 examples left the factory. With a V8 engine ranging in size from 2.0 liters to 3.0 liters and 2+2 seating, this car was a direct competitor to the Ferrari Dino 308 GT4. This particular Urraco for sale in Florida is a looker. From its pristine interior to attractive Capagnolo wheels, it's a great example of an oft overlooked Lambo.

1976 Lamborghini Urraco 300

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1976 Lamborghini Uracco 300
Type: Lamborghini P300 Urraco
Years built: 1974 - 1979
Production: 190
Chassisnr.: 20.000 - 20.570
Presentation: November 1974 Turin Auto Show
Designed by: Marcello Gandini for Bertone
Built by: Bertone
Structure: Sheet steel, floor incorporated into the body
Suspension: All-independent, McPhersons with coil springs, telescopic dampers
Brakes: All-wheel ventilated Girling disc brakes, vacuum assisted by double hydraulic circuit and two servo's
Type: V-8 90 degree, light-alloy and aluminium block with gearbox and differential built in the same block and pressed-in liners, mid mounted, rear wheel drive
Distribution: Dual overhead camshaft with chain drive, two valves/cylinder
Main bearings: 5
Cyl. Capacity: 2995.8 cc
Bore & stroke: 86 x 64.5 mm
Compr. ratio: 10.5:1
Max. power: 250 bhp at 7500 rpm
From 1976 on: 260 bhp at 7500 rmp
Max. torque: 195 lbs.ft. at 3500 rpm
From 1976 on: 201 lbs.ft. at 3500 rpm
Cooling system: Water cooled, pump, thermostat and two electric fans
Ignition: Two Magnetti Marelli coils and one Marelli distributor
Plugs: Bosch 235 P21
Electr. system: 12 V
Alternator: 770 W Bosch
Fuel system: Electric Bendix fuel pump, 4 twin-barrel down-draught Weber 40 DCNF carburetors
Type: Lamborghini five-speed + reverse manual all-synchromesh Lamborghini differential
Clutch: Dry-single plate, hydraulically operated

I'm always disappointed by dealers that do not give detailed descriptions of vehicle history, especially when it's a Lamborghini dealer handling a classic exotic like this. That being said, the asking price of $85,888 seems way off, as most Urraco's I've seen for sale reside in the $30,000 to $50,000 territory. This car looks every bit of it's claimed 37,658 miles, but that's just not enough to put its value in the stratosphere.

-Paul

2000 Qvale Mangusta

Originally intended to be the savoir for the DeTomaso nameplate, what was supposed to be the Biguà became the Qvale Mangusta. Short on capital, Alejandro de Tomaso teamed up with American Bruce Qvale, son of Kjell Qvale, who was the first distributor of Jaguars on the West Coast of the US. Powered by a Ford 4.6 liter V8 in a front mid-engine fashion, only 284 were produced between 2000 and 2002, with all but 18 of these sent to the US market. It was an interesting vehicle, with a lot of Ford bits in the inside and an interesting targa top with a pivoting rear section to transform this sports car into a full convertible. This example for sale in Las Vegas has covered a scant 16,000 miles and looks showroom new.

2000 Qvale Mangusta

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VIN NUMBER: ZF4AH01A4YM000036. New tires, just serviced. Dealer Brochures, owners manuals, magazine articles, all keys with FOBs. Noting Missing. Complete Mangusta. Introduced in the 1996 Geneva motor show, Bigua was arguably the last new De Tomaso launched before the company ceased production. However, Bigua was never produced under the name of De Tomaso. Instead, most people knew it as “Qvale Mangusta.” The Qvale Mangusta was manufactured Modena Italy, just like Ferraris, Maserati's and Lamborghini's, and penned by Marcello Gandini who also designed the Lambo Miura, Countach, Diablo, Bugatti EB110 and various Maserati's.

Chassis: Designed by former Formula 1 designer Enrique Scalabroni, who worked for Scuderia Ferrari, Williams F1 and Dallara.
Engine: SVT Cobra Engine: Double overhead cams, all aluminium V8 32 valve displaced 4.6 litres that produces 320 hp.
Transmission: Borg-Warner 5-speed manual transmission.
Suspension: Double-wishbones suspension all round with Bilstein (adjustable)
Brakes: BREMBO four piston calipers.

Tail light covers are metal mesh like the Ferrari Challenge Grills. It has a very special roto retractable roof, which could transform the car from a coupe to convertible or Targa. Tubi exhaust system designed exclusively for the Mangusta.

At $29,500, you can look at this car two ways: either it's an affordable exotic or an expensive used Mustang. Granted, an F1 engineer did the chassis, but there's a lot of Ford bits in this car. While the Mangusta was the swan song for DeTomaso and Qvale, in an interesting twist, this car's chassis lived on in the limited production MG XPower SV.

-Paul

2001 Lamborghini Diablo 6.0

The job of succeeding the Lamborghini Countach was never going to be an easy one. Chrysler's takeover of Lamborghini took place in 1987, and with it, the final stages of development of the Countach replacement, the Diablo, fell under the watchful eye of Detroit. Tom Gale and the design team at Chrysler decided they didn't like Marcello Gandini's original design and smoothed out the sharp edges a bit. The era of Chrysler ownership was short lived, and by the end of the Diablo's life, Audi had taken the reigns. The last iteration of the Diablo is what we see here, a final year, 2001 Diablo with the 6.0 liter V12, revised interior fittings and all wheel drive system.

2001 Lamborghini Diablo 6.0

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2001 Lamborghini Diablo 6.0. Very unique Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 Coupe finished in custom Verde Ithaca over black leather interior. This car has been completely redone top to bottom and is documented. Photos do not reflect the true beauty and depth of this amazing color! Factory installed options include:

6 speed Transmission
Clear Engine Bonnet
Branding Package
Black brake calipers w/Lamborghini script
Black leather w matching Verde Ithaca piping
Tinted Windows
FACTORY Wheels Available
Fresh Engine out Service
New clutch

The lime green color of this Diablo reminds me of a similar color that was offered years prior on the Miura. Values on Diablos have been strong, with earlier examples hovering around the $100,000 mark with late model examples in the mid $100,000 range. A later model, Audi influenced Diablo would certainly be a bit more easier to live with, but then again, that really isn't the point when it comes to Lamborghinis. It's about flamboyance, raw power and sheer outrageousness, which this green monster has in spades.

-Paul

1980 Fiat X1/9

With the popularity of mid-engine sports cars gaining traction in the late 1960s, Fiat sought to get in on the action and devise a replacement to their rear engine 850 Spider. With styling conceived by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the X1/9 used the all new single cam engine from the front drive Fiat 128, which was handy, as this powerplant was set up having a transaxle, which made conversion to mid-engine use a rather easy affair. At the start, the car’s body was manufactured by Bertone with final assembly carried out by Fiat, and towards the end of the car’s life, the production shifted entirely to Bertone, with the car being transitioned to the “Bertone” badged in 1983 with the exit of Fiat from the US market. The car was marketed in the US until 1987 by Malcolm Bricklin and his company, International Automobile Importers, Inc. The X1/9 soldiered on until 1989 and has garnered a legacy of a lightweight, good handling compact, if a bit susceptible to the usual rust and teething issues that plague Italian cars of the period. This example for sale in Ohio is a Fiat badged X1/9 and beat the odds as a 69,000 mile survivor.

1980 Fiat X1/9

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1980 FIAT X1/9. VIN# : 128AS000133787. MILEAGE: 69,498. These X1/9 are hard to find and are listed on Yahoo's ten most desirable used vehicles that are impossible to find. You want to talk about a rare beauty...this 1980 Fiat X1/9 is it. This one has been well maintained as you can see from the pictures. It runs great and there are no issues.

Since the Fiat 500 came to the US last year, I’ve noticed a few Fiat dealers peddling vintage models of the marque, no doubt as a tactic to get people interested in the history of the brand and appreciate the qualities of current offerings. Since it is for sale at a dealer, the almost $8,000 price doesn’t surprise me. If this was from a private seller, you might be able to snag this car for about $2,000 to $3,000 less. If this example is rust free, it, along with the Lancia Scorpion/Montecarlo would be about the cheapest way into a mid-engine Italian vehicle. The color and US spec bumpers are not to my taste, but it is nice to see clean examples of this sporty runabout are still out there if you search hard enough.

-Paul

1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary

One feature car visibly absent here at CICFS is arguably one of the most well recognized and visually arresting exotics ever to hit the road: the Lamborghini Countach. Designed as a follow up to the car that invented the supercar genre, the Miura, the Countach was a legend, known for it's scissor doors, raucous V12 engine and less than friendly driving experience. Towards the end of the Countach's life, a 25th Anniversary model was introduced to celebrate 25 years of Lamborghini vehicles. Mechanically similar to Countach's that preceded it, the 25th Anniversary had restyled airboxes, a wealth of body colored trim and different taillights. A total of 650 of these Anniversary models were produced until the Diablo was released in 1990.

1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary

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Thanks for viewing this STUNNING 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition. With just 7,129 KM's (4,430 Miles) and in the perfect color combination of Red with Black Leather, this is a every you could want in one of the most iconic SUPERCARS!

Some people say that this is a collector car of the future, but if you follow the trending UPWARD prices of these beauties, you'll understand that this is a collector car of the PRESENT. SICK AND TIRED of losing $$$ on brand new exotic cars? Here's your chance to buy a SUPERCAR that will appreciate in value! This Countach is in EXCELLENT CONDITION. It has little to no wear in the interior and the exterior is exceptional. The paint is bright and shiny without any significant blemish.

It's had a very recent full fluid service and a new set of Pirelli PZero tires as well as new cooling hoses and drive belts. This Anniversary Edition adds the rear wing and U.S. front bumper painted red to match. Unlike the earlier cars, the 89 was upgraded with restyled and enlarged rear air boxes, the vents behind them were changed so that they run front to back instead of side to side for improved cooling. Also, a new air dam and side skirting, both with air intakes, were fitted, and the taillights were restyled to be narrower, with body-colored panels replacing the upper and lower parts of the previous large taillights. Complete with books, jack, spare tire, service records and keys.

The asking price of almost $120,000 is not unreasonable considering you are buying an almost 23 year old brand new Lamborghini. It most certainly won't be bought to be used on a daily basis, as the Countach driving experience is not as friendly as the contemporary, Audi influenced Lambos. For a kid that grew up in the 80s, though, this car was the poster child of outrageousness in the automotive world, and more than a decade on into the new millenium, nothing has changed.

-Paul

1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

The Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 was the first production Ferrari to feature a V8 engine, making it a very important car in the history of the marque. There has been a Ferrari with a mid-mounted V8 in the lineup ever since this model was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1973. Styled by Bertone, this vehicle signaled a change of direction in Ferrari’s styling language for years to come. The love it or hate it styling concealed a surprisingly practical package, with a fairly usable backseat for passengers or the proverbial golf clubs. This example for sale is an early pre catalytic converter example with the 255 horsepower version of the 3.0 V8, which turns out to be a rare package, more so than which I was aware.

1974 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

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Rare Opportunity to own a slice of history. I'm selling my 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 2+2, vehicle identification number 10770. After extensive research, we've determined that this is one of the last four series 1 cars produced by Ferrari and quite possibility the last one running of those four. This car drives and looks beautiful. A must have for a 308 collector or enthusiast. Don't let this one get away!

I have tried to photographically document the car as best as possible, showing hi-res close-up pictures and a video. Bare in mind, this is not a garage-queen, 100 point car, but a rare GT4 driver car, well taken care and maintained in great condition. Please take a moment to review the pictures and video below. Here's what makes the Series 1 cars different and more desirable:

Series 1 cars had 255hp with euro cams and euro timing specs.
Series 1 cars had the narrow grille with the wrap valance
Series 1 cars were standard equipped with Cromodora wheels and center caps.
A series 1 glove box opens with knob under dash, the dash front is solid leather.
The left dash panel on a series 1 GT4 had 3 switches with 3 indicator lights.
Steering rack mounts same a 246 Dino

Fixed type seatbelts on most, but some had the “reel” type

Fuse box visible inside glove box

No cats
Here's a PDF document concerning the differences: 308 Dino GT4 Overview

Now for a little specific information on this Dino. Looks like a three owner car, 50,121 miles, brought into California in 2006, bought by me in 2009. Well maintained with major service done in 2007. Everything is working on the car, including the clock, windows are fast and A/C is cold. Tires and brakes are excellent. Radiator and electrical are redone, no overheating or electrical issues. Hoses, wires and tires all new. Carburetors have been rebuilt. Interior is excellent tan leather, dash is perfect, seats are perfect. Exterior paint is very glossy and the color is a beautiful Ferrari red. Some panels have been resprayed but basically the body and paint are in very good condition considering age. Car drives beautiful and handles great, never heats up. Clutch and shifting are perfect. Just completed oil service with Mobil 1, V-Twin, Synthetic ( only oil with the correct additives for older vehicle valve guides and rings ).

Known repairs/improvements/service:

Replace cam belts and tensioner bearings
Replace all accessory belts
Adjusted valves
Re-timed cams
Replace water hoses & fuel lines
Rebuild water pump & carburetors
Repair / re-core radiator and flush cooling system
Flush brake system
Replace spark plugs and wires
Replace air filter
Recharge A/C system
Re-wire radiator fans
Replaced final drive seals
Replace and rewire fuse box
Included Extras:

Set of 4 five spoke Ferrari 308 wheels
Original Blaupaunt radio
Owner's manual with leather Dino
Shop manual
Cover

I’ve never been the biggest fan of mid-engined, four seat V8 Ferraris, as the proportions can be a bit off and styling from certain angles can be a bit awkward. However, I’m impressed by the quality of this vehicle. Oftentimes, the leather interior looks tired and bodywork can be a bit dodgy on these 308 GT4s, as they are one of the cheaper ways of entry into Ferrari ownership. This car looks remarkably well kept, the tan leather appears to be in like new condition and the bodywork is quite straight. Aside from the cumbersome federally mandated bumpers, I’m coming around on these early V8 Ferraris. The asking price of almost $35,000 is strong money for a 308 GT4, but it is better to buy one complete and well sorted. These cars may be cheap to purchase in Ferrari terms, but one must always remember that maintenance can be an eye opening experience.

-Paul

1975 Lamborghini Espada 400GT

Before the Gallardo, Murcielago and the Audi takeover, Lamborghinis were never produced in great numbers. Some models, such as the LM002 and Jarama saw fewer than 500 built. However, one of the most obscure Lamborghinis is also one which had the biggest production run pre-Audi ownership, with 1,217 built. The Espada was a marvel of packaging, with a low-slung look and long bonnet concealing the 4.0 liter V12 with 350 horsepower on tap. While most Espadas had a 5 speed manual, this particular example for sale has one of the first automatic transmissions designed to grapple with such an immense motor. This gearbox had but two forward speeds, but with the V12's grunt, it was deemed adequate by Lamborghini engineers.

1975 Lamborghini Espada 400GT

Automatic. Equipped with very rare factory electric sunroof, power steering and windows. This is in pristine condition. This bull should just about satisfy anyone.

While some deride the styling, I love the unique fastback styling of the Espada. What I am not a fan of, however, is the 1970s era federally mandated bumpers and automatic transmission, as rare as that gearbox may be. This was a car deserves to appear as it does in this short documentary by Deutsche Welle - with slim chrome bumpers and a wild '70s paint scheme. For those looking for a V12 Lamborghini bargain, look no further than this grand tourer.

-Paul

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400

The Lamborghini Miura is the holy grail of classic Italian cars. Marcello Gandini took the world by storm when the P400 prototype debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in 1966. It popularized the "supercar" genre, as noted automotive journalist L.J.K. Setright used this term to describe the Miura upon reviewing it. To this day, the Miura is admired for its daring looks and innovative packaging. This car was a departure for Lamborghini, as they began by producing grand touring vehicles that were more comfortable and usable than comparable models from Ferrari. Not only was the car's looks revolutionary, but the drivetrain itself was rather advanced, as Lamborghini combined the engine and gearbox in one casting so transverse placement could be easily implemented. This concours example has around 13,000 miles and includes a certificate of authenticity from the factory.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400

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This is the Supercar you have been waiting for – the rarely available Lamborghini Miura! Buy Now to get a jump start on this year's car show season. This 1968 Lamborghini Miura for sale is perfect for the discriminating auto enthusiast who knows that it is the original Miura P400 model that changed the sports car world forever (it wasn't the later S or SV models) when the first V-12 mid-engine production road car was shown at the 1966 Geneva Auto Show.

The Miura P400 model is the car that popularized the phrase "Supercar" when British motor journalist L. J. K. Setright wrote about the Lamborghini Miura in CAR magazine in the mid-1960s. It is the Miura P400 that established Lamborghini among the manufacturers of the world's highest performing and best looking sports cars. Ferrari didn't introduce its first V-12 mid-engine Boxer road car until 7 years after the Miura P400. Since it was introduced, the Miura is regularly noted as one of the most beautiful cars ever designed. Even 45 years later, the Miura's design is timeless and holds its own against any sports car. The Miura P400 was the fastest production road car in the world in its time.

This specific Miura for sale is further distinguished by the fact that it is unrestored (with possible exception of some exterior paint) and properly maintained. A collector car can only be unmolested and original once, and most of the cars of this era have been modified in numerous ways (no longer as was produced by the factory). No expense has been spared to sort out the car and maintain it properly. All the normal maintenance items have been refreshed (lubricants, brakes, suspension, tires, etc.) at regular maintenance intervals to keep this a safe, high performing drive.

This specific Miura for sale was meticulously evaluated by the Lamborghini factory's Registro team (led by the factory's highly regarded test driver Valentino Balboni), and was given a certificate of originality (Certificato d'origine). This Miura is low mileage and regularly run to ensure it stays in good running condition. This car is well sorted and is very reliable. This car has been invited to numerous Concours d'Elegance events and is always among the people's favorites and has received numerous awards.

Given the age of the car it can never be certain what the true mileage is. When I bought the car in 2002, the Euro odometer read 12,427 KM (7,722 Miles). I had a US units speedometer installed (still have the original speedo) when I bought the car (to make measurements easier during road rallys), and the current odometer reads 5,385 Miles. Thus, the total known mileage of this Miura is 13,107 miles. The excellent original condition of the car would indicate this truly is a low mileage vehicle whatever the actual mileage is.

Quite simply, there never was a car like the Miura and we'll never see another one like it in the future. This car emerged at a time when regulations were lax and automotive designers played it fast and loose, limited only by their imaginations. I am quite glad that the Miura concept of 2006 didn't see the light of day, because this is one of those vehicles that deserves to be remembered as is. Any kind of tribute or revival would be sacriledge to the the original.

One of the Miura's most famous appearances on the silver screen was in the opening scene of the original Italian Job starring Micahel Caine and Noël Coward. As Matt Monro plays in the background, the character of Roger Beckermann casually hurdles the car around the tight roads of the Italian Alps. One surely isn't prepared for the disaster that hits a few scenes away.

-Paul