2004 Lamborghini Murciélago Manual

Successor to the Diablo as Lamborghini's flagship model, the Murciélago 'hypercar' was introduced in 2001 for the 2002 model year and like its forebears was named after a famous fighting bull. The Murciélago was Lamborghini's first new design for 11 years and also the Italian company's first since its acquisition by the Volkswagen Group's Audi division in 1998. Audi's input ensured that build quality was of the highest whilst, with classic Teutonic efficiency, the manufacturing time was cut from the Diablo's 500 hours to a more financially viable, 300. Major features, identified as synonymous with the Lamborghini brand, formed the basis of the design including a mid-mounted V12 engine, cab-forward layout, scissor-action doors and all-wheel drive.

Styled by Lamborghini's head of design, Luc Donckerwolke, the angular coupé was remarkably low, boasting a roof height of just under 1.2 metres and featured distinctive doors that swung upwards and forwards when opened. A combination of carbon fibre, steel and aluminium was used for the chassis/body, while the suspension featured the conventional supercar set-up of double wishbones all round. The Murciélago's power unit was a longitudinally-mounted 6.2-litre V12, an engine that could trace its ancestry back to the very first Lamborghini of 1964. As installed in the Murciélago, this formidable power unit produced 572bhp, transmitted to the tarmac through a 6-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel drive and acres of bespoke rubber. An active rear wing, active air intakes which deployed automatically when required and further state-of-the-art ‘aero’ helped keep the Murciélago stable at its c.200mph top speed.

On offer here is a UK-supplied, right-hand drive example that was first registered on the 26th March 2004 and boasts the desirable gated manual gearbox. Finished in striking Giallo Orion, one of three shades of yellow available in 2004, it has been enjoyed by two previous keepers before joining our vendor’s Collection in 2007. A 'bottom-end' rebuild was carried out by BHP Performance in 2012 and the car has been in storage since then, with the odometer currently reading 59,346 miles.

Consequently, after some 12 years of storage, interested parties will need to factor in that the car will require some recommissioning and that is reflected in the competitive estimate when you consider it’s a UK-supplied, manual gearbox car. Our vendor has confirmed that it has benefited from some recent mechanical attention including 12 coil packs, spark plugs, fuel filter, fuel pump and oil and filters and the car now starts and drives. The vendor acknowledges that the new owner may well need to invest in tyres, brakes, a full service etc. before road use, considering the period the car has been off the road.

We therefore encourage and welcome interested parties to make the journey to Silverstone to see the car and fully satisfy themselves as to what work may be required to return this glamorous V12 Lamborghini to top form.