2005 Lamborghini Gallardo SE - One of 250

The Lamborghini Gallardo was launched in 2003 (with production ending in 2013) and was the most successful model in the history of the company. With the help of parent company Audi, the Gallardo became the most usable and reliable model to ever leave the Sant'Agata factory not to mention the most successful, with a total of 14,022 examples produced. Named after a famous breed of fighting bull, the V10-powered Gallardo was Lamborghini's stable-mate to a succession of V12 flagship models.

The Gallardo has a light and stiff aluminium spaceframe, aluminium panels and a mid-mounted 5.0-litre V10 powering all four wheels on demand through a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed E-gear paddle-shift auto. In 2005, in response to feedback from some Gallardo customers, Lamborghini launched the uprated and limited-edition Gallardo SE.

The SE featured more power with 520bhp, sharper steering, stiffened suspension and revised gear ratios, plus a contrasting black-roof and a special two-tone interior. All piping and stitching on the high-quality leather are matched to the car's bodywork, the mid-section of the seats are finished in colour-coded upholstery and even the black floormats have a colour-coded border. A rear-view camera was standard on the SE, as was the multimedia and navigation system. The optional E-gear paddle shift transmission also came with launch control. Autocar Magazine said of the SE: "Expensive, but makes the standard Gallardo seem almost ordinary."

Presented for auction at Race Retro 2023 is a special edition 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo SE 'P3', one of just 250 'SE' models manufactured and sold worldwide. The first five SE examples were designated P1 to P5 and each featured unique paintwork and an individual plaque mounted on the centre console. In this case P3 is finished in a dramatic shade of Pearl Green. It also benefits from some further enhancements carried out by a Lamborghini specialist in Germany including an update to LP560-spec at c.£50,000 (new bumpers, bonnet, full lights upgrade etc.) and a set of lightweight magnesium Lamborghini wheels (costing £15,000 alone).

Supported by a full Lamborghini service history and currently displaying just 48,000 miles, we are informed that the Gallardo starts on-the-button and performs as well as it looks. It has been correctly imported into the UK on a NOVA, enabling its next owner the opportunity to register it here in the UK or offer it for export. Our transport partners, EM Rogers, have a lot of experience in this process.

The last known-sale of one of the first five SEs was ‘P1’ in Holland (2017) and it is believed that particular car changed hands for the equivalent of £135,000. 'P3' seems very sensibly guided by comparison and this is a super opportunity to own a unique, special edition of the Gallardo, which itself is fast becoming something of an emerging classic Lamborghini.