Vehicle Description
Chassis No. ZHWBU47S68LA03145
Volkswagen Auto Group was on somewhat of a spending spree in the
late 1990s, snatching up legendary marques left and right including
Bugatti, Bentley, and in June 1998, the House of the Raging Bull.
Lamborghini, which had narrowly escaped bankruptcy following failed
Formula One engine program and investing bundles of cash into
powerboat V12s, approached Audi to negotiate a powertrain deal for
a future model. Audi AG signed a $110 million dollar deal to absorb
Lamborghini instead, and made it their first order of business to
revive plans for the Diablo's successor which had been shelved
under Chrysler ownership. As the first all-new flagship produced
under Audi's stewardship, some questioned if the bloodline that had
produced the sensational Miura, fabled Countach, and fire-breathing
Diablo would lose its Italian flare.
Lamborghini fans could breathe a sigh of relief when in September
2001, the Lamborghini Murcielago was unveiled during an event at
the factory in Sant'Agata. The design brief for technical director
Massimo Ceccarani was to civilize the Diablo, which he began by
carrying over many of its core ingredients. The Murcielago would be
the last Lamborghini to use a V12 derived from the original
Bizzarrini design of 1963, now in 6.2-liter form pumping out 572
horsepower, which was transmitted to the pavement via the Diablo
VT's viscous four-wheel-drive system. The new Bull also shared its
predecessor's tubular steel space frame construction, now cloaked
in a stealth bomber-inspired carbon fiber and steel body featuring
active air intakes on the rear wings. The impact of its new German
owners was felt in the Murcielago's lighter steering, better ride
quality, and additional headroom compared to its older brother.
A 2007 update saw the Murcielago revive the nomenclature of the
legendary Countach - LP 640 standing for the engine's
"Longitudinale Posteriore" orientation and its increased 640
horsepower output. Other indications of the LP 640's newness were
its restyled bumpers and taillights, asymmetrical side air intakes,
single outlet exhaust, and diamond-stitched leather trimming the
updated interior. Like the original Murcielago which could be had
in open-topped Roadster form beginning in 2004, Lamborghini
announced at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show that the Roadster would
also receive the coupe's LP 640 specifications.
Finished in the striking stealth combination of Nero Aldebaran
paintwork over matching Nero Perseus leather, this Murcielago LP
640 Roadster was highly optioned with full diamond-pattern Q-Citura
stitching in contrasting white on the seat centers, door panels,
and center armrest. Exposed carbon fiber trim is abundant on the
instrument surround, center console, steering wheel, shift paddles,
parking brake, and door sills, as well as on the optional carbon
fiber engine brace. Completing the elegant and sporting
presentation of this Roadster are a set of silver 18-inch
staggered-width Hermera wheels.
One of approximately 183 Murcielago LP 640 Roadsters built in 2008,
chassis number 03145 was completed in March of that year and
imported to San Diego in May before selling to its first owner. The
accompanying CARFAX Vehicle History Report places the Lamborghini
in Arizona for a brief period of time before being relocated to
California in 2010 showing 2,354 miles. Clearly an object of
admiration rather than a mode of transport, the car is said to have
been on static display for a number of years prior to receiving a
major service in March 2022 at Raging Bull Performance in Costa
Mesa, California. Work included replacing the clutch, flywheel,
e-gear sensor, fluids, and battery at a cost of over $12,500.
Approximately 427 Murcielago LP 640 Roadsters were produced in
total over a four-year period, with even fewer destined for the
United States. With its 640 horsepower LP 640 specification,
elegant black-on-black finishes, generous carbon fiber accents, and
remarkably low mileage, this Murcielago LP 640 Roadster is an
unrepeatable opportunity to acquire an investment-quality example
of the breed.
