Lamborghini Silhouette - Lamborghini’s fortunes were waning in the mid-Seventies

Lamborghini Silhouette

Lamborghini Silhouette

Manufacturer Bertone for Lamborghini
Production 1976 - 1979, 54 produced.
Predecessor Lamborghini Urraco
Price range $129,850

Designer(s) Carozzeria Bertone.
Overview

Successor Lamborghini Jalpa
Class Sports car
Body style 2-door targa
Layout Transverse mid-engine, rear-wheel drive.
Engine 2,995.8 cc (182.8 cu in) V8
Transmission 5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2,450 mm (96.5 in)
Length 4,320 mm (170.1 in)
Width 1,880 mm (74.0 in)
Height 1,120 mm (44.1 in)
Kerb weight 1,240 kg (2,734 lb)

Lamborghini Silhouette

Lamborghini’s fortunes were waning in the mid-Seventies. The Urraco had been a costly business, and the firm wasn’t doing enough business of any kind to even consider a replacement. But perhaps the Lamborghini Urraco could be redeveloped at low cost into something more saleable. Sant’ Agata requested Bertone to do just that, and the result premiered at the 1976 Geneva show as the Lamborghini Silhouette.

The Lamborghini Silhouette P300 was a two-door two-seat mid-engined rear-wheel drive sports car, made in small numbers by Lamborghini between 1976 and 1979.

Lamborghini Silhouette

Officially presented at the 1976 Geneva Auto Show, the Silhouette began as a styling exercise by noted Italian Carrozzeria Bertone. It was based on the earlier Lamborghini Urraco, but was distinguished from the Urraco by more angular styling. The Silhouette was the first Lamborghini to employ a targa top roof. The Silhouette later evolved into the similar looking but more successful Lamborghini Jalpa. The car had a 3.0 litre all-aluminium alloy Lamborghini V8 internal-combustion engine mounted transversely behind the driver. Of the 54 units built (only 12 with right-hand drive), 31 are currently known to exist.

Lamborghini Silhouette

Official performance figures indicate the Silhouette could complete the 0 to 100 kilometres per hour (0 to 62.1 mph) sprint in 6.5 seconds, 0 to 100 miles per hour (0 to 161 km/h) in 16.1 seconds, and could reach a top speed of 260 kilometres per hour (160 mph).