Lamborghini Urraco
Encyclopedia
The Lamborghini Urraco was a sports car
manufactured by Italian
automaker Lamborghini
in the 1970s. It was introduced at the Turin
auto show in 1970 but wasn't available to buyers until 1973.
The car was a 2+2 coupé
with body designed by Marcello Gandini
, at the time working for Carrozzeria Bertone. Rather than being another supercar
, like the Lamborghini Miura
, the Urraco was more affordable, an alternative to the contemporary Ferrari Dino and Maserati Merak
.
When production ended in 1979, 791 Urracos had been built. Twenty-one of these were labelled Urraco PIII (P250 Tipo III) for the American market. In order to comply with American regulations, these cars had larger front bumpers and emissions controls, the latter resulting in less horsepower for the American version. The other Urraco versions were the Urraco P200, Urraco P250 and Urraco P300 with 2 litre, 2.5 litre, and 3 litre V-8 respectively.
Both the Lamborghini Silhouette
, with its detachable roof panel, and its successor Lamborghini Jalpa
, with a 3.5 litre V-8 engine, were based upon the Urraco.
. Each presenter was given £10,000 to buy a "Super Car". James May
purchased a Urraco. He appeared with the Lamborghini on the back of a flat bed truck, claiming that the car had several electrical issues. In the end, all three cars turned out to be unreliable and did not complete the challenges, although May and the Urraco were the closest of the three presenters to the final destination when the car ran out of petrol. At one point, James May
defended the Urraco to a passerby by saying: "No, it's not a kit car, it's a Lamborghini." He then mumbled under his breath: "Philistine
."
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
manufactured by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
automaker Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
in the 1970s. It was introduced at the Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
auto show in 1970 but wasn't available to buyers until 1973.
The car was a 2+2 coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
with body designed by Marcello Gandini
Marcello Gandini
Marcello Gandini is an Italian car designer, widely known for his work with the automotive design house Gruppo Bertone, notably his design of the Lamborghini Countach. Together with Giorgetto Giugiaro and Leonardo Fioravanti, Gandini forms a noted triumvirate of Italian car designers, all born in...
, at the time working for Carrozzeria Bertone. Rather than being another supercar
Supercar
Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car"...
, like the Lamborghini Miura
Lamborghini Miura
The Lamborghini Miura was a sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 1966 and 1972. The car is widely considered to have begun the trend of high performance, two-seater, mid-engined sports cars...
, the Urraco was more affordable, an alternative to the contemporary Ferrari Dino and Maserati Merak
Maserati Merak
The Maserati Merak was an Italian sports car introduced in 1972, essentially a junior version of the Maserati Bora. It substituted an all new Maserati designed quad-cam V-6 motor for the Bora's larger V-8, resulting not only in a lower cost, but room for a small backseat and better handling due to...
.
When production ended in 1979, 791 Urracos had been built. Twenty-one of these were labelled Urraco PIII (P250 Tipo III) for the American market. In order to comply with American regulations, these cars had larger front bumpers and emissions controls, the latter resulting in less horsepower for the American version. The other Urraco versions were the Urraco P200, Urraco P250 and Urraco P300 with 2 litre, 2.5 litre, and 3 litre V-8 respectively.
Both the Lamborghini Silhouette
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....
, with its detachable roof panel, and its successor Lamborghini Jalpa
Lamborghini Jalpa
The Lamborghini Jalpa is a sports car produced by the Italian sports car manufacturer Lamborghini from 1981 to 1988.-Overview:The Jalpa was a development of the earlier Silhouette intended to fill a role as a more "affordable" Lamborghini, being much less expensive than the flagship Countach and...
, with a 3.5 litre V-8 engine, were based upon the Urraco.
Featured on television
On April 12, 2005, the Urraco was featured in a Top Gear segment against its main competitors, namely the Ferrari Dino and Maserati MerakMaserati Merak
The Maserati Merak was an Italian sports car introduced in 1972, essentially a junior version of the Maserati Bora. It substituted an all new Maserati designed quad-cam V-6 motor for the Bora's larger V-8, resulting not only in a lower cost, but room for a small backseat and better handling due to...
. Each presenter was given £10,000 to buy a "Super Car". James May
James May
James Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. He is best known for his role as co-presenter of the award-winning motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond....
purchased a Urraco. He appeared with the Lamborghini on the back of a flat bed truck, claiming that the car had several electrical issues. In the end, all three cars turned out to be unreliable and did not complete the challenges, although May and the Urraco were the closest of the three presenters to the final destination when the car ran out of petrol. At one point, James May
James May
James Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. He is best known for his role as co-presenter of the award-winning motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond....
defended the Urraco to a passerby by saying: "No, it's not a kit car, it's a Lamborghini." He then mumbled under his breath: "Philistine
Philistinism
Philistinism is a derogatory term used to a particular attitude or set of values perceived as despising or undervaluing art, beauty, spirituality, or intellectualism. A person with this attitude is referred to as a Philistine and may also be considered materialistic, favoring conventional social...
."