This 2006 Lamborghini Murcielago is finished in Giallo Orion, with a Giallo/Nero leather interior. It is powered by a 6.2 liter version of the Lamborghini V12 engine, produces 572 hp, and runs power to all four wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission. This Murcialago has covered 7,650 miles (about 12,311 km), and is a one-owner from new vehicle of European specification, first registered in April of 2006 in Switzerland. Vehicle history is clean, and reveals no recorded accidents or damage. This example is in excellent condition, and will be delivered to the winning bidder with a complete service included in the sale.

Back in 2001, the introduction of the new Lamborghini Murcielago was beyond important for Lamborghini. Even with legends like the Miura and Countach having permanently etched themselves into the hearts and minds of enthusiasts for many decades, Lamborghini suffered as a company for many years from the usual inadequate, consistent financial health that so many smaller car companies experienced.

So when Audi, under the auspices of Volkswagen, purchased the Italian sports car maker in 1998, there was cause for both concern and hope. The concern, as always in these situations, was that Audi would somehow take the personality out of the company, and produce bland interpretations instead of the real thing. The cause for hope, of course, was that true financial solvency would translate into better product development and quality.

The first ground-up model to come to market under the new partnership was this first Murcielago, beating the smaller entry level Gallardo to market by over a year. While the Gallardo had to share a platform with the Audi R8 to allow its existence, the Aventador enjoyed its exclusive chassis, and retained the V12 from which Lamborghini had made its name since the 1960’s. But the dramatic step up in quality was obvious to all who saw the Murcielago at the world introductions - particularly the assembly quality, where the powerful influence of VW Group leader Ferdinand Piech made a big impact.

But critically, while the car was more buttoned down, the character remained. The styling of the new big Bull, penned by Luc Donckerwolke, was praised for its sharp angular interpretation of the Lamborghini silhouette. Build quality benefited greatly from Audi’s input, with much closer tolerances and better interior materials and fitments, there were obvious signs of the German company’s involvement.

But in truth—and to the Murcielago’s advantage—most of the improvements to the car were made in areas you couldn’t see. The thoroughly modern manufacturing techniques made a difference even for a hand-built car, as parts were simply designed to fit better and leave less to chance in the build process. Another critical area of improvement was in the electronics and fuel systems utilized, which hugely improved drivability and reliability—no Lamborghini had ever been as reliable in a wider range of conditions than these Murcielagos, with commonality of parts used in other Audis and VWs that were already time tested and robust.

The Murcialego helped usher Lamborghini into the 21st century in better shape than it had ever been, still captivating people with the looks and performance they had always been known for, but also becoming cars you could actually depend on.

This example is ideal for the buyer looking for a clean, early example of the Murcielago. A one owner vehicle with a clear history and matching numbers, it’s especially enticing with the manual transmission option—an engaging drivers car that has been well cared for, with no stories or spotty history to be concerned about.

For full details, please see listing at sbxcars.com