2004 Lamborghini Gallardo Base Coupe 2-door 5.0l on 2040-cars

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The mood at this year’s Paris Motor Show: Quiet

The Paris Motor Show, held every other year in the early fall, typically kicks off the annual cavalcade of automotive conclaves, one that traverses the globe between autumn and spring, introducing projective, conceptual and production-ready vehicle models to the international automotive press, automotive aficionados and a public hungry for news of our increasingly futuristic mobility enterprise. But this year, at the press preview days for the show, the grounds of the Porte de Versailles convention center felt a bit more sparsely populated than usual. This was not simply a subjective sensation, or one influenced by the center's atypically dispersed assemblage of seven discrete buildings, which tends to spread out the cars and the crowds. There were not only fewer new vehicles being premiered in Paris this year, there were fewer manufacturers there to display them. Major mainstream European OEM stalwarts such as Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Nissan and Volkswagen chose to sit out Paris this year, as did boutique manufacturers like Bentley, Aston Martin and Lamborghini. This is not simply based in some antipathy on the part of the German, British and Italian manufacturers toward the French market — though for a variety of historical and societal reasons that market may be more dominated by vehicles produced domestically than others. Rather, it is part of a larger trend in the industry. Last year, Mercedes-Benz announced that it would not be participating in the flagship North American International Auto Show in 2019 — and that it might not return. Other brands including Jaguar/Land Rover, Audi, Porsche, Mazda and nearly every exotic carmaker have also departed the Detroit show. Some of these brands will still appear in the city in which the show is taking place, and host an event offsite, to capitalize on the presence of a large number of reporters in attendance. And even brands that do have a presence at the show have shifted their vehicle introductions to the days before the official press opening in an attempt to stand out from the crowd. In many ways, this makes sense. With an expanding number of automakers, with diversification and niche-ification of models and with wholesale shifts that necessitate the introduction of EV or autonomous sub-brands, there is a growing sense that, with everyone shouting at the same time, no one can be heard.

Ferruccio Lamborghini's twin-twelve Riva speedboat restored [w/video]

Everyone knows that Lamborghini makes exotic sportscars, but true aficionados are also well versed in the other types of machinery that has worn the Raging Bull emblem. There are the tractors, of course, with which founder Ferruccio got his start, but the company has also marinized its high-revving twelve-cylinder engines for use on the water.
Over the years, Lamborghini engines powered many crews to offshore powerboat racing trophies, but before all of that came the vessel you see here. The 278th of 769 made between 1962 and 1996, this Riva Aquarama was commissioned by Ferruccio Lamborghini himself. It was delivered from the shipyard in 1968, complete with a pair of 4.0-liter V12 engines out of a Lamborghini 350 GT, and old man Ferruccio enjoyed using it for many years.
Following his death in 1993, the one-of-a-kind Riva Aquarama Lamborghini disappeared into obscurity, hidden away from the world under a tarp until a Dutch collector tracked it down and had it restored by Sandro Zani and his team at Riva World. The project took three years to complete, including the restoration of the wooden hull with 25 coats of lacquer applied.

Would you pay Lamborghini Aventador money for a Countach?

This pair of Lamborghini Countaches going up for auction at Silverstone are both anticipated to sell for around GBP300,000, which is equivalent to over $400,000. For that kind of money, you could buy a new Aventador – which only goes to show that supercars like the ones we had posted on our childhood bedroom walls are coming of age, and that some members of that generation have evidently done better financially than others. The red example is a 25th Anniversary edition, arguably the ultimate version of the Countach with all its squared-off vents, slats, and miscellaneous aerodynamic appendages. This particular example belonged to Cleo Roberts, wife of Carroll Shelby, and it's the first time it's going up for sale in 16 years. Joining it is an earlier Countach 5000 S in white that once belonged to a Saudi Prince. This variant was even more rare than the 25th Anniversary edition (with 320 made versus 627), boasts royal pedigree, and recently underwent a thorough restoration. So even with more miles on the clock (30,000 versus 8,000), it's expected to bring in slightly more once the two cross the auction block at the famed British racing circuit later next month. Related Video: PAIR OF SPECIAL LAMBORGHINIS COULD BE YOURS Two very special Lamborghini Countachs have recently joined Silverstone Auctions' May Sale, taking place on Friday 20th May at Silverstone race circuit. The first of the two examples is a 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary edition, one of just 627 made to celebrate Lamborghini's 25th birthday, and the most refined and powerful version of the Countach produced before it was superseded by the Diablo. Designed by none other than Horacio Pagani, creator of the iconic Zonda, the 25th Anniversary edition features bespoke wheel arch extensions, extended air intake ducts and a new rear engine cover design, as well as increased torque and performance with a top speed of 185mph. Now offered for sale for the first time in 16 years, this particular right-hand drive example was previously owned by Cleo Roberts, who went on to become the wife of legendary automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby. This highly collectible Lamborghini is expected to achieve GBP250,000 to GBP300,000 at auction having covered just 8,000 miles from new, and is presented today in excellent condition and finished in its original colour combination of Rosso with Bianco leather.