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My Favorite Lambo: The Urraco

September 17, 2012 by Matt

Lamborghini Lambo Urraco Uracco Urracco Red

Yup, this is the one. Forget the Miura, Countach, Gallardo or Aventador (among others); I’d walk past all of them in favor of the lowly, 2+2, slightly ungainly-looking Urraco.

I think I fell in love with it as a boy. I had the standard white Countach wall poster, and I talked my parents into buying me one of those glossy coffee tables books about the history of Lamborghini so that I could drool over more illustrations of the flamboyant ’80s supercar icon. But a funny thing happened: As nice as the half dozen Countach images were, I discovered other Lambos. The Miura had these curves, and looked so different from my beloved Countach, and in between the two there were a few other models like the Sihouette, Jalpa, Espada…and this intriguing-looking mid-engined 2+2: The Urraco.

Lamborghini Lambo Urraco Uracco Urracco Yellow

While its proportions were a bit “off” on account of the rear seats pushing back the transversely-mounted engine, the detailing was understated and tidy, and the car’s uniqueness and lack of notoriety compared to its more flamboyant stablemates was appealing, even more so now that I’ve gotten over my boyish attraction to wings ‘n things.

Lamborghini Lambo Urraco Uracco Urracco Engine Motor V8

Powered by a 2.0l-3.0l range of SOHC (and in the case of the 3.0l, DOHC) V8s, output nudged 250 hp in the later versions, good for an optimistic 5.6 second sprint to 60 mph. The driver was treated to a Porsche-like swath of instrumentation (when it worked) and handling was decently balanced, as you’d expect from the mid-engined configuration.

Lamborghini Lambo Urraco Uracco Urracco Interior Inside Cockpit Console Dash Dashboard

I think my attraction to the Urraco was finally cemented after viewing what’s probably become, for some reason I can’t quite put my finger on, my favorite Top Gear car escapade: The Budget Supercars Challenge (Season 7, Episode 4). In it, the presenters each purchase a mid-engined, Italian exotic for less than $16,000 and have to coax their second-hand thoroughbreds through a number of trials, among them a track test, dyno evaluation, serviceability contest and fuel economy challenge. All three cars— Richard’s Dino 308 GT4, Jeremy’s Maserati Merak V6 and James’ Urraco—perform miserably, but for me that’s kind of beside the point. All three cars are rare and cool and it’s just a treat to see them driving around and to get firsthand impressions and historical tidbits from the guys. The Urraco in particular stands out to me; without hesitation, it’s the one I’d drive home (assuming I could get it home). As far as quirky European supercars go, it’s just right.

Filed under: Lamborghini

6 Comments

  1. Ryan says:

    Matt, I have to say, you definitely have some “unique” tastes. :) I personally think that is probably my least favorite Lambo. The long wheelbase, with the “jacked up” stance, and the relatively large rear window just make it look all kinds of wrong. To each their own though.

    • Matt says:

      Hahaha. I’ll claim that. I happen to really like its looks.

      Re:unique tastes, I’d ask one favor: If I ever title a post something like “My Favorite Pontiac: The Aztek,” smack me over the head. Deal? :)

  2. John D says:

    I just watched that episode again last night with my dad (prompted by this post). Let me just say again that I love Top Gear. Brilliant show.

    I actually thought the Urraco was very good looking in motion…

  3. John D says:

    (I also thought the Maserati was the best looking of the group…sorry. ;)

    • Matt says:

      The Merak is definitely the most cohesive looking of the three. To be honest, I think Jeremy’s abuse of the car affected my opinion of it, probably unfairly. But so it goes…

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