Makes › Lamborghini › Silhouette · Rare production Extremely Rare
Lamborghini
Silhouette
Targa-roof V8 Lamborghini built in very small numbers.
Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 52 Built
- Years
- Not yet verified
- Engine
- 90° V8, mounted transversely behind the seats · 2,995 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,995 cc
- Power
- 194 kW / 264 PSFactory: 260 hp · converted
- Top speed
- Not yet verified
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Bertone
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- 40 (independently researched)
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Silhouette was Lamborghini's first open-topped production car, a Bertone design based on the Urraco P300. It was built with an American targa market in mind, but its V8 failed Californian emissions rules, so it was never sold there.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Lamborghini Silhouette (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lamborghini Silhouette (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lamborghini Silhouette (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Anothercountry · CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionSilhouettes "thought to exist today" per evo | 402 | Surviving examples | Independently researched |
| Total model productionSilhouettes built (evo; Cars From Italy also says 52); lead figure of 55 not supported | 521 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
The board wanted an open car for the US targa market, and the Urraco was the obvious car to convert. The Silhouette used the 3-litre V8 of the P300 and the same chassis development was led by Gian Paolo Dallara. Its low-profile Pirelli P7 tyres gave the flat-top arches.
The Silhouette, known internally as P118, was completed on 25 September 1976. evo says just 52 were built before the company went into receivership.
Around 40 are thought to survive, according to evo.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Silhouette.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | 90° V8, mounted transversely behind the seats3 Independently researchedLayout is from the Urraco text; the Silhouette uses the same V8 in the same position. |
| Cylinders | 83 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 2,995 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,995 cc3 Independently researched |
| Bore | 86 mmFactory: 86 mm3 Independently researched |
| Stroke | 64.5 mmFactory: 64.5 mm3 Independently researched |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Valvetrain | SOHC per bank3 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | 194 kW / 264 PSFactory: 260 hp · converted3 Independently researchedCars From Italy gives 260bhp for the Silhouette. evo gives 247bhp for the P300 engine it says the Silhouette used. Not converted. |
| Power at | 7,800 rpm3 Independently researched |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | 5-speed manual3 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | 53 Independently researched |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Urraco-derived sheet-steel platform chassis, built by Marchesi in Modena2 Independently researchedThe Silhouette used the Urraco P300 chassis with the roof removed. evo says the chassis needed little strengthening. |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms, plus anti-roll bar3 Independently researched |
| Rear suspension | McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms, plus anti-roll bar3 Independently researched |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | 1,490 mmFactory: 1,490 mm3 Independently researched |
| Rear track | 1,550 mmFactory: 1,550 mm3 Independently researched |
| Kerb weight | 1,200 kgFactory: 1,200 kg3 Independently researched |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Lamborghini Silhouette: history, review and specs of an icon Level C
- 52 Silhouettes built (evo; Cars From Italy also says 52); lead figure of 55 not supported
-
2
Lamborghini Silhouette: review, history and specs of an icon Level C Henry Catchpole · evo
- Around 40 are still thought to exist today
- its sheet-steel platform chassis was built in Modena by Marchesi
-
3
Lamborghini Urraco, Silhouette & Jalpa Level C Cars From Italy
- mounted transversely behind the rear seats
- 2995cc (86x64.5mm) 90deg V8
- with sohc (per bank)
- 260bhp @ 7,800rpm
- 5 speed manual
- McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms
- track (front/rear) : 1490mm/1550mm
- 1200kg
Keep exploring
More from Lamborghini
-
Lamborghini
Lamborghini Cala
1 Built
-
Lamborghini · 1965
3500 GTZ (Zagato)
2 Built
-
Lamborghini · 2013
Veneno (coupé)
4 Built
-
Lamborghini · 1971–1972
Miura SVJ (factory)
5 Built
See all 111 cars by Lamborghini →
More from Italy
-
Maserati
Quattroporte III
Production not yet verified
-
Ferrari
330 GT 2+2
1,088 Built
-
Vignale
Gamine (1967-1971)
Production not yet verified
-
Siata
Siata Minivan (Spain)
Production not yet verified
62 other makes from ItalyAbarthACM AutomobiliAlfa RomeoAres DesignATSAuto Avio CostruzioniAutobianchiAznomB EngineeringBandiniBertoneBizzarriniBrixia-ZüstCagivaCarrozzeria Touring SuperleggeraCeiranoChiribiriCisitaliaCizetaColoniCoviniDallaraDe TomasoDiattoF.I.A.L. LegnanoFerrariFervesFiatFissoreFlorentiaGhiaInnocentiIntermeccanicaIsoIsotta FraschiniItalaItaldesignLaffiteLanciaMaseratiAll makes →