When Automobili Lamborghini SpA became the property of Audi AG back in 1998, the latter has invested a massive amount of money in upgrading the original Lamborghini factory from the early Sixties into the modern building it has become nowadays.
There have been multiple modifications to the assembly lines, a brand new one has been installed during the summer of 2002 to prepare for production of the Lamborghini Gallardo, which has subsequently been replaced in 2013 when the Huracan too over the V10 segment, while in 2010 the ‘Linea Murciélago’ has been rebuilt to put the Aventador into production for 2011, but the factory has also been enlarged over the years, a rather important ‘Centro Stile‘ has been added to the left of the original factory, this is where the Lamborghini for the future are being designed.
In 2012 a completely new building was created for the development and construction of pre-series models, prototypes and very limited production models, another important step from Automobili Lamborghini SpA to continue building the most outrageous cars ever to be seen on the open road.
Back in 2001 the doors opened on the factory museum … Museo Lamborghini was located under the original factory roof and would showcase some of the most important milestones in the history of Automobili Lamborghini SpA, and this museum is open to the public, so you can admire all these amazing beauties up close and personal … without touching anything!
Many of the cars shown were in fact restored in the official factory restoration facility, others were driven in like the very first Lamborghini Countach LP400, a stunning green car whose presence in the factory museum has been made possible by Mr Stofer of the Swiss Lamborghini Club, note that the range of cars on display at the Museo Lamborghini is constantly changing … cars are taken from the floor to events all over the world, and as space is running out, sometimes a car gets replaced by something different from the House of the Raging Bull.
We have visited the Museo Lamborghini back in 2001 when the Murciélago was unveiled at the factory, a second time in 2013 and recently in 2015 again … each time an experience never to be forgotten as there is always something new to be discovered when you enter the glass door to Lamborghini heaven.
Some of the amazing cars we’ve seen at the Museo back in 2001 are sadly no longer on display, like the beautifully restored 350 GTV prototype, the only drivable one in the world as the car in the Museo Ferruccio Lamborghini is merely a wooden mockup. At that time a very nice, white Lamborghini Silhouette was also shown next to an LM002 without body panels … neither was still there when we visited again in 2013.
But rest assured, the collection has been growing ever since 2001 and contains some of the most exclusive prototypes ever to be unveiled by Lamborghini, like the one of a kind Diablo Roadster prototype in her very special greenish yellow metallic shade, or the white P140 prototype that would eventually lead into the Gallardo production model … and not one, but three V12 prototypes … for the Diablo and the Diablo successor.
Several important concepts are shown too, like the yellow Miura Concept, the four door Estoque and naturally the famous white Concept S V10, perhaps not a concept per se, but the amazing looking Sesto Elemento does draw a lot of attention too, just like the matte metallic Reventon and the Aventador rolling chassis with carbon fiber ‘tub.
Interesting tidbits of Lamborghini history are scattered all around the Museo … like large scale models of cars that never made it into production, a workbench taken from the old factory floor, a large selection of photos that show the legacy left behind by the late Ferruccio Lamborghini and multiple engines next to some of the production models that have been built only meters away from the Museo … behind the factory doors.
Just about the entire production history of Lamborghini from 1963 to present day is showcased in the Museo, like the red 350GT, a dark grey 400 GT 2+2, a dark red Islero, a blue metallic Jarama S and a dark blue metallic Espada … the type of GT cars that Ferruccio wanted to build when he founded the company.
But it would be the exotics that would make Lamborghini a household name in the automotive world, the Miura from the Sixties would change the world of high end super cars forever, and the yellow Miura SV shown at the Museo would be the ultimate evolution before the legendary Countach LP400 took over, the bright green production prototype has an important place on the museum floor, usually rather close to the very last Countach ever to leave the assembly line, a silver metallic Countach 25th Anniversary.
By the time the Lamborghini Diablo took over the reign from the Countach a lot had changed at Sant’Agata, but still the new V12 would evolve into several editions before culminating in the Diablo 6.0 SE, a special edition of the Diablo VT 6.0 … only 40 of these 6-Liter Special Editions would be built, and 20 were finished in the Oro Elios shade shown in the museum … a bright orange Diablo GT2 does look extremely menacing as a low slung race car.
Talking about race cars, Lamborghini did supply engines to Formula One teams many years ago, and some of these F1 cars are on display too at the museum … together with a few of those massive off-shore powerboat engines that made Lamborghini a serious contester on the water too, many of these powerboats won championship titles … like the Spirit of Norway for instance.
But back to the cars now … with a bright white Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 Super Veloce for instance, arguably the most important model in that series as it marked the end of the production for the Murciélago before the Aventador took over in 2011 … a rare Murciélago LP650-4 Roadster was also on display at the museum when we were there, if it is a fixed model we don’t know, it might be replaced by another Raging Bull in the future.
A sample of the current V12 production is always present at the Museo Lamborghini too, this time in the form of an Aventador LP700-4 Roadster finished in the special Azzuro Thetis shade … but she isn’t shown like the other Bulls … this one hangs against the wall on the first floor. This has become a tradition inside the museum, back in 2005 a bright orange metallic Diablo VT 6.0 was hanging at that spot, later on a yellow metallic Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 took that honor … and in June 2013 the Aventador Roadster chassis number ZHWFER1A0BLP00001 was installed as a 3D wall decoration.
Keep in mind Lamborghini didn’t build V12 cars only, the very nice V8 Urraco also deserved a place in the museum, both as a complete car, and as an engine display, complete with drivetrain, and while the white Silhouette no longer has a spot there is now a very nice yellow Jalpa on permanent display and upstairs we found one of the original Gallardo Polizia cars … very impressive with the special Police equipment.
If the amazing Huracan Super Trofeo has become part of the Museo Lamborghini display isn’t sure either, but she looked extremely intimidating in her matte grey livery and dark tinted windows … during our visit the most impressive car was without a doubt the red metallic Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, the factory owned Veneno LP750 was at Carrozzeria Imperiale at that time, but it is on display on a regular basis too normally.
A massive LM002 is present most of the time too, not always the RHD yellow metallic one we’ve seen lately, at one time there was a black LM002 seen too, and many years ago one without body panels could be admired … one day the Urus might join the off road section of the museum.
There is also an official Lamborghini Store right at the factory where you can buy some exclusive items to complete your collection, from time to time a nice discount is given on some of the most amazing scale models and fashion items … made by Lamborghini.
The official factory museum is surely worth a visit, it is open to the public on normal working days, but if you would like a guided tour you should make an appointment, it is also possible to have a guided factory tour, but you should book in advance to be able to visit of the factory itself, the assembly line and the upholstery shop, which all are very interesting for both owners and enthusiasts.
And if you are visiting the Museo Lamborghini make sure to spend some time on the Via Modena in front of the factory gates … there are always test drives being conducted, and from time to time you will be able to spot a prototype undergoing road testing, or customer cars that are going through final approval on the road … and cars that have been brought to the factory for maintenance … any kind of Lamborghini might just drive in front of your camera while you are there … it’s all in a day’s work at Sant’Agata …
Automobili Lamborghini SpA
via Modena 12
I-40019 Sant’Agata Bolognese (BO)
Italy
Tel : +39 051 6817.611
Opening hours for the Museo Lamborghini are :
From Monday to Friday (excluding holidays)
From 10:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00
For a guided visit of the museum, with or without a factory tour, you’ll have to fill out a reservation form directly on the Automobili Lamborghini SpA website.
