Created to fill the market gap between Lamborghini’s classic high-performance GT cars and more accessible sports cars, the Marzal was more than a concept—it represented an innovative approach to Lamborghini’s design philosophy.

History of Marzal

In 1967, Ferruccio Lamborghini had two steady sellers on the market, the 400 GT and the P400 Miura, but what he lacked was a full four-seater offering. He had a body designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone. The car was put on a lengthened Miura chassis, it was designated the TP200 Marzal.

This car was powered by half a Miura engine; the V-12 was cut in half lengthwise, resulting in a two-liter, in-line six, and was mounted transversely in the rear.

All this weight in the rear probably destroyed the road holding, but that was a problem to be dealt with once the car was tested prior to production. The body built by Bertone was too controversial for Ferruccio’s taste; it used no less than 49 Sq.ft. of glass, and even the lower part of the upward swinging gullwing doors were glass-filled. This glass was built in collaboration with the Belgian Glaverbel company, but it was too excessive for even the most eccentric tastes, and the late Ferruccio didn’t like it at all.

However, Bertone thought it could be produced and even built the chassis in his own plant to ensure himself of the rigidity to deal with all that glass.

The interior of the car was finished in bright-silver leather upholstery and provided space for up to four adults. Thanks to the large gullwing doors (in true Mercedes 300SL style), the entry to both the front and rear seats was very easy.

The Marzal was the epitome of the ‘Hexagonitis’-period, through which Bertone was going at that time; everything that was designed at his studios had to resemble, one way or another, an hexagon.

Ferruccio couldn’t be convinced about this car, and it remained strictly a one-off unit that was displayed on various Auto shows on Bertone’s or Lamborghini’s stand.

But the Marzal really became known to the world when it was used by Rainer and Grace of Monaco to open the track at the 1967 Grand Prix of Monaco, some people even claimed this was the only use for this car in parades.

The Marzal made a second public appearance at the 1996 Concours Italiano in Monterey, California, to celebrate Carrozzeria Bertone; the Athon was also exhibited at this time.

Today the Marzal has a prominent place in Ferruccio’s little museum on the shores of Lake Trasmine, although some sources state the Marzal is located in the Bertone Design Study museum.

1967 Lamborghini Marzal Details

Some general information about the car based on what’s been reported about its appearance and limited known features:

• Exterior: Marzal’s exterior was quite revolutionary for its time. It had gull-wing doors made almost entirely of glass, allowing for a panoramic view from inside the car. The design was quite angular, with straight lines and sharp corners, giving it a very distinctive look compared to the more rounded designs common in the 1960s. The overall shape was quite low and long, following the traditional sports car aesthetic.
• Interior: The interior of the Marzal was no less distinctive than its exterior. The seats were covered in silver leather, and the dashboard had an unusual hexagonal theme, with hexagonal patterns on the dashboard itself and hexagonal cutouts in the steering wheel. The car was surprisingly spacious for a sports car, offering room for four passengers in a 2+2 configuration.
• Drivetrain: The Marzal was powered by a 2.0 L inline-six engine, which was essentially half of Lamborghini’s 4.0 L V12. The engine was mounted transversely and connected to a five-speed manual transmission. As a concept car, detailed performance figures were never published, but it was reported to produce approximately 175 horsepower.
• Chassis: Marzal’s chassis was made from steel, and its body panels were made from aluminum. It was reported to have independent suspension all around, but detailed specifications are not available.
• Pricing: As a one-off concept car, the Marzal never had a set price. It was sold at auction in 2011 for €1,512,000.

1967 Lamborghini Marzal Images

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