For me, it’s fascinating to follow the evolution of the car's appearance and ability. You can almost join the dots between the sleek curves of the Lamborghini Miura (which took the car world by storm in the 1960s) and the commanding frame of the Huracáns we see today.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through vintage Lamborghinis that in their time were regarded as nothing short of revolutionary - in terms of design, engineering and performance. Enjoy the ride!

Countach

The Countach is iconic. During its 1974 - 1990 production run it quickly gained fame for both its futuristic design and its impressive performance. Designer Marcello Gandini was designing the wedge-shaped body, sharp angular lines and scissor doors of this Lamborghini long before Elon Musk had even dreamed up the CyberTruck, and it must have seemed just as bizarre when it was first unveiled.

Diablo

Also designed by Gandini, the Diablo is a clear successor to the Countach that was brought to market in 1990. Smoother, less retro, but equally striking and aggressive it soon became a legendary supercar in its own right. It also represented a leap forward in power and performance; whilst the Countach could top 180mph, the Diablo could exceed 200mph. The Diablo introduced several advanced technologies for its time, including all-wheel drive (Diablo VT), electronically adjustable suspension, and carbon fibre construction in later models.

Silhouette

Introduced in 1976, the Silhouette was conceived as a less expensive and more accessible counterpart to the Countach. It shared the slick, aerodynamic design of other Lambos of its time - but couldn’t follow the runaway success of the Countach. In the end, only 54 units were produced between ‘76 and ‘79, making the Silhouette a desirable collectible today.

Espada

It’s not often you see a Lambo with plenty of room in the back - especially not a grand tourer. Produced between 1968 and 1978, the Espada was Lamborghini's first shot at a four seater - their first experiment with something other than a mid engine sports car. Its boxy, muscular 60’s style character is typical of the 60’s but represented an evolution for the company at the time - perhaps the first model that could clearly be considered as a predecessor to some of the Lamborghinis we see today.

LM-002

Affectionately known as the “Rambo Lambo,” the LM-002 was born in 1986 - one of Lamborghini’s attempts to design a 4x4 that they believed would be taken on by the Italian or U.S. military - or potentially other armies worldwide. It’s commanding, yet luxurious - premium on the inside, but rugged enough to deal with any terrain you might throw at it on the outside. With only 328 made, it never became the global military standard - and is something of a collectors item nowadays. 

Miura

The Lamborghini Miura was truly groundbreaking. Produced between 1966 and 1973, it was and is regarded as one of the most beautiful and influential designs in automotive history. Sleek, flowing lines and low-slung profile meant the car was instantly recognisable. Combine this with the fact that the Miura was one of the first production cars to feature a mid-engine layout (with its V12 engine mounted behind the driver but ahead of the rear axle) and you have yourself a Lamborghini with a truly awesome legacy.

350GT

The Miura seems all the more amazing when you consider that it was only in 1964, two years earlier, that Lamborghini produced their first ever vehicle. Legend has it that tractor manufacturer Ferruccio Lamborghini visited Enzo Ferrari with some constructive criticism about the clutch in his Ferrari - only to be told “Let me make cars. You stick to making tractors.”

Mr. Lamborghini went away and built the 350GT, which was a fast and fashionable sports car in its own right - but he was, of course, only just getting started.

Final Thoughts on our Favourite Vintage Lamborghinis

Since that first argument with Enzo Ferrari, Lamborghini has produced some of the most iconic and recognisable sports cars in the world. Ironic that, in a way, we have Ferrari to thank for them.

The role of Marcello Gandini (of the Bertone car design house) cannot be understated. From the Miura to the Countach, you can trace his influence - with one chief design officer at Ferrari calling him "probably the greatest car designer ever".