Lamborghini Urraco
The Lamborghini Urraco was a 2 2- seater mid-engine coupe that 1973 produced the Italian car manufacturer Lamborghini to 1979.
- 3.1 Lamborghini Silhouette
- 3.2 Urraco Bob
- 3.3 Bravo
Design Features
The Urraco, 1970 at the Turin Salon first shown as a prototype and gone into production in 1973, added the Lamborghini model range towards the bottom. The Urraco, whose name went back to a Spanish fighting bull breed should compete with the Ferrari Dino 246 and Porsche 911, but suffered from technical problems, and the price was comparatively high. Paolo Stanzani had the Urraco designed prevail.
Drive Technology
The Urraco was a self-supporting all-steel body and a center like the Ferrari engine. Like the Miura, the engine was installed transversely to the direction of travel before the rear axle.
Unlike the previous models, which were powered by a twelve-cylinder engines, used for the Lamborghini Urraco an eight-cylinder engine with a cylinder angle of 90 degrees, which was designed by Stanzani. The engine block was like the aluminum cylinder head. The L240 -called engine was available during the production period in three different versions:
- First, the P250 has been launched with two and a half liters of displacement; he made 162 kw (220 hp).
- On the occasion of the Turin Motor Show in 1974, he was supplemented by a three-liter version ( P300 ) with longer stroke, which made 195 kw (265 hp).
This engine had four overhead camshaft with chain drive, the other two, which were driven by a toothed belt.
- Also in Turin in 1974 appeared specially for the Italian market, for cars over two liters of VAT rate 38 instead of 17 % was on in the seventies, reduced in the bore version with two liters of displacement ( P200 ) and a power of 134 kw (182 hp).
The body
The Urraco was a self-supporting all-steel body shell construction. Components were a pressed steel base plate with box-like stiffeners as well as a fact set, firmly welded to the bottom plate steely body skeleton with stud walls, roof rails, etc. The principle corresponded to the built in larger quantities, Lamborghinis Espada and Jarama, however, differed from the trellis frame of other early Lamborghini models such as the 350 GT, 400 GT, Miura or later the Countach.
The body of the Urraco was designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone. The Urraco was - like the also designed by Bertone Ferrari 308 GT4 - a so-called 2 2 seater with two auxiliary seats behind the driver and passenger seat. This approach was responsible for an unbalanced proportioning of the body together with the mid-engine concept, as they forced a very short front end and an elongated structure. Bertone designed a lightweight, highly glazed building with striking air vents above the rear axle, which continued in wide slats over the rear window. Thus, the passenger compartment was visually reduced. The Urraco is often regarded as the most stylistically felicitous 2 2- seater with a mid-engine. Striking was the interior, which designed in very fashionable colors and especially on the dashboard was ergonomically problematic. The speedometer and tachometer were left and right of the steering wheel and were mostly covered during the drive from the hands of the driver, while the subordinated displays for water temperature, etc. were mounted just in front of the driver. This design was developed in 1968 for the show car Alfa Romeo Bertone Carabo.
For cost reasons, used Lamborghini Urraco for the numerous attachments of large scale vehicles. The rear lights, for example, came ( as in the case of the Jarama ) by the Fiat 124 Coupé ( third series ), the door handles have been taken over by Fiat X1 / 9, and the castles and switch came directly from Fiat.
The chassis
The Urraco had front and rear independent suspension wheel- spring struts and wishbones. The four disc brakes came from ATE. The rack and pinion steering required four turns lock -to-lock.
Volume of production
Until 1979 520 Urraco P250, were built 77 Urraco P200 and Urraco P300 190.
The Lamborghini Urraco was a commercial failure. Initially Lamborghini had hoped to sell about 1,000 cars per year. In fact, in seven years, a total of only 674 vehicles were produced. The failure is usually attributed to errors in Lamborghinis product management. Thus, the company introduced the Urraco in 1971 ago when the car was not yet begin to series production. Lamborghini took at that time already orders for the Urraco contrary, but had to put off the customers two years until the production was actually recorded. During this period, numerous prospective canceled their orders and switched to competitors Ferrari and Maserati. Numerous strikes have led to further delays in production. Finally, the build quality of the Urraco was very bad, so that overall the reputation of the Urraco as well as the manufacturer was significantly impaired.
Lamborghini developed the Urraco in the 1980s to the model Jalpa on, which sold quite successful. He is described in the literature as " the car that should have been the Urraco from the beginning".
Special models and prototypes
Lamborghini silhouette
Lamborghini Urraco P300 launched in 1976 by a Targa version that was sold as a Lamborghini Silhouette.
Urraco Bob
The Lamborghini Uracco Bob is a 1974 modified by Bob Wallace Urraco for racing purposes. As with the Jarama Sports reinforced Bob Wallace, the body and replaced some parts from sheet steel by aluminum. He also agreed the chassis from new. Added to this was a rear wing and a deep down -reaching front spoiler. The engine produced a power output of 310 hp. He has dry sump lubrication and a six-speed manual gearbox. The car was once only used in a race he won with Bob Wallace as a driver.
Bravo
The Lamborghini Bravo (internal P 114 ) was established in 1974 as a show car presented. The car was designed by Bertone designer Marcello Gandini boss. It is based on the shortened by 200 mm chassis of the Lamborghini Urraco P300. He was like the Countach, especially the rear wheel arches and the slanted windshield. Bravo was powered by a tuned to 300 hp V8 with a 90 ° angle aluminum fork with transmission and differential from the Urraco P300. The curb weight was 1285 kg and the maximum speed was 275 km / h Although Lamborghini was thinking of a series production, but could not realize because of the energy crisis and the poor financial situation of the company. In May 2011, unique by RM Auctions at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d' Este in Cernobbio was auctioned at a price of 588,000 euros.
Competitors
- Ferrari Dino 246
- Ferrari Dino 308 GT 4
- Maserati Merak
- Porsche 911