1976 Lamborghini Silhouette Prototype
The first year for development of an Urraco-derived mid-engine design named Silhouette. Designed by Italy’s Carrozzeria Bertone styling house, this prototype, chassis number 40002, body number 01, is one of two built to purportedly demonstrate and productionize the Silhouette, the first Lamborghini with a Targa roof.
Its significance in Lamborghini history can hardly be overstated, as it is one of the cars that helped the Sant’Agata manufacturer navigate the difficult years between the success of the Miura and the arrival of the earthshattering Countach.
Starring at the 1976 Turin Motor Show, this prototype demonstrated Bertone’s studied adaptation, which included flared wheel arches, a deep front spoiler with ducting for an oil cooler and ventilated Girling disc brakes and a unique rear window treatment to hide an integrated roll bar.
The Silhouette is serial number 40002 and body number 01. It was displayed at the Turin Motor Show in 1976 to first introduce the new Silhouette to Italy. The Silhouette was the first Lamborghini to ever be fitted with a targa roof and has numerous features that were carried on into the fully developed Countach model.
Like most 1970’s Italian cars, the severely compromised driving position remained, along with the deeply dished steering wheel that attempted to minimize the damage. Storage space was surprisingly adequate however with enough space behind the front seats to store the targa roof.
In addition to the P300’s console-mounted window switches, prototype number 40002 has the clock in front of the driver, the heater controls in the radio panel, Alfa-style chrome-bezeled warning lights and red switch labels.
The Silhouette’s muscular form hid the P300 Urraco’s underpinnings, including the mid-mounted transverse 3.0L DOHC V-8 that used 4 twin-throat Weber 40 DCNF carburetors for a factory-rating of 250 HP. It had a curb weight of 2,728 pounds and a factory rated 0-60MPH of 6.5 seconds with a top speed of 161MPH.
Only 54 Silhouettes were ever produced and 40002 is the only Prototype known to be remaining. It is a one-off car with several features that cannot be seen on any other production Silhouette.
http://www.thecarexperience.com/lamborghini-silhouette
https://www.evo.co.uk/lamborghini/18632/lamborghini-sil