► Two ultra-rare Lambos on show at Essen
► 1968 Miura Spider joined by Veneno Roadster
► Only one Miura roadster exists, and nine Venenos
Every year, the German city of Essen plays host to one of the world’s largest classic car shows, Techno Classica.
Lamborghini’s popping along this year, and taking with it a couple of gems from its collection. Based around the theme of ‘One-Off Roadsters by Lamborghini,’ the Lambo stand features two of the rarest ragtops the company’s ever produced: the stunning, one-off Miura Spider of 1968 and the pantomime-on-wheels Veneno Roadster from 2013.
Lamborghini Miura Spider
Lambo’s don’t get rarer than this. Just one open-top Miura was ever created, or only one official one anyway. More than a few other Miuras were attacked with tin-openers to become unofficial roadsters, but the one and only real Spider was created by Bertone for the 1968 Brussels motor show. It was rebuilt the following year, partly in zinc, of all materials, as part of a publicity project for the American company ILZRO (International Lead-Zinc Research Organisation).
It’s since been returned to its original colour and spec, as pictured here. Lamborghini’s borrowed it from its lucky private owner for the occasion.
Lamborghini Veneno Roadster
While the Miura’s widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cars of the ages, the everything-up-to-11 Veneno wasn’t received with quite such universal acclaim. There’s no denying it’s got presence, though, and with 740bhp on tap from its 6.5-litre V12 it’s as fast as it looks. Originally revealed in fixed-head form at the 2013 Geneva motor show, Lambo subsequently created nine madder-still Roadster versions.
They were built on Aventador running gear, yet cost around 10 times more than the donor car at a cool £2.8m a pop. Driving one would be a windswept affair as there’s no roof at all – just a pair of carbonfibre roll hoops. The one on show at Techno Classica is from Lamborghini’s own collection in Sant’Agata.
Click here to read CAR’s original story on the Lamborghini Veneno Roadster.