It was Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, who is reputed to have said, ‘When you want to be somebody, you buy a Ferrari. When you are somebody, you buy a Lamborghini.’

Sinatra owned a Lamborghini Miura, so Ferrari fans may accuse him of bias. But others might say the crooner had a point. Buying a Ferrari is the obvious thing to do, a brand so steeped in history and adoration that it is the default destination when the sale of your business goes through or you decide it’s time to cash-in on the crypto you took an punt on.

Lamborghini, on the other hand, is chosen by those who don’t like to do the obvious thing. Admittedly, that sounds faintly ridiculous given we’re talking about indulging yourself with an attention-seeking supercar. But ask an owner why they chose the raging bull over the prancing horse, and more often than not they’ll tell you they didn’t want to be the same as all their Ferrari-driving friends.

You only have to look at social media to see that effect. Instagram is awash with tributes to 360 Challenge Stradales, 430 Scuderias and 458 Speciales. Influencers are financing themselves up to the hilt to buy these things. But the Gallardo Superleggera? It’s almost invisible.

I like the fact this car is often overlooked in a sea of Ferraris and Porsches, and its Audi R8 relation. After all, any Gallardo is every bit as memorable to look at and drive as its contemporaries – but the Superleggera goes further still. It doesn’t just turn the dial up to 11; it kicks over the drum kit, smashes the guitar through the amps then crowd-surfs to the bar for a three-day bender.

If that sounds like your idea of fun, dive into our buying guide on the Gallardo Superleggera.‍

History and technical background of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

There’s something about the Gallardo Superleggera that even seasoned Lamborghini collectors react to. Perhaps it’s the way the carbon weave glints through the paint. Perhaps it’s the lowered stance which somehow manages to add even more attitude to the uncompromising design of Luc Donckerwolcke. Or perhaps it’s the knowledge that there’s some mechanical magic going on beneath the surface.

There were two Superleggera iterations. The first arrived in 2007, and its successor, the LP570-4 Superleggera, arrived in 2010. Reliable production numbers from the factory are not available – much to the annoyance of owners.

The early, standard Gallardo was hardly lacking. Its 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 already produced 512bhp and drove through a permanent all-wheel-drive system with a rear bias. But Lamborghini’s engineers wanted to dial up the intensity of the driving experience. So power climbed to 522bhp at a heady 8000rpm thanks to a revised intake system, ECU recalibration and a freer-flowing exhaust.

Of greater significance was the focus on lowering the car’s kerbweight. The Superleggera name translates to “super light,” and it lives up to the hype. A useful 100 kilos were chipped away from the kerbweight, cutting it to 1420kg.

Open the door to a Gallardo Superleggera and you’ll immediately clock the glossy one-piece carbon door panels, carbon-shelled sports seats and liberal use of Alcantara upholstery. The engine cover is also made from carbon, as is the fixed rear wing, which could be ordered in discreet low-line spec or more obviously racerish high-rise design.

The engine cover’s glass window was replaced with transparent polycarbonate, the rear windows were swapped for similarly lightweight Makrolon, and when you lift the engine cover release it feels finger-tip light, raising upward with no resistance. Even the wing mirror casings went on a carbon diet, while a set of lightweight forged alloy wheels completed the weight loss programme (saving 13 kilos alone). A subtle set of decals gave a visual flourish to mark out the Superleggera from its standard sibling.

The power gain doesn’t seem dramatic, but combined with the weight reduction and reinforcements to the suspension mounting points, different anti-roll bars, lowered ride height and some tasty options – namely, carbon-ceramic brakes, four-point harnesses for the seats and a roll-cage – there was real intent behind the Superleggera.

Its power-to-weight ratio climbed to 392bhp per tonne, a good jump over the 300bhp per tonne of a contemporary Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997),which allowed it to dispatch 62 mph in approximately 3.4 seconds, 124 mph in just over 10, and push through the air all the way to 202 mph – formidable then and still serious today.

But statistics can’t capture what the Superleggera is about…‍

Driving the Gallardo Superleggera

The remarkable thing about the corner of the market that the Gallardo Superleggera sits in is that the cars are all so different – and special – to drive. Take your pick from the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, McLaren 12C and 911 GT3 RS and each has its own character and makes different demands of the driver to get the best from it.

The Gallardo offers a sense of occasion long before you’ve pulled the key from your pocket. The square-jawed, uncompromising, hard-edged lines are so much more spectacular than the original Calà concept car that inspired it. And they hint at what sort of experience awaits you.

When you slide across the wide sills and into the deep, Alcantara-trimmed bucket seat, there are further hints as to this car’s uncompromising nature. The Alcantara-finished steering wheel has an exposed carbon-fibre lower section, there’s more carbon used on the centre console, handbrake and instrument cluster, and it’s on those doors and wing mirrors. This doesn’t just save a little weight, it adds to the noise levels – and what a noise. The V10 was already one of the most memorable engines in production, but in this package it redoubles its efforts to entrance you all the way through its rev range with its spellbinding howl that grows ever-more urgent as you approach the 8000rpm rev limit.

Nearly all models came with Lamborghini’s E-gear single-clutch automated transmission, which has a period-correct feel by today’s standards but was thumpingly good back then. (A manual gearbox was available, but only a small minority of Superleggeras were fitted with it). It’s blunt and to the point, much like the car as a whole, and slams home full-rev upshifts with a satisfyingly mechanical thump.

At this point, you might imagine that a four-wheel drive Superleggera could never be as engaging as rear-wheel drive rivals. Think again. The steering and chassis tuning gives the car precision, bite and enough rotation to keep you on your toes on the way into corners, while well-timed and judicious use of the throttle on the way out will get things sliding nicely out of tighter turns and neutral in faster bends. And all the way, you’re acutely aware that the Superleggera is demanding of your attention. Get it wrong, fail to join up all the dots, and it will punish you – something I could safely appreciate after spending a week with one, including a day pushing it hard on track at the Porsche Centre Silverstone.

I loved the urgent, unsanitised nature of that car, and so did other critics. In its 2011 road test of the later, LP570-4 Superleggera, Car and Driver described the V10 as having a “malevolent” edge at idle and praised the ferocity of its upper-range charge, noting that its soundtrack was even more theatrical than that of the Ferrari 458 Italia – no faint praise at the time.

Over at evo, reviewers applauded the car’s sharper directional response and improved body control over the standard Gallardo LP560-4. The steering was singled out for its precision and honesty, while the recalibrated stability system allowed meaningful slip angles before intervening – a subtle but important nod to experienced drivers.‍

Market overview and values: Gallardo Superleggera

Today, the Gallardo Superleggera occupies a fascinating position in the market. It represents what many of today’s collectors covet – a brand steeped in history, limited numbers, natural-aspiration, minimal driving aids and – above all – drama.

The tricky part for car enthusiasts in the UK hunting for the Superleggera experience is that at any one time there will be fewer than a handful for sale. And when a car comes to market, it doesn’t hang around.

“A recent car was on our website for less than a week before it was sold,” says Daniel Parker, Managing Director of VVS, a Lamborghini and supercar specialist based in Cranbrook, Kent. This creates a dilemma: should you jump at the opportunity, or be patient and hope another car with a spec you prefer is just around the corner?,

“It depends on personal preferences, but generally we’d advise clients to be quick,” explains Parker. “The key is knowing the car’s history – not just the mechanical service history, but accident history. A lot of Superleggeras have been in accidents, but so long as they have had professional repairs to a factory standard, buyers can have complete confidence in the car.”

Parker says over the past six months, collectors who’d previously only consider Ferraris and now turning their attention to models like the Gallardo Superleggera and LP570-4 Superleggera. The reason? Rarity.

“Buyers are most excited about the original, first-generation Superleggeras. The firing order of the V10 means it sounds even more incredible.” There are key options that makes cars even more sought-after – notably the optional roll-cage and carbon-ceramic brakes – and it is important to look through the car’s service history, checking to see whether the catalytic converters have been replaced. If they haven’t, it is a job that must be done to prevent them degrading and particles being sucked into the engine. The other question to ask is whether the car is on its original clutch, as parts inflation at the factory means a replacement is seriously expensive, the best part of £10,000.

For a time, these cars weren’t cracking the £100,000 barrier – browse past auction results via The Classic Valuer site. Will Superleggeras soon be fetching £150,000? Parker believes they will – this year.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Superleggera comes with what James May calls “the fizz” – an excellence that manifests itself with a fizzing sensation in the root of his manhood. Maybe you know what he means. Regardless, what we’re trying to say here is the Superleggera isn’t merely a lighter Gallardo. It’s Lamborghini distilled.

If you would like to know more about Racing Green’s services, or arrange for your car to be placed in our care, please speak with a member of the team, on 03330 909722, or email us at enquiries@racinggreencarstorage.co.uk