No modern Lamborghini captures the spirit of the Italian firm quite like the Murciélago. It may have been the first model to be completely designed under the auspices of Audi, but its DNA was pure Lamborghini, from its thunderous 6.2-litre Bizzarrini-derived V-12 engine to the sleek and elegant Luc Donckerwolke-penned shape. Raw, visceral, and unashamedly flamboyant, it was a fitting continuation of the flagship V-12 lineage that had produced the Miura, Countach, and Diablo.

The Murciélago received a significant upgrade in 2006 with the launch of the LP 640, upping engine capacity to 6.5 litres and output to 631 horsepower, along with a raft of other improvements ranging from increased headroom to smartly redesigned front and rear bumpers. But it is the run-out LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, unveiled three years later in Geneva, that represents the most developed and accomplished iteration of the legendary supercar, somehow managing to be both more extreme and more refined.

The LP 670-4 SV was only the third model to use the SV name, following on from the legendary Miura SV and Diablo SV of 1971 and 1995—both the ultimate, most powerful and most celebrated versions of the iconic supercars. The Murciélago LP 670-4 SV continued that legacy with 100 kilograms slashed from the kerb weight and an additional 30 brake-horsepower thanks to a new exhaust, ignition system and variable valve timing, plus a reworked suspension package, aero package, and bodyshell designed to generate significantly more grip. Taken together, the Murciélago’s swansong increased the power-to-weight ratio from 379 bhp-per-tonne to a rabid 422 bhp-per-tonne, providing an all-encompassing driving experience that was simply unmatched.

Created in the ‘Goldilocks’ period that combined traditional Lamborghini with the engineering excellence and quality of its German parent company, the Murciélago LP 670-4 SV marked the end of an era as the last Lamborghini to feature a steel body and the iconic Bizzarrini engine that powered the Miura.

BEST OF THE BEST

The Murciélago LP 670-4 SV is rightly hailed as one of the most dynamic, charismatic, and accomplished Lamborghinis to ever leave the gates of Sant’Agata—but even among this rare cohort of approximately 300 cars, not all were created equal. While all were special, there is no doubt that chassis 4015 is the very best of the best.

What elevates this example to unicorn status is its vanishingly rare and utterly sublime specification crafted via Lamborghini’s Ad Personam programme—a list of hugely desirable options perfectly tailored to both the driver and the collector.

The first is the colour: Marrone Eklipsis. A deep, lustrous shade of metallic brown, the colour pays homage to the run-out Diablo VT 6.0 SE, 21 of which were finished in Oro Elios, representing the dawn, and 21 in Marrone Eklipsis representing the sunset. This stunning Murciélago LP 670-4 SV is the sole example of its type to leave the factory in this deeply attractive and historic shade.

And then there’s the spoiler—or rather, the lack of it. Being a track-focused model, the LP 670-4 SV first broke cover with an enormous Aeropack Wing. From press demonstrators and magazine test cars to the lion’s share of customer deliveries, the wing became so ubiquitous that the model was almost never seen without it. Of the hundreds of LP 670-4 SVs built, just three—including this example—left Sant’Agata instead optioned with a Low-Drag Wing; with one destined for the United States and two built to European specifications. Visually balanced while better complementing the Murciélago’s classic silhouette, the low-drag wing also increased the top speed from 209 mph to 212 mph.

When the updated Murciélago came on stream in 2006 it didn’t just look more aggressive and contemporary than the outgoing car—it addressed a number of usability issues with the early model. Among them was interior headroom, which was much improved. However, not all changes were improvements, and when it came to the run-out LP 670-4 SV, the carbon-shelled race seats came under scrutiny for their lack of lumbar support and firmness. Chassis 4015 was instead fitted with LP640 specification “comfort” seats that are wider, more supportive, and better suited to everyday driving. Beautifully finished in Ad Personam Avorio Lilium with Grigio Phoenix stitching, they complement the Marrone Janus Alcantara beautifully—another triumph of both form and function.

Look between those seats and you will see the final and most significant feature that elevates this stellar car above its brilliant contemporaries: Lamborghini’s glorious six-speed gated manual transmission. Incredibly, only five known cars escaped Sant’Agata Bolognese so equipped, with the remainder of the model’s production run specified with the firm’s E-Gear automated manual. That small difference completely transforms the character of the LP 670-4 SV, placing the driver at the very heart of one of the most visceral driving experiences of the era. The gated manual doesn’t just provide a tactile, tangible link between driver and car —it continues the legacy built by the Lamborghini Miura P400 SV and Diablo SV that came before. For the purist and true Lamborghini enthusiast, nothing else comes close.

As the years have passed since the Murciélago’s introduction at the turn of the millennium, the significance of the model has grown steadily in collector circles. Born before electronic driver aids, forced induction, and hybrid power systems took over the automotive sector—and benefitting from the technical and manufacturing benefits that came with oversight from parent company Audi—the Murciélago is the last of the analogue Lamborghinis. The run-out LP 670-4 SV is the last of the Mohicans—the ultimate expression of that lauded platform.

As landmark Lamborghinis like the Shah of Iran’s Miura SVJ remain sequestered in private collections, this SV could be the last chance to secure what many consider the most important modern Lamborghini before it vanishes into a permanent collection. Unparalleled, unmatched, and unrepeatable, this Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV isn’t just the best of its type—it is an icon of a generation.