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When Lamborghini unveiled the Silhouette at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show, it wasn't just launching a new car, it was rewriting a chapter of its own history. As the first open-top production model from the Sant'Agata Bolognese manufacturer, the Silhouette marked a bold departure from the brand's earlier coupes. Low-slung, wide, and menacingly poised over its ultra-modern low-profile tires, the car was a striking embodiment of 1970s Italian automotive flair.

Built on the underpinnings of the Urraco P300, the Silhouette retained its predecessor's mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, powered by a 3.0-liter V8 producing 265 bhp. This engine was transversely mounted and featured dual overhead camshafts driven by chains, which offered not only technical intrigue but genuine performance prowess. With a top speed of 260 km/h and acceleration comparable to the revered Miura SV, the Silhouette was no mere styling exercise.

Stylistically, the Silhouette was a triumph of proportion and aggression, thanks to design house Carrozzeria Bertone. Its squared-off yet muscular lines gave it presence without pretense. The flared wheel arches, shaped to accommodate the radical-for-the-time low-profile tires, and the bold front spoiler helped visually anchor the car while enhancing aerodynamics. Distinctive five-hole "Bravo-type" alloy wheels, inherited from the Lamborghini Bravo concept, completed the silhouette, literally and figuratively.

Perhaps most distinctive was the removable Targa-style roof, which integrated seamlessly into the design when in place, preserving the coupe's taut lines while offering drivers the visceral pleasure of open-air motoring. The interior featured a completely redesigned dashboard compared to the Urraco, with deeply recessed gauges and a uniquely shaped steering wheel, emphasizing both functionality and drama, do note that next to the gearshift, you still had the Urraco script on the central console.

Underneath, the Urraco P300's chassis had been reinforced to counteract the structural compromise of removing the roof, ensuring torsional rigidity remained intact. The suspension and braking systems were recalibrated to match the demands of wider wheels and sticky 195/50-15 front and 285/40-15 rear tires. The result was a car that weighed under 1,400 kg but delivered thrilling road manners and a nearly perfect power-to-weight ratio for its era.

Despite its innovation and performance, the Silhouette remained a rare bird. Produced from 1977 to 1979, only 52 units were built, 12 in right-hand drive, making it one of the rarest Lamborghinis ever made. It served not only as a bridge between the Urraco and the later Jalpa but also as a stylistic and engineering preview of what was to come.

In hindsight, the Lamborghini Silhouette remains an unsung hero, an open-top pioneer whose legacy lives on in every Lamborghini convertible that followed. Rare, radical, and relentlessly engaging, it is a gem of 1970s motoring that deserves far more attention than history has granted it.

The scale model

I have already written a review on the white version of this 1/18 scale Lamborghini Silhouette from Kyosho, and while this is their second color, Rosso, the review still stands as before, the same positives ... and negatives are still there with this red release.

Overall, the Kyosho Lamborghini Silhouette is a very nice model, and looks great on the shelf next to their Urraco and the KK-Scale Jalpa models in the same 1/18 scale, but up close, there are a few things that you can't help but notice, and as this model comes with an MSRP of €250, that's not a good thing.

For one, it's a sealed model, but you know that when you order it, but unlike the KK-Scale Jalpa, you can't remove the roof panel on this Kyosho Lamborghini Silhouette, and you can't turn the wheels on this model either, nor can you steer the front wheels, it's all glued in place.

But here comes the kicker ... it's the only 1/18 scale model of the rare 1970's Lamborghini Silhouette on the market at the time of writing, so I just had to add it to the collection, also because I really love the aggressive styling of it, which was toned down a little when the Jalpa was introduced, so the 1/18 scale Lamborghini Silhouette from Kyosho is a must-have in my opinion.

Originally released in June 2025.

our RATING

Exterior		8/10
Interior		7/10
Engine	Not visible
Accuracy		9/10
Overall rating		8/10

Original price on June 26, 2025 : € 172