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1974 BERTONE Lamborghini Bravo

1974 BERTONE Lamborghini Bravo
1974 BERTONE Lamborghini Bravo


Lamborghini Bravo - Bertone design you can't buy, Why? 
Because only two have been made in 1974.

The Gold (Chassis #46.01) car which is fully functional has been test driven for over 270,000 km (168,000 miles).

BRETONE Bravo
Chassis #46.01

The Lamborghini Bravo was not just a concept car designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone for Lamborghini, but also a fully functional pre-production prototype.

It was presented for the first time at the 1974 Turin Motor Show, the Lamborghini Bravo was intended to be a two-seater V8 engined companion to the Urraco 2+2.

It featured a 3-liter transverse mid-mounted 90° V-8 DOHC engine that produced 300 bhp and was mated to a five-speed gearbox.

Despite all the plans for the Bravo, the car never made it into production, in large part because of the Lamborghini's financial problems at that time.

The Green car (Chassis #46.02) was crash tested in 1976.

BERTONE Bravo Green BERTONE Bravo Green
Chassis #46.02 shown prior "Crash Test"

BERTONE Bravo Gold
Chassis #46.01 shown prior retirement from "Durability Test"

This particular vehicle was acquired by BERTONE after it was retired from "durability testing" and was part of the BERTONE Museum Collection until 2011.

In December 1987 at the insistence of Miro Kefurt of M.I.K Automotive, Inc. of North Hollywood, California USA, who at that time was the Number One dealer for BERTONE in USA, the BRAVO almost saw a production as a companion version to the BERTONE X1/9, utilizing the same powertrain, but with mechanical supercharger.

BERTONE Bravo Project 1
Chassis #46.01 shown with 1987 X1/9s at BERTONE Design Studio after "measurement session"

However, shortly after the start of "Project 1", FIAT announced that the power unit (engine and transmission combination) that was used in the US version of BERTONE X1/9 will be discontinued in 1988.

BERTONE Bravo
Chassis #46.01 prior "refreshment",
last day at the Bertone Museum

The car was sold during auction in May 2011 which was part of Bertone Museum asset liquidation ordered by Italian Bankruptcy court.

Prior being offered at the auction the Bravo was the only car from the Bertone Museum that was "refreshed".

BERTONE Bravo
Chassis #46.01 after "refreshment" as presented at the auction

The refreshment consisted of new upholstery of the Alcantara® interior, and new paint of White pearl color with several coats of clear.

The original Stewart-Warner Gauges were also replaced with new units.

This Lamborghini Bravo was estimated to have an auction price value of around US$213,000 to US$312,000 by RM Auctions.

How much did it sell for ?
€588,000 (US$825,400)


Following Products were installed in 1974:


Vehicle Data

ENGINE
Type 90° Aluminum L240 V8
Transverse, Mid-Mounted
DOHC per bank
Valves 2 per cylinder
Bore/Stroke 86mm x 64.5mm
Capacity 2,996cc
Carburation 4 Twin-throat Webers
40 DCNF
Max power 300bhp @ 7,800rpm
Torque 237 ft/lbs @ 4,000rpm
Compression 10:1
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox 5-speed + reverse
All-Synchromesh
Axle Ratio 14/35
Clutch Single dry plate
hydraulically assisted
STRUCTURE
Chassis Integral chassis/body
Body Steel
Builder Bertone
Suspension Independent, coil springs and
telescopic shock absorbers
Brakes Girling ventilated discs
Wheels Campagnolo cast magnesium
Front: 15" x 8"
Rear:  15" x 11"
Front Tires 195/50 VR 15 Michelin
Rear Tires 275/40 VR 15 Michelin
MEASUREMENTS
Overall Length 3775 mm147.2 in
Overall Width 1900 mm74.1 in
Overall Height 1050 mm41.0 in
Wheelbase 2275 mm88.7 in
Front Track 1488 mm58.0 in
Rear Track 1555 mm60.6 in
Weight 1085 kg2390 lbs
Fuel Tank 80 Liters21 US Gal.
PERFORMANCE
Top speed 275 km/h (170 mph)
Acceleration 0-60 mph in 7.3 sec

Made in USA SynLube™ Lube-4-Life® products are 100% Synthetic non-petroleum colloidal lubricants.

Yet another Prototype vehicle proves that Permanent non-petroleum SynLube™ Lube-4-Life® Functional Fluids are a viable alternative to conventional petroleum based fluids, which must be periodically and frequently changed to maintain vehicle in a good operating condition.