My old Lambo photos from the 90s
Discussion
Some very interesting comments and photographs appearing.
First the number plate 1NKO to my knowledge was owned by Roger Phillips or Lamborghini. I changed this plate more than once from Espada to Urraco and it appeared in several magazine articles. I don't think that an individual in the printing business would have loaned his car for a roadtest. There was another plate, 11NKO maybe this is the one Del is thinking of. However it is all a very long time ago now!
The Rod Stewart Miura OVM8H. The photo was taken on 12th September 1971 which was a year before I joined Lamborghini. In November 1971 the Lamborghini concession was announced between Bob Pierce of Silvertune, Roger Phillips of Silvertune and Nicholas Van der Steen of NVD. The Silvertune company was located at 142 New Kings Road S.W.6. Prior to Silvertune it had been the Italian Car Centre in Alie Street. (these premises never moved or stopped servicing Lamborghini only the name changed).
I know that Rod Stewart and Roger Phillips had known each other from Highgate where Roger was born. I also know that Roger Phillips was involved in a spectacular crash in a Miura, I believe in Sloane Street Chelsea in either 1969/1970. It made the press! I have no doubt that OVM8H came via Roger Phillips somehow, however Rod had this car before my time. I can only relate to cars I saw or drove whilst employed from November 1972 up to February 1974. (plus cars after 1974 that I saw or drove during my association with Roger).
I do recall that there were a series of JLL---K registration numbers, a red Espada belonging to Paul McCartney JLL834K and a Miura 831K. There were also a few on LUC--K and i have a niggling memory of a Black Miura which may have been on LYV---.
With regard to the Urraco, I remember the Orange car which was our first RHD and the Gold car which I believe was our second RHD. There were other RHD cars destined for other countries but I was not into chassis numbers, I only recall what we got.
When visiting the factory in 1973 my contact was Ubaldo Sgarzi. A lovely man who basically ran the factory. Roger had a great connection with Ubaldo and managed to obtain cars that perhaps he had not ordered! One such car was a green LHD Espada which suddenly appeared one day. The car had been imported into the UK and taxes paid. Roger found a customer for the car but he did not want to pay the tax as he would eventually take the car out of the UK.
The HM Customs set up was very different in those days. When we drove a Lamborghini from the factory into the UK, the car had to be declared as freight. It did not go through the normal port entry but was instead diverted to a freight section that was mainly heavy goods vehicles. We would notify our shipping agent MAT and they would meet the car and driver at Dover with the necessary paperwork for import. My contact at MAT was Dennis.
To reclaim the paid duty on the green LHD Espada I had to take it out of the country. I drove the car to Dover and onto the ferry for Calais. Dennis did the required paperwork to claim back the duty. On arrival at Calais I drove the car to Bolougne and brought the car back in at Folkestone. job done!
The car was later exported, I think to the Lebanon as we had a customer from there, Riad Dessouki who purchased more than one Lamborghini.
The follow on story goes back to number plates. I have mentioned 1NKO and UHO1 and the trade plate 913LN. The green LHD Espada was not registered so it had to be driven on trade plates. However I could not use the trade plate in France so we made up a reflective set of plates with this 913LN number. It did not look out of place on the LHD car and I had relevant insurance paperwork. The only problem is that the red/white trade plates were not to be found, i needed these to be in the car in the Uk. I was assured that they would be waiting for me on my return to Folkestone for my journey back to London.
On arrival at Folkestone the plates were not forthcoming so I had no option but to continue. I got onto the M20 and was somewhere around Ashford when I saw a white Rover P6 come down the slip road. I was in a LHD car with a Kilometre speedo, i glanced down at it and saw that I was travelling a bit too fast. I did not want to show any brake lights so i eased off enough for the Police to catch up. They took an interest in the car and pulled me onto the hard shoulder. The cop was a nice guy, I showed him the car, the engine and even let him sit in it. Then he wrote me a ticket for 85mph in a 70mph limit. I tried to explain that I had a LHD with a KMPH car and that the Epada at 85mph was like a normal car at 45mph, but i think he just wanted to paint the outline of a Lamborghini on his police car door. This was my first...and last motoring offence. The good news is that when looking at the car the cop did not notice the lack of a tax disc or query the registration number. I paid the fine and said no more!
So back to number plates on a Lamborghini photo, don't rely on them!
I do not have a photo of the Silhouette A SPOOK. It was a USA owners meeting in San Diego in 1980...........maybe an American owner can assist?
If anyone is in contact with Barry Martina he may be able to recall it, I am not sure if we were sober at the time!
First the number plate 1NKO to my knowledge was owned by Roger Phillips or Lamborghini. I changed this plate more than once from Espada to Urraco and it appeared in several magazine articles. I don't think that an individual in the printing business would have loaned his car for a roadtest. There was another plate, 11NKO maybe this is the one Del is thinking of. However it is all a very long time ago now!
The Rod Stewart Miura OVM8H. The photo was taken on 12th September 1971 which was a year before I joined Lamborghini. In November 1971 the Lamborghini concession was announced between Bob Pierce of Silvertune, Roger Phillips of Silvertune and Nicholas Van der Steen of NVD. The Silvertune company was located at 142 New Kings Road S.W.6. Prior to Silvertune it had been the Italian Car Centre in Alie Street. (these premises never moved or stopped servicing Lamborghini only the name changed).
I know that Rod Stewart and Roger Phillips had known each other from Highgate where Roger was born. I also know that Roger Phillips was involved in a spectacular crash in a Miura, I believe in Sloane Street Chelsea in either 1969/1970. It made the press! I have no doubt that OVM8H came via Roger Phillips somehow, however Rod had this car before my time. I can only relate to cars I saw or drove whilst employed from November 1972 up to February 1974. (plus cars after 1974 that I saw or drove during my association with Roger).
I do recall that there were a series of JLL---K registration numbers, a red Espada belonging to Paul McCartney JLL834K and a Miura 831K. There were also a few on LUC--K and i have a niggling memory of a Black Miura which may have been on LYV---.
With regard to the Urraco, I remember the Orange car which was our first RHD and the Gold car which I believe was our second RHD. There were other RHD cars destined for other countries but I was not into chassis numbers, I only recall what we got.
When visiting the factory in 1973 my contact was Ubaldo Sgarzi. A lovely man who basically ran the factory. Roger had a great connection with Ubaldo and managed to obtain cars that perhaps he had not ordered! One such car was a green LHD Espada which suddenly appeared one day. The car had been imported into the UK and taxes paid. Roger found a customer for the car but he did not want to pay the tax as he would eventually take the car out of the UK.
The HM Customs set up was very different in those days. When we drove a Lamborghini from the factory into the UK, the car had to be declared as freight. It did not go through the normal port entry but was instead diverted to a freight section that was mainly heavy goods vehicles. We would notify our shipping agent MAT and they would meet the car and driver at Dover with the necessary paperwork for import. My contact at MAT was Dennis.
To reclaim the paid duty on the green LHD Espada I had to take it out of the country. I drove the car to Dover and onto the ferry for Calais. Dennis did the required paperwork to claim back the duty. On arrival at Calais I drove the car to Bolougne and brought the car back in at Folkestone. job done!
The car was later exported, I think to the Lebanon as we had a customer from there, Riad Dessouki who purchased more than one Lamborghini.
The follow on story goes back to number plates. I have mentioned 1NKO and UHO1 and the trade plate 913LN. The green LHD Espada was not registered so it had to be driven on trade plates. However I could not use the trade plate in France so we made up a reflective set of plates with this 913LN number. It did not look out of place on the LHD car and I had relevant insurance paperwork. The only problem is that the red/white trade plates were not to be found, i needed these to be in the car in the Uk. I was assured that they would be waiting for me on my return to Folkestone for my journey back to London.
On arrival at Folkestone the plates were not forthcoming so I had no option but to continue. I got onto the M20 and was somewhere around Ashford when I saw a white Rover P6 come down the slip road. I was in a LHD car with a Kilometre speedo, i glanced down at it and saw that I was travelling a bit too fast. I did not want to show any brake lights so i eased off enough for the Police to catch up. They took an interest in the car and pulled me onto the hard shoulder. The cop was a nice guy, I showed him the car, the engine and even let him sit in it. Then he wrote me a ticket for 85mph in a 70mph limit. I tried to explain that I had a LHD with a KMPH car and that the Epada at 85mph was like a normal car at 45mph, but i think he just wanted to paint the outline of a Lamborghini on his police car door. This was my first...and last motoring offence. The good news is that when looking at the car the cop did not notice the lack of a tax disc or query the registration number. I paid the fine and said no more!
So back to number plates on a Lamborghini photo, don't rely on them!
I do not have a photo of the Silhouette A SPOOK. It was a USA owners meeting in San Diego in 1980...........maybe an American owner can assist?
If anyone is in contact with Barry Martina he may be able to recall it, I am not sure if we were sober at the time!
Bob the Cop said:
Some very interesting comments and photographs appearing.
First the number plate 1NKO to my knowledge was owned by Roger Phillips or Lamborghini. I changed this plate more than once from Espada to Urraco and it appeared in several magazine articles. I don't think that an individual in the printing business would have loaned his car for a roadtest. There was another plate, 11NKO maybe this is the one Del is thinking of. However it is all a very long time ago now!
I checked both pics and they are both 1NKO.So maybe 11NKO was on yet another LP400...First the number plate 1NKO to my knowledge was owned by Roger Phillips or Lamborghini. I changed this plate more than once from Espada to Urraco and it appeared in several magazine articles. I don't think that an individual in the printing business would have loaned his car for a roadtest. There was another plate, 11NKO maybe this is the one Del is thinking of. However it is all a very long time ago now!
The Motorsport advert is interesting. From the October issue, which leads me to ask what was the date of the Roger Phillips/Nick Van der Steen partnership? I assume that the advert was done for the 1971 motor show.
I found another photo of the factory with the Countach and the Fiat 127's. The Fiats can also be seen inside the factory in the background.
I am still searching for my 1973 diary but in the meantime I found these.
A box of matches with the ROSSETTI name on the front and the factory address on the rear.
Two Lamborghini lapel badges.
A keyring fob with the Lamborghini emblem. This one is hallmarked solid silver. What are the keyrings like nowadays?
I hope to have some more photos soon.
I found another photo of the factory with the Countach and the Fiat 127's. The Fiats can also be seen inside the factory in the background.
I am still searching for my 1973 diary but in the meantime I found these.
A box of matches with the ROSSETTI name on the front and the factory address on the rear.
Two Lamborghini lapel badges.
A keyring fob with the Lamborghini emblem. This one is hallmarked solid silver. What are the keyrings like nowadays?
I hope to have some more photos soon.
I'd imagine with magazine lead times being what they were in those days it was published just in time for the Motor Show.
'11NKO' appears on the green Urraco pic I posted a couple of pages back, but I'm sure I've seen another period photo somewhere of the same plate on a different car, possibly an Espada.
Nice little trinkets you've got there Bob, is the large red badge a vinyl sticker...?
'11NKO' appears on the green Urraco pic I posted a couple of pages back, but I'm sure I've seen another period photo somewhere of the same plate on a different car, possibly an Espada.
Nice little trinkets you've got there Bob, is the large red badge a vinyl sticker...?
Yes a sticker from the factory in 1973.
Going back to the 1NKO number plate, I never saw this on a Countach because by the time I left Lamborghini we had not imported any.
The white Autocar Espada 1NKO was our demonstrator and the plate later went onto a Urraco. It is more than likely that it went onto the Countach after my time. It is also probable that Roger sold this plate with a car. Bearing in mind that the Arab/Israeli war and the fuel crisis had put a nail in the coffin for exotic cars. Our secretary Stephanie Dane got married and became Stephanie Hutton and went to work for Jeep (UK) Ltd in St James's Street SW1 and Roger soldiered on best he could.
There was another car we had considered importing and an example was brought into the UK from Italy in late 1973. I got to use this car over the Christmas period and my biggest fear was where can I find fuel. I will tell you about this car soon. I am waiting for my slides to be converted to photos.
Going back to the 1NKO number plate, I never saw this on a Countach because by the time I left Lamborghini we had not imported any.
The white Autocar Espada 1NKO was our demonstrator and the plate later went onto a Urraco. It is more than likely that it went onto the Countach after my time. It is also probable that Roger sold this plate with a car. Bearing in mind that the Arab/Israeli war and the fuel crisis had put a nail in the coffin for exotic cars. Our secretary Stephanie Dane got married and became Stephanie Hutton and went to work for Jeep (UK) Ltd in St James's Street SW1 and Roger soldiered on best he could.
There was another car we had considered importing and an example was brought into the UK from Italy in late 1973. I got to use this car over the Christmas period and my biggest fear was where can I find fuel. I will tell you about this car soon. I am waiting for my slides to be converted to photos.
Bob the Cop said:
Yes a sticker from the factory in 1973.
Going back to the 1NKO number plate, I never saw this on a Countach because by the time I left Lamborghini we had not imported any.
The white Autocar Espada 1NKO was our demonstrator and the plate later went onto a Urraco. It is more than likely that it went onto the Countach after my time. It is also probable that Roger sold this plate with a car. Bearing in mind that the Arab/Israeli war and the fuel crisis had put a nail in the coffin for exotic cars. Our secretary Stephanie Dane got married and became Stephanie Hutton and went to work for Jeep (UK) Ltd in St James's Street SW1 and Roger soldiered on best he could.
Yes I think it was probably sold with an LP400. Perhaps this happened when Roger Phillips lost the agency mid-way through the 1974 Earls Court Show when Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini (UK) Ltd became the sole concessionaire for the whole of the UK, and the entire display was changed overnight!Going back to the 1NKO number plate, I never saw this on a Countach because by the time I left Lamborghini we had not imported any.
The white Autocar Espada 1NKO was our demonstrator and the plate later went onto a Urraco. It is more than likely that it went onto the Countach after my time. It is also probable that Roger sold this plate with a car. Bearing in mind that the Arab/Israeli war and the fuel crisis had put a nail in the coffin for exotic cars. Our secretary Stephanie Dane got married and became Stephanie Hutton and went to work for Jeep (UK) Ltd in St James's Street SW1 and Roger soldiered on best he could.
Do these ring any bells with you Bob...? Taken in London despite the foreign plates, the Urraco is 1973 and the LP400 is 1975...
Edit : the Urraco doesn't appear to have the 'early' Lamborghini badge on the bootlid so it may be later than '73.
Edited by P5BNij on Friday 14th April 11:52
Edit : the Urraco doesn't appear to have the 'early' Lamborghini badge on the bootlid so it may be later than '73.
Edited by P5BNij on Friday 14th April 11:54
P5BNij said:
...'11NKO' appears on the green Urraco pic I posted a couple of pages back, but I'm sure I've seen another period photo somewhere of the same plate on a different car, possibly an Espada....
Yes certainly a P250S which could be either 15546 or 15774 depending on the interior colour...P5BNij said:
Do these ring any bells with you Bob...? Taken in London despite the foreign plates, the Urraco is 1973 and the LP400 is 1975...
Edit : the Urraco doesn't appear to have the 'early' Lamborghini badge on the bootlid so it may be later than '73.
Yes, those are Bologna plates and it could well be 1973 as over 250 Urracos were consigned by the end of that year! The Citroen Ami also appear to have Italian plates - strange travelling companions...Edited by P5BNij on Friday 14th April 11:52
Edit : the Urraco doesn't appear to have the 'early' Lamborghini badge on the bootlid so it may be later than '73.
Edited by P5BNij on Friday 14th April 11:54
I remember Roger having the problem with the concession. Fortunately it was not for long. He managed to loan me the White Espada for my first wedding in January 1976 and I returned the favour by doing a spares run to the factory.
There is of course the magazine article by Mel Nichols in 1976 when the Countach, Urraco and Silhouette were brought back from the factory for the Motor show. I did manage to get a drive in the Silhouette thanks to Roger. The article did make me chuckle, I had done the same thing a few times in 1973 and I could visualise the route and the experience.
I do not know about the Urraco, but yes it is on Bologna plates and may have a direct factory connection. What is interesting is it being pictured with the Citroen. The last time I saw two similar cars side by side was at Rogers showroom in Whyteleafe where he had Lamborghini and a Citroen agency. A 2CV and a Countach together makes for an interesting photograph!
There is of course the magazine article by Mel Nichols in 1976 when the Countach, Urraco and Silhouette were brought back from the factory for the Motor show. I did manage to get a drive in the Silhouette thanks to Roger. The article did make me chuckle, I had done the same thing a few times in 1973 and I could visualise the route and the experience.
I do not know about the Urraco, but yes it is on Bologna plates and may have a direct factory connection. What is interesting is it being pictured with the Citroen. The last time I saw two similar cars side by side was at Rogers showroom in Whyteleafe where he had Lamborghini and a Citroen agency. A 2CV and a Countach together makes for an interesting photograph!
Bob the Cop said:
I remember Roger having the problem with the concession. Fortunately it was not for long. He managed to loan me the White Espada for my first wedding in January 1976 and I returned the favour by doing a spares run to the factory.
There is of course the magazine article by Mel Nichols in 1976 when the Countach, Urraco and Silhouette were brought back from the factory for the Motor show. I did manage to get a drive in the Silhouette thanks to Roger. The article did make me chuckle, I had done the same thing a few times in 1973 and I could visualise the route and the experience.
I do not know about the Urraco, but yes it is on Bologna plates and may have a direct factory connection. What is interesting is it being pictured with the Citroen. The last time I saw two similar cars side by side was at Rogers showroom in Whyteleafe where he had Lamborghini and a Citroen agency. A 2CV and a Countach together makes for an interesting photograph!
As if by magic they all appear...There is of course the magazine article by Mel Nichols in 1976 when the Countach, Urraco and Silhouette were brought back from the factory for the Motor show. I did manage to get a drive in the Silhouette thanks to Roger. The article did make me chuckle, I had done the same thing a few times in 1973 and I could visualise the route and the experience.
I do not know about the Urraco, but yes it is on Bologna plates and may have a direct factory connection. What is interesting is it being pictured with the Citroen. The last time I saw two similar cars side by side was at Rogers showroom in Whyteleafe where he had Lamborghini and a Citroen agency. A 2CV and a Countach together makes for an interesting photograph!
And you mentioned the Italian Car Centre earlier... sadly the 1971 delivery promise was optimistic...
P5BNij said:
Do these ring any bells with you Bob...? Taken in London despite the foreign plates, the Urraco is 1973 and the LP400 is 1975...
Edit : the Urraco doesn't appear to have the 'early' Lamborghini badge on the bootlid so it may be later than '73.
The Countach was often seen in London,it was yellow RHD and owned by Adnan Khashoggi,it is now being restored at the Lamborghini Factory [see pic]Edited by P5BNij on Friday 14th April 11:52
Edit : the Urraco doesn't appear to have the 'early' Lamborghini badge on the bootlid so it may be later than '73.
Edited by P5BNij on Friday 14th April 11:54
I lived on the borders of Sanderstead and South Croydon, and as a youngster 12-13 years old, used to raid local dealers for car brochures, I and one of my friends would often walk miles to get an elusive brochure. I can remember a pilgrimage to Whyteleafe and can remember liberating a Lamborghini range brochure, this would have been around 1976, and the brochure that took pride of place in my schoolboy collection was one of these, sadly I don't have it anymore.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/LAMBORGHINI-Sales-Brochure-...
This thread has brought back great childhood memories.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/LAMBORGHINI-Sales-Brochure-...
This thread has brought back great childhood memories.
OK, sorry for the wait.
This is the car we brought in late 1973 for evaluation with a view to importing it!
I had the car for 3 weeks over the Christmas period when the fuel crisis was on.
I will leave it to the knowledgeable folks on this forum to identify the car before I tell you more.
Clue...............it was designed by the same man who designed the Lamborghini 350GT.
This is the car we brought in late 1973 for evaluation with a view to importing it!
I had the car for 3 weeks over the Christmas period when the fuel crisis was on.
I will leave it to the knowledgeable folks on this forum to identify the car before I tell you more.
Clue...............it was designed by the same man who designed the Lamborghini 350GT.
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