Monday 7th October 2013

Ferruccio Lamborghini's speedboat restored

Why just use V12s in cars when they can power a boat too?

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It’s not often we feature anything without wheels on PH, so anything we do has to be really special. Fortunately, Ferruccio Lamborghini’s Riva Aquarama speedboat is just that. And then some.

We're not even a bit jealous. Honest

The boat is in the news as it has been fully restored over three years to as-new condition following decades hidden away. Its original owner died in 1993, but Dutch Riva collector Sandro Zani tracked the boat down and made it his responsibility to bring it back to its former glory.

Ferruccio Lamborghini commissioned the boat in 1968, and was built under the tutelage of Carlos Riva in just three months. Being essentially a Lamborghini boat, it is appropriately and wonderfully overengined. Power comes from a pair of 4.0-litre V12s, similar to those found in the 350GT.

The original engines had to be replaced with a pair of V12s. However, to ensure the most authentic reproduction possible, the resto team were given access to the original engine in the Ferruccio Lamborghini museum. Furthermore Riva’s powertrain boss from the 1960s, Lino Morosini, was on hand with some additional info to ensure the engine spec was as accurate as possible.

Two V12s make Aventador-rivalling power!

The late Bob Wallace was also involved in engine calibration during the project. The bore and stroke are increased over the roadgoing spec for better low-end torque, with the peak now delivered at 1,500rpm. But they still make 350hp each, they still rev to 5,000rpm and there are still 12 Weber carburettors. Lovely.

Top speed is a claimed 48 knots, which blows the 40 knots of a twin-V8 Riva out of the water (we had to have a pun somewhere).

Elsewhere, the restoration has been befittingly thorough. Following a repair, the wooden hull was treated to ‘no fewer than 25 coatings’ (we’d assume of lacquer), the leather reupholstered and every piece of switchgear repaired.

It isn't clear what will happen to the Lamborghini-Riva speedboat now. It is described as a 'collector's item for true connoisseurs', which could imply it will be sold. You'll be the talk of the marina...

See the boat in action here

[GranCab]

Biggest want ever .....

[sleep envy]

Not a fan of boats but that is awesome.

[Ollieb7]

The most expensive expensive boat going - wonderful!

[PGM]

What a lovely thing!

[VladD]

Can we have that as POTW please, with a bit of Matt Monroe playing in the background?

[Andurron]

A W24?

Good old Ferrucio.

[Davey S2]

• spaff*

Just the thing for blowing George Clooney into the reeds on Lake Como.

[ikarl]

that looks absolutely fantastic

[heretheygo]

beggars belief that the lengthy video has some poppy music rather than those two engines in full song.
classic beauty the riva. mesmerising to watch.

[Krikkit]

Oh my...

Imagine pottering along a beautiful lake with those two V12's singing away. Breathtaking.

I'm sure you'd only get it in decent tune once though - 24 Weber carbs to sort out!

[Agoogy]

Take note industrial designers of the world... a beautiful thing is beautiful forever. If every boat on the water looked like this, it would STILL be glorious to look at.

[aeropilot]

A 'normal' Riva of that era is a marvellous, marvellous thing........and this is another level up from that .......

[AdamPT]

Probably one of the finest speedboats ever built....I might prefer the slightly longer 'Super' version and as much as the engines are beautiful to behold, I'd have a sunbathing deck as an engine cover (or has this been photographed sans cover for a reason?). But nitpicking - would be very happy even with a junior Riva.....

[Boatbuoy]

Agoogy said:

Take note industrial designers of the world... a beautiful thing is beautiful forever. If every boat on the water looked like this, it would STILL be glorious to look at.

Noted!

[Skater12]

For sale......

Kidneys x 2
Right arm x 1

Sensible offers only!

[Fartgalen]

That's beautiful.
Wish we could've heard more of the engine noise.

[AtWork]

heretheygo said:

beggars belief that the lengthy video has some poppy music rather than those two engines in full song.
classic beauty the riva. mesmerising to watch.

Dyno test of one of the engines here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk4IGNGwtCM

Can only imagine what two would sound like in situ, tearing across the lake in time for cocktails

[wongthecorrupter]

christ

[Fartgalen]

Here's some of the engine testing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LkQbVTWr4g

[epom]

Nice !!