2003 Lamborghini Murciélago LP580 Manual
When Lamborghini unveiled the Murciélago in 2001, It was declaring that the age of the raging bull was far from over. Brutal, exotic, and impossibly dramatic, the Murciélago carried forward the spirit of the Countach and Diablo, yet wrapped it in a new sense of precision and refinement. It was the first Lamborghini designed under Audi ownership, but crucially, it was still powered by a fire-breathing, naturally aspirated V12 and for the purist, available with a gated six-speed manual gearbox.
Styled by Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke, it is a car that still looks futuristic today; low, wide, and impossibly sharp, yet muscular and organic at the same time. Its name, meaning “bat” in Spanish, recalls a legendary fighting bull spared by a matador in 1879, a symbol of survival and strength. Of the 4,099 Murciélagos built, only a fraction were fitted with the six-speed manual gearbox, making this example particularly rare and desirable.
This 2003 example, finished in Grigio Avlon over a black leather interior, is one of those rare manual cars. It has travelled just 51,600 km from new and has led a well-documented life with only three known private owners. Originally ordered and delivered in Brussels Belgium, it is believed to have gone straight into the hands of its first UK-based owner, before later passing to two Belgian enthusiasts who spared no expense in maintaining it.
Over €74,000 in invoices chart the car’s journey, culminating in recent years with a thorough recommissioning in 2022. The body has been fully repainted in its original colour, the interior carefully refreshed, and extensive mechanical work undertaken. All engine seals and supports have been renewed, the 4x4 system rebuilt, and a major service with belts has been completed. The result is a car that feels tight, responsive, and ready to be enjoyed.
Twist the key, and the Murciélago’s 6.2-litre V12 erupts into life. With 580 horsepower on tap, it will sprint from 0–100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and push beyond 330 km/h. Yet the numbers only tell part of the story. What truly defines this car is the theatre, the way the scissor doors rise, the way the open-gated shifter clacks into gear, and above all, the way the engine sounds. Fitted with a new aftermarket exhaust, this car now delivers a soundtrack unlike anything else on the road: high-pitched, ferocious, and intoxicating, like the howl of a vintage Formula 1 car.
Service History
- 03/2003 – 2,500 km – Lamborghini London
- 09/2003 – 14,241 km – Lamborghini London
- 08/2006 – 36,146 km – Lamborghini Modena Wycombe
- 02/2008 – 39,876 km – Lamborghini Modena Wycombe
- 07/2022 – 51,421 km – Officina Valenti
- 05/2025 – 51,454 km – Desmet Automotive
- 09/2025 – 54,600 km – STS Project
This Murciélago stands as one of the most exciting ways to experience a true Lamborghini V12.
