Valentino Balboni

Rare Roger Moore Lamborghini at Auction

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

A rare 1969 Lamborghini Islero GTS (above) driven by Roger Moore in the cult 1970 flick The Man Who Haunted Himself, his last movie before taking up the role of James Bond, has been added to the lineup at RM Auctions' upcoming Automobiles of London sale next month. Estimated to fetch up to $215,000, the highly-coveted car would be quite a collector's catch even without the celebrity provenance. One of 100 Islero GT "S" models and one of only five RHD examples ever built, the car is considered by many to be a hidden gem. Ferruccio Lamborghini himself drove an Islero. Moore was recently reunited with the car in London where he autographed the sun visor, the original driver's handbook and a special plaque. These come with the car, along with an impressive collection of documents, including the original factory invoice, a photographic record of the recent total restoration and a letter from Valentino Balboni, the legendary Lamborghini test driver, confirming this is the actual movie car.

Gallery: Roger Moore 1969 Lamborghini Islero

Tags: auction, celebrity, classic cars, James Bond, Lamborghini, Lamborghini Islero, London, RM Auctions, Roger Moore, Valentino Balboni

Lamborghini Legends Dream Car Tour with Valentino Balboni

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

Gotham Dream Cars (GDC), New York and Miami's premier "ultra-exotic" car rental company and membership car club, will hold its 2nd annual Legends Dream Car Tour on May 11, 12 and 13 in Englewood, NJ. This intimate experience will put auto enthusiasts behind the wheel of five of the newest Lamborghini models alongside a legend in the automotive community, famed Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni. Participants will have the opportunity to compare and contrast the characteristics of five of Lamborghini's latest models on an open-road route that spans some of the best driving roads in Northern New Jersey and upstate New York. The lineup is still being finalized, but cars on the tour could include the Murciélago LP 640, LP 640 Roadster, Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder, Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni and the Murciélago LP 670 SuperVeloce.

The Legends Dream Car Tour is a five-hour experience starting with lunch at GDC's clubhouse in Northern New Jersey, a full vehicle overview and safety presentation, and a meet and greet/photo opp with Mr. Balboni. The tour then will put participants behind the wheel of each of the five cars, including time riding shotgun to Balboni as he leads as the official Grand Marshal. Space on the tours is extremely limited and must be reserved in advance; tickets can be purchased for $1,295 per driver. Non-driving passengers can attend free of charge. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.gothamdreamcars.com.

Tags: exotic car rental, Gotham Dream Cars, Lamborghini, supercar, supercar tour, tour, Valentino Balboni

Pictures From the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni Launch in Zurich

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Lamborghini Gallardo Valentino Balboni - Click above for high-res image gallery

David Kaiser, a friend of our sister site Autoblog, offers up these stunning pictures from Lamborghini's launch of the Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni in Zürich, Switzerland. According to Kaiser, this was the third stop of the car's initial European tour following appearances in Paris and Lyon in France. Next, the Italian crew will pack up and take their show on to various locations in the United Kingdom.

This new Lamborghini was named in honor of the automaker's longtime test driver. Featuring a 550-horsepower version of the Gallardo's familiar V10 engine and a comparatively low 3,042-pound curb weight, the rear-drive LP550-2 is reportedly capable of scurrying to 60 in just 3.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 199 mph. Check out the photo gallery below and pay special attention to the unique black-and-white racing stripe, Scorpious wheels hiding bright yellow brake calipers and transparent engine cover. Thanks, David!

Gallery: Lamborghini LP550-2 Valentino Balboni Launch in Zurich

[Source: DavidKaiser.ch]

Tags: lamborghini, lamborghini gallardo, lamborghini gallardo lp550-2, lamborghini gallardo lp550-2 valentino balboni, lamborghini lp550-2, LamborghiniGallardo, LamborghiniGallardoLp550-2, LamborghiniGallardoLp550-2ValentinoBalboni, LamborghiniLp550-2, valentino balboni, ValentinoBalboni, vincent balboni, VincentBalboni

Lamborghini Introduces Hardcore New Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Lamborghinis are about as hard-core as sportscars can get, but hard as it may be to believe, even this exotic Italian automaker has been making concessions towards drivability and ease-of-use. All in the interest of faster lap times, of course, but some desire a more direct, bare-bones approach. And now Lamborghini has delivered just that with the limited-edition Valentino Balboni edition Gallardo.

Named after the company's legendary test driver, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni does away with the all-wheel-drive system and e-gear clutchless transmission and replaces them with a classic rear-drive set-up and open-gate six-speed shifter. The removal of the heavy drivetrain saves significant weight off the car, delivering a more hard-core driving experience for the skilled enthusiast. The Balboni edition is visually distinguished by the white-and-gold stripe running up the hood, echoed inside with the white-trimmed interior, and the multi-spoke Scorpious wheels. Only 250 examples will be made, each individually signed and numbered, available in eight different colors and with a host of optional equipment. With prices starting below $220,000, it's actually less expensive than the $280k all-wheel-drive LP560-4, though we doubt that'll be the defining element for prospective buyers.

Source

Tags: gallardo, lamborghini, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni, LamborghiniGallardoLp550-2ValentinoBalboni, lp-550, valentino balboni, ValentinoBalboni

Gotham Dream Cars Debuts Legends Dream Car Tour

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

Gotham Dream Cars, the premier exotic car rental and touring company that has a fleet of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche, Aston Martin and Maserati supercars, is planning their first ever Legends Dream Car Tour on June 9 and 10. Sports car and luxury auto enthusiasts will enjoy an exciting and scenic drive in the New York area, switching between five Lamborghinis led by one of the most famous test-drivers of all time, Valentino Balboni (above) of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. The four-hour event will take participants on more than 150 miles of open road as they experience the newest Lamborghinis including the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder and the Murcielago LP 640 Roadster. Space for the exclusive, adrenaline-packed event is extremely limited.

Tags: Ferrari, Gotham Dream Cars, GothamDreamCars, lamborghini, New York, NewYork, supercars, Valentino Balboni, ValentinoBalboni