Inside the story of the glass walled Lamborghini that was too bold for production

This flashy Lamborghini concept car was first unveiled to the world at an exclusive European car show over five decades ago.

But, despite the car being kitted out to the max both inside and outside, the chassis never crossed the production line.

Based on a cult classic model, the concept car included unique designs and a rare engine, which, in turn, attracted lots of attention.

And, now, years after its release, the memory of the vehicle still lives on in more ways than one.

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The delicate concept car that took the 60s by storm

Lamborghini is no stranger to unveiling different designs and concepts to excite its clients and fans, but one particular design proved to be too striking to make it onto the shop floor.

Meet the Lamborghini Marzal, which was first presented at the Geneva Motor Show back in 1967.

Designed by Marcello Gandini, the car was no ordinary daily driver.

It displayed unique features, including ‘crystal glass’ style gullwing doors and bright metallic silver leather seats.

And all that crystal allowed the interior to shine through.

It turns out, though, that Ferruccio Lamborghini actually objected to the unique door design due to privacy concerns, as 4.5 square metres of glass surfacing covered the car.

From the honeycomb design on the dash to the way that the hood and trunk opened, the car turned heads from the get-go.

Under the hood of the concept car, the surprises kept on coming thanks to the six-cylinder engine.

Yes, that’s right, it was the only Lamborghini to have that mechanical design powering the shell forward.

The car was reportedly capable of 175hp, and came complete with a five-speed gearbox alongside three Weber 40DCOE carburettors, and even telescopic dampers.

The bold concept car was actually based on the Muira’s V12 powerhouse, but instead of coming with exactly the same characteristics, it was shifted 180 degrees.

The wheelbase was also extended to create room for two additional passengers.

According to RM Sotheby’s, the car was actually sold for a whopping sum of $1,760,520 – which is no surprise considering the exclusivity of the one-of-one model.

The Lamborghini Marzal left a lasting impact

Famously, in 1967, the same year of its unveiling, the Marzal was driven around the track at the Monte Carlo Formula 1 Grand Prix track by His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III of Monaco, alongside Princess Grace.

Remarkably, decades after the concept car was first shown to the world, it still remains a talking point within the car world.

In fact, most recently, in 2018, the car was driven by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique.

The car was clearly no ordinary design, with the legend of Marzal echoing through Lamborghini’s doors today.

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