Shaq had to make one $600k change to his Lamborghini before he was able to drive it
Published on Oct 16, 2023 at 5:57 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Oct 17, 2023 at 8:07 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
Former NBA star Shaq had to fork out an exorbitant amount of cash to modify his Lamborghini Gallardo.
And he didn’t do it out of vanity.
As it turns out, Shaquille O’Neal had to fix a major issue that would’ve made it impossible for him to drive his Lambo.
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Like so many other professional athletes, Shaq has to face some real-world, everyday problems due to his size.
The thing is, the vast majority of cars available today are simply too small for him.
And this is especially true when it comes to supercars.
Back when he was playing, the NBA rated Shaq at 7-foot-1 (2.16m), so the fact of the matter is he simply doesn’t fit in the Lambo.
For that reason, Shaq had to take drastic measures to make sure he could drive his Gallardo.
First, he bought not one but two Lamborghini Gallardos.
The first one was new, and the second one was a pre-owned one.
He then turned to Gaffoglio, a custom coachbuilder from Argentina, and asked them to make him an extra-long-wheelbase Gallardo.
It cost him $600,000.
“@CelebCarz: Shaq's Custom Extended Lamborghini Gallardo pic.twitter.com/kcUcvoGsMz” the car looks like a toy…
— Shahil (@shahilmaknojia) March 1, 2015
The 51-year-old player-turned-businessman first revealed the secret behind his Lambo in one of his books.
“The reason it cost so much was I bought a brand-new Lamborghini and then I bought an old, beat-up Lamborghini,” he wrote.
“In order for me to fit into it, they had to chop them both in half and then superglue it together.”
This makes his Lamborghini Gallardo particularly rare and expensive.
Unsurprisingly, Shaq also lost money on this Lambo.
He recently sold it for just over $110,000.
Still, with a net worth of $400 million, he can afford it.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
