- Only 250 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Balboni models were made, making this RWD rare.
- The car’s bright yellow Giallo Midas paint and black-and-white stripes highlight its design.
- The e-gear transmission hurts its value compared to its manual transmission counterparts.
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Balboni is not your average Italian supercar. It’s one of the rare few that puts power to the rear wheels rather than all four, a throwback to the days of the Diablo. Sure, Lamborghini produced dozens of special editions of the Gallardo during its decade-long run, but the LP550-2 is arguably the standout.
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Read: The $800,000 Lambo Gallardo Restomod We Didn’t Know We Needed
It’s built to honor the legendary Valentino Balboni, Lamborghini’s chief test driver, who gave his name to this rear-drive wonder. But despite its pedigree and rarity, a Giallo Midas example recently flopped at auction, failing to meet its reserve price, with bidding halting at a mere $119,452. Ouch.
Just 250 of these special edition Gallardos were made, each a tribute to Balboni’s work. The key feature here? A 5.2-liter V10 sending power exclusively to the rear wheels, marking the first rear-wheel-drive Lamborghini since the Diablo.
It was also available with a six-speed manual transmission, which is the setup most enthusiasts crave. Unfortunately, this yellow example comes with the e-gear automated manual, a feature that’s likely dampened both its appeal and resale value.
The Story Behind This Gallardo
Cars & Bids
The particular LP550-2 was listed on Cars & Bids with around 22,500 miles (36,210 km) under its belt and a clean Carfax report. The current owner has had the car since August 2017 and was even able to get Valentino Balboni himself to sign the dashboard and engine cover.
Contrasting the bright yellow paint are white and black stripes running over the center of the car. This white and black theme continues into the cabin with multi-colored leather adorning most surfaces. While the cabin does look dated compared to the Huracan and the new Temerario, it still looks like a nice place to spend time.
When it was launched in the United States, the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni started at a touch over $225,000. All 250 units quickly sold out, prompting Lamborghini to follow it up with a similar model known simply as the LP550-2. Had it not been for that model, Balboni models may have held their value a little better as the only rear-wheel-drive version of the Gallardo.
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Still, even with its quirks, this Balboni edition remains one of the most coveted variants of the Gallardo. If you’ve got the cash and a hankering for a rear-wheel-drive Lamborghini with a bit of history behind it, this might be the one for you. Just maybe don’t expect it to fetch the same premium as a manual-shift version.
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