Appropriately named after a breed of fighting bull, the Lamborghini Gallardo is a powerful beast. The famous supercar started production back in 2003 as the successor of the Lamborghini Jalpa. Throughout its eleven-year run, the Gallardo sold just over 14,000 units. This made the Gallardo the best-selling Lamborghini of all time until it was ultimately overthrown by the Huracán with over 20,000 units sold. The first generation ran from 2003 to 2008 with the second generation taking over in 2008 before the Gallardo model was retired in 2013. While the Gallardo’s reign came to an end with the introduction of its successor, the Huracán, and the iconic Aventador, the Gallardo has firmly inserted itself into supercar history. Here are 10 reasons why the Lamborghini Gallardo is a legend.
10 The Lamborghini Gallardo Came With A V-10 Engine
The Lamborghini Gallardo was the first Lamborghini model that came with a V-10 engine from the factory. This gave the original Gallardo 500 horsepower and a top speed of 192 mph. As the Gallardo series continued, the V10 engine only delivered more and more. In 2005, Lamborghini boosted the power of the Gallardo with the 2005 model having an increased horsepower of 512 still, of course, with a V-10 engine. The Gallardo maintained the V-10 tradition, keeping the engine all the way to its final model. The 2014 Gallardo contains the most powerful version of the V-10 engine the vehicle has ever had with a top horsepower of 562. A fitting final engine to bring the Gallardo run to an end.
9 The Lamborghini Gallardo Was Fast For Its Time
Lamborghini came out the gate swinging with the first Gallardo ever in 2003. The first Gallardo model had a maximum horsepower of 500 and a 0-60 mph speed of a mere 3.9 seconds. This was an impressive first entry, but the Gallardo would only continue to grow and evolve, maintaining its incredible speed with each new model. This can be seen in one of the final models in the Gallardo series, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 which has a max horsepower of 552 and a 0-60 of only 3.3 seconds. The Gallardo was and still is a speed demon with every single model produced.
8 Lamborghini Produced Manual and Automatic Gallardos
Recent Lamborghini models such as the Aventador, Huracán, and Urus have either automatic or automatic-manual transmission. This makes the Gallardo all the more special because buyers had the option of purchasing a Gallardo with manual transmission. Not only was manual transmission offered, but the gearbox is a six-speed H pattern transmission. This allows drivers to live out their Need For Speed fantasy. If you aren’t a fan of the manual transmission, the Gallardo has your back as it was also produced with a single-clutch automated manual transmission. The ability for customers to customize the transmission on their vehicle only added to the popularity and accessibility of the Gallardo.
7 The Gallardo Was the Best Selling Lamborghini
During its two-decade-long reign, the Gallardo became Lamborghini’s best-selling sports vehicle. Lamborghini was sold several different times during the 90s creating a very turbulent experience for the company. So, the popularity of the Gallardo was a huge triumph for Lamborghini. From 2003 to 2013, Lamborghini sold 14,022 Gallardos and the car is reportedly very popular among young collectors. Its successor, the Huracán, has carried on this legacy by taking the crown by becoming Lamborghini’s best-selling vehicle in 2022. The Gallardo’s crown may have been passed on, but at the time, it was the king. This cements the Gallardo in both supercar and Lamborghini history.
6 Lamborghini Released Stellar Special Edition Gallardos
The standard models in the Gallardo series are iconic on their own, but that didn’t stop Lamborghini from releasing several impeccable special editions before the series ended production. Starting in 2005, Lamborghini introduced the first special edition with the Gallardo SE. The SE edition of the Gallardo was the first to have Lamborghini’s “thrust mode" and featured a black roof and engine cover. Further down the line in 2011, Lamborghini released the Gallardo LP 570-5 SuperLeggera. This was the first track-focused version of the second-generation Gallardo making it lightweight. The Gallardo Superleggera also featured a carbon fiber rear wing and a new front bumper style. These two models represent only a small portion of the 17 special edition Gallardos including the iconic Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni, Gallardo LP 570-4 Blancpain Edition, and many more.
5 The Gallardo's Body Style Is Iconic
Like most Lamborghinis, the Gallardo has an instantly recognizable look. Whether it is a special edition or not, you know you’re looking at a Gallardo when you see one. As the supercar evolved the headlights have had slight variations to their shape, but they overall maintained their horizontal shape. Furthermore, the Gallardo’s bumper has a distinguishable shape on all its models from the boxy look of older models to the sport, more intimidating bumper of the SuperLeggera. The sleek curve of the roofs is hard to miss paired with the side indentation behind each door. It only makes sense that one of Lamborghini’s best-selling vehicles would have such a unique look.
4 The Gallardo Had Traditional Style Doors
Scissor doors have become famously associated with Lamborghini, so associated, in fact, that scissor doors are often referred to as “Lambo doors.” Scissors doors were first introduced on the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo concept car created by Marcello Gandini. Lamborghini first featured scissor doors on the Countach, crediting Gandini for the concept. This makes the traditional doors seen on the Gallardo all the more special. While there definitely are other Lamborghini models that exist with traditional style doors, scissors doors, as aforementioned, became very recognizable and even a signature for the brand. So, to introduce a flagship vehicle with traditional doors was a bold move for Lamborghini.
3 Gallardos Have Been Used As Police Vehicles
The Gallardo is already a star on its own, but the vehicle was only made cooler by police vehicles being added to its legacy. In 2014, to celebrate the Italian Police Force’s 152nd anniversary, Lamborghini donated multiple supercars to the Italian Police Force. Thus, the Gallardo police car was born. This gave Italian police officers 500 horsepower under the hood and a top speed of 192 mph. Imagine getting pulled over by that monster. Gallardo police vehicles aren’t exclusive to Italy though, the Los Angeles Police Department has a Gallardo police vehicle of its own. The LAPD received the vehicle as a donation in 2014 sporting an ominous black and white paint job and a blacked-out interior.
2 The Gallardo Is An "Affordable" Supercar
Let’s be real, supercars are luxury vehicles with top-notch speed, the best parts under the hood, and sleek body styles. These aspects make them desirable and admirable, but it also makes them quite expensive. That being said, the Gallardo is on the more affordable end of the supercar price range. A standard, non-customized 2003 Gallardo originally went on sale for about $181,000 whereas the 2003 Murcielago went for about $281,000. This cheaper price tag followed the supercar to the very end with the 2014 Gallardo LP550-2 costing about $197,000 while the 2014 Aventador was a steep $400,000. To this day, used Gallardos are listed for as low as $90,000 for older models, and later models are listed at around $125,000. These price tags are undeniably high, but simultaneously more affordable than the Gallardo’s siblings.
1 Lamborghini Gallardos Are Reliable
In 1998, Volkswagen purchased Lamborghini, thus, the Gallardo was one of the first models to be released under the parent company of Volkswagen. Wanting to insure the durability of the vehicle, the Gallardo was designed with longevity in mind. Furthermore, Gallardos are relatively cheap to maintain in comparison to later Lamborghini models. Annual maintenance costs for the Gallardo reportedly range anywhere from $800 to $2,000. On the flip side, routine maintenance of the following flagship model, the Aventador, is estimated to be around $5,000. Supercars are by no means affordable, however, the Gallardo is among the most cost friendly of luxury vehicles to own.