I am looking at A 1975/76 Urraco and the owner states it is a 300 with a 250 engine and came from the factory this way. Can someone explain if this is true/possible?

It might be possible, I have seen Ferrari 308 gt4's actually called 208 gt4's. The difference between the two was the engine was a 2 liter instead of a 3 liter, why? It was done from the factory for cars that stayed in Italy as a tax exemption. Cheaper for the owner on taxes as it was registered as a 2.0, instead of a 3.0. Maybe Lamborghini did the same thing?

Chris,

if you look in Marchet's book on the V8 Lamborghinis for example, you'll see that late in the production run the US bound P111s and the P300s shared bodies and interiors. The P300 certainly differs in styling details from the P250 (front bonnet cover, bumpers, interior and instrument cluster) and some books (like Marchet) claim a difference in body width and most source a difference in front and rear track which has always surprised me.

I've seen several advertised P250s w/ what looks like the later bodywork and even some cars w/ factory European delivery sales info that had US spec side markers added (several of the cars in Canada or that came through Canada to the US come to mind). Perhaps the factory continued to make P250s for European sale as well as P111s along w/ the P300s. Wouldn't surprise me too much - sales of the P111s certainly weren't what the factory expected, perhaps they put the remaining P250 components to good use ...

I imagine ReV could provide more and better info.

What does Glen's registry say about the car? Does it have P300 bodywork (front bonnet and rubber bumpers for example) or initial P250 bodywork. Does the car have P300/P111 duct work in the engine compartment feeding input air to the central airbox or does it draw from the engine compartment like the initial P250s? Does it have European or US Spec side markers? Is it running dual coils and a Marelli dizzy or a single coil and the Bosch dizzy. Of course none of this is particularly definitive.

To me, more important questions for a Urraco are is it in good shape and has it been well taken care of? If the engine and tranny are in good shape (try the usual checks and you could also have fluid analyzed) and the rest of the car seems the same, as far as the current and future market (at least for a while) is concerned - if it has a P250 engine its a P250. It doesn't really matter if someone switched a P300 engine out (for example), unless you have a spare P300 engine lying around for cheap ... or are a purist, or are looking for a car that will win shows (not the norm for even the nicest Urracos unfortunately, you need a V12 ...).

Sorry I can't be of more help ... hopefully someone will chime in w/ something more definitive ...

Regards,

Bryan
'74 P250S S/N 15622
Indianapolis Indiana USA

Yes it came that way. Here is a paragragh from on old Consumer guide Lamborghini Illustrated, page 50.

Introduced in 1974, the P300 was an improved Urraco, with numerous detail changes to transmission, suspension and bodywork. European road testers said the P300 had state-of-art handling, yet, to the public, it was off target and out of favor. Worse, Lamborghini's declining fortunes precluded modifications necessary to legalize the P300 for the American market. Instead, US Urracos continued with the single-overhead cam 2.5 at an anemic 180 horsepower.

Hope that helps!

As has been said. If it has a 250 engine it is a 250 plain and simple. The 300 was a more powerful engine and I can't imagine having a 250 engine lying around that they would rather have in a Urraco vs the 300 lump.
Very neat cars either way. The 250 is probably more available as the 300 is scarse.
What is the condition like? Photos?

__________________
Had Enzo been a gentleman...The greatest cars on the planet would have never existed.

Jalpa FLA12194
Countach ELA12667

I'm not sure the question has been answered.

During the introduction of the P300 on the production line the factory used P250 bodies (including the early front bonnet) and installed the 3 litre engine.

These cars are easy to spot as they have P250 chassis numbers yet carry the P300 engine. They were badged "3000" and they dont have the roll bars that 300's have (look throught the rear window)

However it makes no sense that there is a 300 with a 250 engine unless the car does not have the original engine.

Check the chassis number and you will be able to tell what it is

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Paul
Silhouette 40094
LP400 Countach 1120278

Paul,

good suggestions!! A build sheet would be interesting to see as well.

What should he see as far as chassis numbers - can you tell us how P300, P250 and P111 chassis numbers differ? It's probably pretty obvious, but I can't get to my car at the moment to look :-)

Regards,

Bryan
'74 P250S S/N 15622
Indianapolis Indiana USA
blissinindy@yahoo.com

Bryan,

Well generally speaking:

P250's have chassis numbers from 15000 onwards
P300's have chassis numbers from 20000 onwards
p111's have chassis numbers generally from 15000 onwards but towards the end of production some p111's had P300 chassis and a 2.5 litre engine for the american market only of course.

I guess its therefore entirely possible to find a P111 that looks like a P300 and carries a P300 chassis but has a 2.5 litre engine.

So allthough I commented that it made no sense for a P300 to have a 2.5 litre engine some of the P111's (with P300 chassis) I think still had the 2.5 engine.
I guess this was because the 3 litre engine at the time may not have passed US smog tests at the time?

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Paul
Silhouette 40094
LP400 Countach 1120278

The P250 and P111 had a SOHC 2.5 liter that is underpowered for the weight of the car. Power is found from 5,000 to 7,000 only. The cams are belt driven. The car handles excellent though.

The P300 has a DOHC 3 liter with cam chains. A much better power plant - like the silhouette. Still underpowered when mated to the weight of the vehicle. The Euro P300 is probably the fasted 8 cylinder Lamborghini built to date.

My 2 cents.

Alex

I agree Alex.

I am biased but must say that the Silhouette is lighter than the P300 Urraco and the Jalpa.

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Paul
Silhouette 40094
LP400 Countach 1120278