Another well presented volume in Haynes’ Classic Makes series, this new addition on Lamborghini could very well have turned out to be yet another supercar pot-boiler. However, in Pritchard’s hands it turns out to be an enthusiastic canter through the marque’s brief, but chequered history, rather than a tired stroll — and I found myself reading it from cover to cover in one sitting.

The book’s structure is straightforward — a once-over-lightly introduction tells you nothing new about Lamborghini’s history, but it manages to cover everything in reasonable detail — rather like the prologue to the first Lord of the Rings movie.

From there, Pritchard deals with each successive model — giving details of the car’s development, engineering and production history. Every production Lambo gets its own chapter — including the amazing LM, surely the ultimate off-roader — a drive report (most reprinted from British motoring magazines; with appropriate helpings of purple prose) and lots of good quality photographs.

However, some of the most interesting information is to be found the side-bars — the old argument about who actually designed the sensational Miura, the ill-fated Jota, short pieces on Lamborghini personalities such as Dallara, Bertone, Alfieri and, of course, Kiwi-born development engineer and road-tester extraordinaire, Bob Wallace. And what about a Lamborghini people-carrier?

Add lots of concept Lamborghinis — such as the Marzal, Athon and Raptor — a pinch of motor sport with the ill-fated F1 engine story, and Lamborghini’s successes in powerboat racing, and you have the recipe for a tasty Italian supercar overload.

It’s also right up to date with the inclusion of Lambo’s Audi-in-an-Italian-designer-suit; the Gallardo.

Lamborghini: Supercars from Sant’Agata by Anthony Pritchard
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton