Murcielago SG54LAM
Discussion
It’s been a few years since I’ve written anything about my Orange Murcielago 6.2 to the point when I couldn’t even remember my password on here.
So I thought I’d give an update on the old girl for those who are interested - since it’s last appearance in Evo magazine was the back end of 2018.
The Murcie’s last big outing was a 3000 mile tour of Scandinavia 4 years ago after which I had the top end rebuilt (3rd time) before it went back in its barn. Covid then hit, I got involved in new projects and didn’t use the Murcielago much after that.
The latest chapter in its history began In January when I fired it up to take it for its MOT which was a month overdue.
On the return journey in damp and misty weather heading north on the M1, an HGV swerved around a folded stepladder lying across lane 1. I wasn’t so lucky and didn’t even have time to lift off before the Lambo hit it with such a bang the CD I was playing flew out. The Murcielago leaped over the ladder landing back on the tarmac before fishtailing over two lanes. Fortunately this wasn’t a smart (ie.dumb) part of the M1 so I managed to get the Lambo onto the hard shoulder.
To try and cut a long story short the damage was severe to the front and the insurance company were superb having the Murcielago trailered to Lloyds Autobodies in Manchester the next day. The chaps there (especially Chris) were absolutely fantastic keeping me up to speed until I collected it back in April. I’ve never seen the Murcie look as good apart from the day I picked it up brand new on September 3rd 2004.
Those guys had obviously spent a lot of time on the whole car not just the front end. It looked terrific.
That would have been the end of it you may have thought but for part 2..
Driving away from Lloyds having collected it I’d travelled about two miles when I noticed the exhaust note was ‘different’ somehow. It just sounded odd. The Lambo was down on power too and ‘hunting’ at the lights. Not unduly bothered (since it had been stood for months being repaired) I set off the next day on a road trip to Surrey. Within ten miles a squealing noise began from behind before some ominous metallic noises that got worse and worse. Woodall services was about five miles away but the Murcielago was losing power fast and beginning to sound like someone had chucked some tools in an empty cement mixer. Since I was now on a dumb motorway - no hard shoulder - I coaxed it to Woodall before switching off. The oil pressure was ok but the sound from the V12 was godawful.
Fast forward to the Monday and after a chat with the insurance company the Murcielago landed at Lambo Manchester where the diagnosis was as bad as it could get. Basically one bank had absolutely destroyed itself. Can’t deny I was devastated.
What I couldn’t understand was how the V12 had gone bang when the stepladder (that had obviously fallen off a van) hadn’t actually made contact with the engine.
Going over the accident with a Lambo tech revealed the answer. I knew the Lambo had left the ground as my hair brushed the inside of the roof and I’d heard the revs bounce off the limiter at the same time. Where the damage apparently occurred was not at that moment - but when the wheels (spinning in mid air) hit the tarmac again. This violent contact and the resultant rapid deaccelaration broke a valve stem and the rest was history.
Fortunately the engine specialists appointed by the insurance company agreed with the above and a couple of weeks later had a welcome phone call from the insurance co to say they were paying for a newly re-manufactured V12 from the factory. Three weeks later and direct from Sant’Agata the big lump arrived in a crate and has now been fitted. There’s a bit to do yet though since bits of the old V12 have just been found in the catalytic converters and other connected bits too so waiting for authorisation for this now.
It’s reinvigorated my enthusiasm for the Murcielago so when it does return I’ll be embarking on a full interior renovation and renewing the brake pipes & fuel tank (both are looking worn).
Onwards and upwards then, the Murcielago will soon have a new lease of life!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/5FWRvVg5.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/DmMcFthq" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/DmMcFthq.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/d99VQfv5" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/d99VQfv5.jpg)
So I thought I’d give an update on the old girl for those who are interested - since it’s last appearance in Evo magazine was the back end of 2018.
The Murcie’s last big outing was a 3000 mile tour of Scandinavia 4 years ago after which I had the top end rebuilt (3rd time) before it went back in its barn. Covid then hit, I got involved in new projects and didn’t use the Murcielago much after that.
The latest chapter in its history began In January when I fired it up to take it for its MOT which was a month overdue.
On the return journey in damp and misty weather heading north on the M1, an HGV swerved around a folded stepladder lying across lane 1. I wasn’t so lucky and didn’t even have time to lift off before the Lambo hit it with such a bang the CD I was playing flew out. The Murcielago leaped over the ladder landing back on the tarmac before fishtailing over two lanes. Fortunately this wasn’t a smart (ie.dumb) part of the M1 so I managed to get the Lambo onto the hard shoulder.
To try and cut a long story short the damage was severe to the front and the insurance company were superb having the Murcielago trailered to Lloyds Autobodies in Manchester the next day. The chaps there (especially Chris) were absolutely fantastic keeping me up to speed until I collected it back in April. I’ve never seen the Murcie look as good apart from the day I picked it up brand new on September 3rd 2004.
Those guys had obviously spent a lot of time on the whole car not just the front end. It looked terrific.
That would have been the end of it you may have thought but for part 2..
Driving away from Lloyds having collected it I’d travelled about two miles when I noticed the exhaust note was ‘different’ somehow. It just sounded odd. The Lambo was down on power too and ‘hunting’ at the lights. Not unduly bothered (since it had been stood for months being repaired) I set off the next day on a road trip to Surrey. Within ten miles a squealing noise began from behind before some ominous metallic noises that got worse and worse. Woodall services was about five miles away but the Murcielago was losing power fast and beginning to sound like someone had chucked some tools in an empty cement mixer. Since I was now on a dumb motorway - no hard shoulder - I coaxed it to Woodall before switching off. The oil pressure was ok but the sound from the V12 was godawful.
Fast forward to the Monday and after a chat with the insurance company the Murcielago landed at Lambo Manchester where the diagnosis was as bad as it could get. Basically one bank had absolutely destroyed itself. Can’t deny I was devastated.
What I couldn’t understand was how the V12 had gone bang when the stepladder (that had obviously fallen off a van) hadn’t actually made contact with the engine.
Going over the accident with a Lambo tech revealed the answer. I knew the Lambo had left the ground as my hair brushed the inside of the roof and I’d heard the revs bounce off the limiter at the same time. Where the damage apparently occurred was not at that moment - but when the wheels (spinning in mid air) hit the tarmac again. This violent contact and the resultant rapid deaccelaration broke a valve stem and the rest was history.
Fortunately the engine specialists appointed by the insurance company agreed with the above and a couple of weeks later had a welcome phone call from the insurance co to say they were paying for a newly re-manufactured V12 from the factory. Three weeks later and direct from Sant’Agata the big lump arrived in a crate and has now been fitted. There’s a bit to do yet though since bits of the old V12 have just been found in the catalytic converters and other connected bits too so waiting for authorisation for this now.
It’s reinvigorated my enthusiasm for the Murcielago so when it does return I’ll be embarking on a full interior renovation and renewing the brake pipes & fuel tank (both are looking worn).
Onwards and upwards then, the Murcielago will soon have a new lease of life!
Edited by SG54LAM on Sunday 4th September 20:27
Thanks for coming back to update us, I always enjoyed reading about SG54 LAM, it's good to hear the ongoing story... well, it would be apart from the car's latest bout of misfortune. What's unluckier than walking under a ladder? Driving over one, it appears! Still, I'm really glad that the insurers came through for the car, and that you've not lost faith with it. And the newly remanufactured engine is no bad thing. Here's to many happy incident-free miles with the new engine.
Animal said:
Ah, that's terrible luck!
I swear, this car is like a talisman for Murcielagos everywhere and it cannot die! Hope it gets repaired back to fighting shape.
Maybe it is just me, but I would be feeling very smug if my high mileage Lambo was going to be given a new engine, basically free of charge.I swear, this car is like a talisman for Murcielagos everywhere and it cannot die! Hope it gets repaired back to fighting shape.
MattsCar said:
Maybe it is just me, but I would be feeling very smug if my high mileage Lambo was going to be given a new engine, basically free of charge.
Although a ‘free’ new engine is obviously great, part of me would be a bit gutted that the original drivetrain was no longer part of the car as it adds to the whole story of the mileage.It will make a great coffee table though hopefully
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