Understandably, they tried to capitalise on some of the company's huge original investment by ordering a revised model on Urraco underpinnings. Internally designated Tipo P118 and known as the Silhouette, this new model would take advantage of all the lessons learnt since the junior supercar project began. The chassis was identical to the P300 Urraco offered alongside, but while the same sheet steel unibody-style construction and floorpan were used, the P118 featured modified MacPherson struts to accommodate its wider Campagnolo ¡Ë¢çE¢®Ec¡Ë¢çEctelephone dial¡Ë¢çE¢®Ec? wheels and Pirelli P7 tyres. Most of the mechanical parts were also identical Urraco fare with Paolo Stanzani's three-litre 90¡Ë¢çE¢®Ec¡Ë¢ç¢®¡¿¢®E¡Ëc V8 plumbed in transversely. Displacement was 2995cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 86 x 64.5mm respectively. With compression set at 10:1.1 and four Weber 40 DCNF downdraught carburettors, the Lambo V8 produced 250bhp at 7500rpm, more than any three-litre Ferrari engine of the time. With 0-60 requiring just 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 154mph, the Silhouette was firmly in supercar territory. Lamborghini decided that Bertone should create the P118's bodywork and that it should feature a removable targa roof panel that could be stowed behind the seats. Bertone did an absolutely beautiful job on the design and reinforced the chassis to eliminate flexing, also crafting a roll cage into the rear roof section.

 

The grey-painted engine cover lay flush between two flying buttresses, these housing cooling scoops for the engine. Squared off wheelarches were flared to accommodate the wider wheels whilst at the front, a deep spoiler housed a pair of supplementary Carello driving lights. Bertone¡Ë¢çE¢®Ec?s final design was quite sublime. Perfectly balanced and beautifully detailed, it was far prettier than Pininfarina's Ferrari 308 and the Porsche 911 that it was pitched against in late 1976. Furthermore, Lamborghini customers would now be able to enjoy the pleasures of open air motoring - it seemed the P118 could not fail to be a success.

 

The Silhouette was the first series built roadster to come out of Sant' Agata, just a handful of Lamborghini's having been completed as such in the past. These included the two 350 GTS and Bertone's unique Miura Roadster while at least one Jarama got removable roof panels. The interior was subtly redesigned although not quite to the same extent as the bodywork, the Urraco's rear seats being junked in order to provide space for the targa top. There were a few options available although these were limited to a choice of paint (any colour could be specified), leather or leather cloth upholstery, electric tinted windows and a stereo. Given a public debut at the 1976 Geneva Salon, P118 was named Silhouette in recognition of then current FIA Group 5 regulations. It was warmly welcomed by an enthusiastic press and public, the first car being delivered in September 1976. However, big problems were just around the corner as homologation issues meant Lamborghini were unable to exploit the lucrative North American market upon which so much of the Silhouette's success hinged. Compounding this problem was the worsening financial state of the firm and they were placed into liquidation just a few years later. Thus, the Silhouette was born during the most volatile period in Lamborghini's history and consequently, only 52 were ever produced, the last example being delivered in February 1979.