Dual V12 Lamborghini speedboat back on the water
 

For all you classic wooden boat aficionados in the forum, this is about as good as it gets. Ferruccio Lamborghini's custom built 1968 Riva Aquarama was found under a tarp in a boatyard by a Dutch Riva collector (talk about a barn find or in this case, an under the tarp find). God knows what the 3 year restoration $ were but the results are spectacular. Check out the article and video. They take the twin engines (twelve twin Webber carbs) to WOT for about 10 seconds at the end. Awesome!!

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs...k-on-the-water

incredible . kid sitting on the gunwall was a bit nonchalant

He does. But I think he might be holding a piece of test equipment; you can hear someone say something and each time the RPM/speed increases. He could be monitoring engine performance.

That is awesome, but I wouldn't want to pay for that re-power!

gunwall
 

um that would be gunwhale pronounced gunnel. recently had a non-nautical guest on my boat who referred to aforementioned as "gun-whale" and when I corrected him he was obstinate in his opinion.

Incredible and beautiful boat!!

Thanks for sharing!

Dan

Re-power $
 

Right! I suspect those engines probably cost about as much as a small condo.:eek:

Pronunciation
 

Good thing you didn't ask him to pronounce "forecastle!" ;)

Gunwale
 

Not to pick nits, but I believe the correct spelling is gunwale.:)

Um,that would be spelled gunwale.If your going to sarcastically correct somebodies spelling you might want to get it right yourself and also have the correct punctuation like capital letters begining a sentence.:eek:

Just saying :P

Love the sound, but...
 

According to the article, the boat achieves a top speed of 48-knots.

This must have been disappointing, when a vintage 1940s PT boat could achieve 41-knots with only 50% more V-12 power, while carrying 5-tons of torpedoes! (With even more weight added for fuel, smoke-generators, rockets, depth charges, and a crew of up to 17).

• Just like most engine designs, a V-12 engine projects its own special exhaust note, which can be detected in many European-made autos (including Ferrari and BMW), very few US autos, and even-rarer—SUVs.

Radial engines produce a "chuh-chuh-chuh-chuh" sound at 3000-RPM, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a "potato-potato-potato" sound at idle. The 454-CID engines sound like any truck the 454 engine was designed for—at any RPM.

• At 4-liters, and with peak torque at 1500-RPM, this particular engine is a mis-match for a marine application, IMO. Lamborghini engines are designed to "rev" for automobile applications.

• The "monitoring" could have been for excessive upper-cylinder temperatures.

Below, one of Lamborghini's 350GTs—and one boat—in which this engine was applied.

(With this installation, balancing-out the "reversed" torque puts the helm to the left of the craft).

Another Video
 

<iframe width="640" height="380" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uzu2H7KiiIE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzu2H7KiiIE :) NB

Riva Aquarama For Sale
 

Here's a LOCAL Riva Aquarama For sale. Mystic, CT. Keeping in mind the Aquaramas usually had Twin (GM) 350 Crusaders. What would a "One Off" Lambo powered Riva be...?? :look: NB

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1966...s#.UmMUNBD91NQ

The late war 80' ELCO PTs had Three Packard 4M2500 (2500 Cubic inch displacement V-12s) of about 1500 HP each.

The Riva/Lambo has Two 244 cubic inch V-12s. I think comparing the two is a bit of a stretch..don't you agree..?? :look: :look: NB

This post was WORK!
 

:blush: Yeah, it's a stretch, but these Lambo engines—with dual overhead cams and Webers were the pinnacle of internal combustion development, coming 25 years after the PT boat.

• Thanks, btw, for that video.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...psbc3a87e1.jpg

The four holes in the Riva's sides reminds me of the 60's Doyle, Dane, Bernbach Volkswagen ad campaign:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ps4d3024a8.jpg

:emb:

('Wish a link could be found)

:look:

• Just past the halfway point through the Riva/Lambo video, there's a neat volcano in the background. It'd be nice if Lake Winnipesaukee had one as a conversation piece.

Oh wait—we do!

:eek:

Looks a lot like Lake Garda in Italy. Probably the only lake I've been to that topped Winni in spectacular mountain scenery.

Cost?
 

Can you imagine? You'd have to think if it went to auction at Mecums's or such, it would bring a million or more. I know it depends on any given day but with the right buyer? Here's another video, hull #125, different setup, similar results. The owner wanted souped up Crusaders. The performance seems identical to the Lambo but the sound is a whole lot different.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0Dox4QxamVs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dox4QxamVs