The Lamborghini Portofino (also know to as Chrysler - Lamborghini Portofino) was a concept car developed for Lamborghini by Kevin Verduyn, one of Chrysler's chief designers. Introduced at the 1987 Frankfurt Auto Show, it was a fully functional, four-door, four-seat sport sedan.
Design[]
In 1986, Kevin Verduyn designed a concept car model for Chrysler called the Navajo. The concept never went beyond the clay model stage, but when Chrysler acquired Lamborghini in 1987, the design was resurrected and with some fairly minor tweaks, turned into the Portofino.
The Portofino was built by Coggiola on a Jalpa chassis. It also made use of the Jalpa's 3.5 L V8 engine and 5 speed transmission. The most interesting feature of the Portofino though was the doors, which opened scissor-style like the Countach, only the back doors were rear-hinged, suicide-style. The logo on the hood featured the Lamborghini bull inside the Chrysler pentagon.
Only the single prototype Portofino was ever produced. In 1991, it was heavily damaged in an accident in transit. However, Chrysler had it restored by Metalcrafters in Costa Mesa, CA, and it is now on display at DaimlerChrysler headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
The Portofino was notable for being an early example of cab forward styling, and many aspects of its design made it into the Chrysler Concorde (which was extremely similar to the Dodge Intrepid and Eagle Vision).
Prototype[]
Only the single prototype Portofino, chassis #LC0001, was ever produced. In 1991, it was heavily damaged in an accident in transit. However, Chrysler had it restored by Metalcrafters in Costa Mesa, California for $300,000, and it is now on display at Chrysler headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. From November 15, 2020 to January 9, 2022, the Portofino was one of 12 vehicles on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts, part of a special exhibit titled "Detroit Style: Car Design in the Motor City, 1950–2020".
The Portofino was notable for being an early example of cab forward styling, and many aspects of its design made it into the Chrysler LH platform which initially included the Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid and Eagle Vision.
Specs & Performance[]
- General :
| Years built | 1987 |
| Production | 1 unit |
| Chassisnr. | Prototype |
| Presentation | 1987 Frankurt Auto Show |
| Type of car | Four door, four seater, horizontally hinged doors |
| Doors | Scissor doors (front) Suicide Scissor doors (rear) |
| Designed by | Chrysler Motors international design team |
| Built by | Coggiola of Turin |
- Chassis :
| Structure | Steel |
| Body | Steel unibody construction, four rotational doors, four passenger type |
| Suspension | All-wheel independent, McPherson strut, coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers |
| Brakes | All-wheel ventilated disc brakes |
- Engine :
| Type | V-8 90 degree, all-alloy construction mid mounted, rear wheel drive |
| Distribution | Dual overhead camshafts, chain drive, two valves/cylinder |
| Main Bearings | 5 |
| Cyl. Capacity | 3485 cc / 213 ci |
| Bore & stroke | 86×75 mm |
| Max. power | 225 Bhp at 7000 rpm |
| Max. torque | 229 Lbs.ft. at 3500 rpm |
| Fuel system | Electric Bendix fuel pump, four double-barrel Weber 42 DCNF carburetors |
| Lubrication | Wet sump |
| Electr. system | 12 V |
- Drivetrain :
| Type | Lamborghini five-speed + reverse manual all-synchromesh |
| Clutch | Dry-single plate, hydraulically operated |
- Performance :
| Top speed | 240 Km/h / 149 Mph |
Gallery[]
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.jpg "1987 Chrysler - Lamborghini Portofino (2).jpg (130 KB)")
.jpg "1987 Chrysler - Lamborghini Portofino (3).jpg (105 KB)")
.jpg "1987 Chrysler - Lamborghini Portofino (4).jpg (55 KB)")
.jpg "1987 Chrysler - Lamborghini Portofino (5).jpg (100 KB)")
See also[]
