1966 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 Review and Buyer's Guide

The car pictured here sold for $75,600, including buyer's premium, at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction, held January 20th, 2002. The car was in solid #2- condition, only showing minor wear on a recent restoration.

All of a sudden, back seats are big news. After years of the market shunning exotic cars that had more seats than doors, I have noticed a small but growing desire to have a car that is both interesting and modestly useful. "Betty and Barney want to join us for dinner. Um, okay, let's take their car because our Moretti only has two seats, and you'll probably like their new Saturn wagon anyway." Blech.

By no stretch do I mean that 2+2s are becoming more desirable than pure two-seaters. But it's certainly easier to justify parting with a pile of benjamins if you can at least picture putting the kids, the dog, the luggage, some golf clubs or whatever, into the back seat. Porsche owners have been getting away with this for years. And now even our editor pretends that having a back seat was part of the reason for buying his Moondoggy Ferrari.

Forward march to the car at hand, the Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2. This Lambo has always trailed the Miura, Countach and 350 GT for collectibility. In many instances it has enjoyed the same motor, perhaps a better gearbox and transaxle, and it is slightly less expensive to restore because of its steel body (versus aluminum) and larger production volume. But, and this is the "but" in question, it has always suffered disparaging comments like, "It has a backseat, so why consider it?"

I hear the same babbling about the Ferrari 250 GTE and 330 GT, the Aston Martin DB6, the Jaguar XKE 2+2 and countless other cousins of proper two-seaters. But anyone who has driven a standard-cab pickup truck knows exactly how constricted the cabin is in a 246 GTS, and how once you've got a body in each seat, the thermos bottle is going to have to go into the trunk.

Two years ago, $75k would have been an earth-shaking price for a Lambo 400 GT. But not today. And this is a car that is surely worth $75k. Few 2+2s are as exciting to drive, and possess as wonderful a V12 pedigree as this car.

I've known two collectors who have put strong daily mileage on their 400 GTs. Both folks have owned cars that were considerably more exotic, but both found the 400 GT to have a near-perfect balance of exotic appeal and usability.

The usual caveats apply to this transaction. If the engine and transmission are strong, if the notoriously edgy electricals are sorted, and if the metal below that red (yawn) paint is solid, then, although this car was bought at the top of today's market, it should still be considered a fair enough deal.

There are many families involved in this hobby and the desire to be together when that rare disposable time becomes available makes for a pretty solid argument for ye olde back seat. Of course, traveling in two cars with just two seats each, say a pair of Countachs or Miuras, will always remain a good Plan B.-Steve Serio