The Lamborghini Murcielago V12 with manual gearbox is the new target for millionaire collectors

At a time when cars are becoming increasingly electrified and automatic gearboxes dominate the market, some supercars from the analog era are enjoying spectacular success on the collector's market. Such is the case of the Lamborghini Murciélago equipped with the legendary naturally-aspirated V12 and, above all, the six-speed manual gearbox, a duo that has become a veritable Holy Grail for collectors.

A supercar that increases in value

Presented at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show as the Diablo's replacement, the Murciélago designed by Luc Donckerwolke marked an era. With its 572hp 6.2-liter V12 engine and famous elytra doors, it immediately found its place among the icons of Sant'Agata Bolognese. Today, however, it's the H-grille manual gearbox that really sets it apart, a piece of mechanical goldsmithery that Lamborghini later abandoned.

The most telling example is a 2003 Murciélago painted in Azzurro Aquarius with Rosso Centaurus leather interior, recently offered for sale on Bring a Trailer. With 27,000 miles on the odometer (43,000 km) and a crystal-clear history, it attracted a great deal of interest. Verdict: the supercar changed hands for $400,000 on September 22, 2025.

A market in turmoil

This sale is not an isolated one. In recent months, transactions have been multiplying at ever higher prices:

• In May 2025, a 2003 model sold for $475,000.
• In July 2025, a model with 35,000 miles (56,000 km) sold for $406,666.
• In September 2025: a Murciélago with 11,000 miles sold for $595,000 by an American retailer.

In just a few years, values have almost doubled, far exceeding the car's original price, estimated at around $270,000 on release.

What's all the fuss about?

Collectors today are looking for pure driving experiences, far removed from the omnipresent electronic assistants and robotized transmissions. In this context, a naturally-aspirated V12 coupled to a mechanical manual gearbox becomes a symbol, a vanished pleasure that only a few models are still able to enjoy.

Added to this is its rarity: the Murciélago was the last Lamborghini V12 to be offered with a manual gearbox, before the arrival of the Aventador and its fully robotized transmission. This historical element makes it an even more precious piece in any collection.

With the explosion of auctions, one thing is certain: manual Murciélago V12s are no longer just used supercars. They have become investment objects prized by millionaires in search of rarity and sensations. And if current trends continue, the million-dollar threshold could well be crossed within the next few years for the rarest, best-preserved and least-mileage examples. The most expensive recently sold is a yellow Lamborghini Murciélago with 5331 miles, or 8529 km, listed for 679,990 $, in August 2025.