An Italian supercar, abandoned for almost a decade, has been reborn thanks to a team of enthusiasts... and second-hand parts straight from a Volkswagen Golf. Here's the story of a mechanical adventure as unlikely as it is fascinating.
An abandoned Gallardo, frozen in time
When this Lamborghini Gallardo V10 arrives in Ricky and his team's English workshop, it doesn't really look like a dream car anymore. Covered in dust and unusable, it hasn't been started for 8 years. The interior smells musty, the engine compartment is in a worrying state, and the car refuses to light up. The only clue to its last outing? A parking ticket dated February 2013, found under a floor mat.
The first problem is quickly identified: the electronic immobilization system prevents the car from starting. Thanks to the intervention of a specialist, two new keys are reprogrammed, which finally lifts the lock. But the Gallardo still refuses to start. And so begins a dive into fuel circuit hell.
Rotting fuel systems, dead pumps, corroded fuel tanks...
Tests revealed the extent of the damage: no fuel pressure, no spark, inert injectors. The cause? Totally out-of-service fuel pumps, literally eaten away by corrosion. Dismantling the two side tanks (the Gallardo has one on each side), the team discovered a foul-smelling liquid, closer to wood varnish than petrol, as well as melted hoses and stripped electrical conduits.
The specialists' verdict: the car was probably left running on E85 fuel, a biofuel rich in ethanol. Problem: ethanol absorbs water, promotes oxidation and rapidly degrades rubber and plastics. A real time bomb for the entire fuel system.
Volkswagen Golf fuel pumps to save a Lamborghini
Contacting Lamborghini, the team learns that the original fuel tank pumps cost €700 each, and have to be ordered directly from Italy. That's over €1,400 just to get fuel to the engine.
Fortunately, a stroke of genius (and resourcefulness) saved the project: they found compatible fuel pumps from the Volkswagen Golf catalog at a second-hand parts supplier. These parts are shared within the VAG group, to which Lamborghini belongs, and would be perfectly adaptable. Fuel tank pumps probably used at the time on certain Volkswagen Group models such as the Audi R8, Golf R32, etc. We've checked it out, and it costs around €160 each.
Pumps tested, mounted, tanks cleaned, filters replaced... and miracle : the Gallardo finally starts up again, as if nothing had happened.
Start of mechanical and aesthetic restoration
The V10 engine sings again. But the project doesn't stop there. We still need to :
- Repair a hydraulic leak on the E-Gear gearbox,
- Replace cracked tires,
- Clean brakes, change oil completely,
- And restore secondary functions.
A few weeks later, a Lamborghini Gallardo clean, functional, road-ready and rolling waiting to be reclaimed by its owner.
This restoration is a fine lesson in mechanical craftsmanship, with dirty hands, light-hearted jokes, and a real love of cars. Using Volkswagen Golf parts to breathe new life into an Italian supercar? A fine example of mechanical elitism! And proof that a good diagnosis and a little ingenuity are sometimes better than a big check.
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