The Lamborghini Athon, a concept car that has never been duplicated, changed hands at an RM Sotheby’s auction in 2011 for roughly $400,000. This represented remarkable value, considering a new Lamborghini Murciélago commanded a similar price at the time, despite being mass-produced. The Athon’s sale directly from the Bertone collection was a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of automotive design history in completely original, unrestored condition. What makes it even more of a deal is that the Athon still looks futuristic in the way only Lamborghinis can.
Unveiled at the 58th Turin Motor Show in April 1980, the Athon was designed during a tough period for Lamborghini, which was experiencing severe financial troubles. Bertone’s decision to create a concept using a Lamborghini chassis served as a show of support for the struggling automaker. The name Athon is in reference to the Egyptian sun cult, a fully appropriate name for a topless spider sports car.
The Athon also holds historical significance as the first Bertone concept designed under Marc Deschamps, the young French designer who succeeded the legendary designer, Marcello Gandini. Importantly, the young designer continued in Bertone’s signature design language, featuring geometric lines, sharp edges, and innovative glasshouse areas.
The cab-forward design and long rear deck emphasized the mid-engine configuration. A semi-matte engine cover incorporated dummy air filter boxes, intentionally blurring the boundaries between bodywork and mechanicals.
The wraparound smoked windscreen also integrated seamlessly with the gunmetal grey body. Inside, the futuristic design pushed the envelope even further with a fully digital instrument panel, a never-before-seen control pod, and a futuristic steering wheel. Of course, it stands as testament to the might of Bertone that the Athon still looks fresh 45 years later, rather than some outdated design from the 1980s.
Mechanically, the Athon might not hold up to the same scrutiny. It utilized the Lamborghini Silhouette platform, itself derived from the Urraco. Its 3.0-liter V8 made 260 horsepower, paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Despite the dated mechanicals, the groundbreaking design is why the Athon continued to captivate enthusiasts decades after its debut, commanding the kind of price it did back in 2011, even with supercars like the Lamborghini Murciélago vying for attention.
