In 1980 Lamborghini presented an intriguing study for a completely open car based on the P300: the Athon. The name was intended as a ‘hymn to the sun’, as the car was completely open and had no roof whatsoever, but there was no follow-up to it. The company slid toward bankruptcy and then liquidation. The Athon was finished.
The Lamborghini Athon was a concept car designed by Bertone for Lamborghini. It was first displayed at the 1980 Turin Motor Show. Widely praised, the design was based on the Silhouette chassis, which was out of production at the time. It was a sleek topless roadster, with a finely detailed, futuristic interior. The Athon was powered by a 3L, 260 bhp (194 kW) V8 engine. The vehicle was never intended to be put into production, with Lamborghini’s financial troubles at the time sealing its fate. It appeared on the show car circuit and then was sent to the Bertone museum.
