Mercy, Mercy Me. The Lamborghini Murcielago, in 1/18, by AUTOart

The Lamborghini Murcielago is a staple in any car collection. This is the exotic machine that every enthusiast my age dreamed about as a kid, much like the Countach was the much-heralded "poster" car for the generation before that. When you look at it, it's pretty obvious why. Low-slung body, sharp angles, flamboyant colors, and of course, those signature Lamborghini scissor doors. I've always had a thing for the big V12 'ghinis because they best reflect what Lamborghini is all about: crazy designs, extreme dimensions, and massive power.

This is the original Murcielago, before the LP640, before the Superveloce, and before all those other special editions that released later on in its life. It's simply referred to as the Murcielago and can be distinguished, visually, from the LP640 with fewer edges in the bodywork. Also, the wheels - circular 5-spokes that resemble the face of a watch, with the bolts mimicking the numbers on the dial. It's like a work of art in itself, a futuristic design with mechanical complexity and timeless beauty.

Grilles are actually clear plastic with printed mesh pattern.

The model shown here is yet another old AUTOart 1/18 model. But saying this model is "old" is very misleading. The details are so fabulous, you could put it in a manufacturer's catalog today and no one would complain. Comparing the Murcielago with some of the older Kyosho models in my collection, this is head and shoulders above those. It's not just better detail; it's also more life-like in its proportions and stance.

I was also taken by surprise with some of the added features on this model. Obviously, the scissor doors, but also the air inlets behind the doors. I've been told the rear spoiler can be deployed, but it wouldn't budge on mine.

Perhaps the one indication that this model isn't quite the modern masterpiece you're hoping for shows itself when you hold it in your hands. It feels overly plastic-y. Examining further, I noticed that the entire side sill is made of plastic when it really has no reason to be. I guess you could joke that AUTOart's transition to "composites" started about fifteen years ago. The metal feels super thin on the opening compartments. If they are metal at all, that is. As is consistent with older models, they don't stay open either.

At the end of the day, the visuals are what matter most, and the Murcielago still impresses. It still has incredible shelf (or table) presence. And wow, did this model bring me back to those days as a boy when I was flipping through Car & Driver, starting at photos of this exact car in this exact color.