Supercars aren’t our normal bag. We can appreciate them for what they can do, though. We love the engineering that goes into engines that went leaps and bounds over the typical road-going vehicle. Italian V-12s certainly fall into that category…between the natural balance of what is essentially two inline-sixes, the beauty of the side-draft carburetors and the linkage that makes all of them work in perfect synchronicity, and of course, the noise that trained ears can pick up on. We might not give half a care about a car parked on a golf course lawn, but if we ever hear one rolling onto a track, we will stop and listen to the sound.

Two different engines on running stands from Lamborghini’s past have appeared inside of Jay Leno’s Garage. One is the engine from a Lamborghini 350GT, a 3.5L V-12 unit that served as the backbone of Lamborghini’s engine program through 2010, and the other is an 8.0L two-valve example that was used in boat racing of all things. It’s difficult to believe that they are of the same engine design when you see the size comparison…the boat engine is essentially scaled up in design.

From road cars that went from Grand Touring to pure disco sex appeal, to a boat engine that we honestly knew nothing about, there is a certain quality to a well-crafted Italian V-12 that we love. Namely, the noise.