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Shaquille O'Neal is one of the largest mammals I've had the pleasure of meeting. During a handshake, my larger-than-average-sized claw disappears into his giant mitt. He's intelligent, friendly, well-spoken, and even kinda shy (I also enjoyed seeing the Heat win the NBA title last year, after our own Lakers put all of its stock in another player, while arrogantly dismissing O'Neal as being over the hill, but that's another story...). Shaq is a cool guy and a class act. And he loves cars.
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Most of his rides are the usual NBA star fare: Pimped out 'Slades, a Bentley or two, etc. But check out his latest Lamborghini. At 7"1', there's no way Superman is going to fit into a standard Gallardo. If he drove a Spyder, his head and torso would clear the windshield header by oh, say, two feet. So the Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters built him a stretch version. And, as with most things these amazing Argentines do, it looks like it grew that way.
You may not know it, but you've seen a lot of their work. The Gaffoglios and their merry band of panel beaters and metal craftsmen have built many of the concepts cars you've seen on auto show turntables over the last 20 years. They became known for their work for Chrysler in the 80s and 90s, but now built cars, from scratch to the highest quality levels, for many different carmakers.
There's about nothing these guys can't do, so having an actual car to start with, instead building something from scratch from computer files, must have made doing the Lambo limo as easy for them as waking up. Their shop in Orange County, California, is a modern interpretation an old world coachbuilding concern, in the best European carrozzeria tradition.
All the action on this car takes place in the middle. The Gallardo was stretched about a foot, meaning new doors and door glass, a new roof section, and floorpans. The interior was then fully retrimmed, wiring harness extended, and so forth. With these types of projects, it's often difficult to maintain any sense of the original design's proportions, but this machine looks like it could have rolled down the line in Sant'Agata, Italy like any other Gallardo.
No word about what it costs, but I promise you, it wasn't cheap. But then again, the multi-time NBA title winner and MVP can probably afford it.
XLLL Gallardo
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