Hip Hop Star Bought This 2002 Lamborghini Murcielago, Modified and Sold It

Busta Rhymes fell in love with the Lamborghini Murcielago the day the Italian sports carmaker unveiled it in 2001. Originally designed by Peruvian-born Belgian Luc Donckerwolke, who was the head of design for Lamborghini, the successor of the Diablo looked radical, checked all the right boxes, and exceeded all expectations.

With the highest point of the roof sitting at just under 4 feet (1.2 meters), low and sleek, and everything in between, it came with all the sharp edges making up the enticing wedge shape. And yes, it had scissor doors, those doors that get all the attention when you stop at the gas station and get out of the car for a refill.

It was a poster car. A video game star. A dream for kids around the world. And rappers, too. Busta Rhymes ordered the very first iteration of the Murcielago in 2002. He chose the head-turning Verde Ithaca for the exterior and the Snowcorn white interior with contrasting accents in lime green.

The headrests are still emblazoned with the "Flipmode" logo in lime green, matching the lime green accents on board. Busta Rhymes was the frontman of Flipmode Squad, hence the logo.

The model has an exciting feature. It's got the Bat Wings button, which opens the wings at the rear, positioned behind the passenger compartment. "Murcielago" is Spanish for "bat." So, such a feature had to be there.

The "wings" act as air intakes, letting the monstrous mid-mounted V12 breathe. Or to just scare off other drivers who see the car in their rearview mirror when they are fully open and enhance that bad boy aura that it came off the assembly line with.

Once it was delivered to him, he had no intention of keeping it the way it looked the day it rolled off the production line in Sant'Agata Bolognese. A custom shop installed a starlight headliner, the kind Rolls-Royce models feature.

For a short while, his Lambo rode on huge chrome wheels. Luckily, those are gone, as they were replaced with 18-inch Hercules wheels finished in black, donated by an LP640.

Busta Rhymes bragged about the car every chance he got. He featured it in videos and photos, he took it everywhere with him. It was like his alter ego. That is what turned it into the most famous Murcielago in the world at the time.

The Murcielago models were a must-have among rappers, but none of the artists turned into Lamborghini advertisers back in the early 2000s except for the man who fell in love with his Verde Ithaca sports car.

Except for those peculiar mods, the Lamborghini Murcielago is in mint condition, an indication that Busta Rhymes took great care of it.

The first-generation Lamborghini Murcielago was powered by a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V12 engine that makes 572 horsepower (580 metric horsepower) and 479 pound-feet (650 Newton meters) of torque.

Those figures were huge in the early 2000s. The engine is paired with a six-speed manual, which puts the power down through all four wheels, which is a gem for purists.

The Murcielago came with either this manual box or the automated manual and was never a rear-wheel drive, but the system is heavily rear-biased, as 70 percent of the power goes to the rear axle.

The sports car could hit 62 mph (100 kph) from a standstill in 3.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 207 mph (333 kph). These are figures that made it one of the fastest production cars at the time.

Later on, with the LP 640, which showed up in the lineup in in 2006, came with an increased engine capacity from 6.2 to 6.5 liters and more oomph, as Lamborghini upgraded it to 631 horsepower (640 metric horsepower).

But visibility was just as ridiculous as in Busta Rhimes's car. Tilted windows and large A-pillars were to blame for it. The Murcielago has never been one of the most comfortable and practical cars in the world.

The model is now for sale on ISSIMI's Auction Platform and comes with documented celebrity ownership and only 4,512 miles (4,505 miles when photographed for the listing) on the clock.

Now, Lorenzo Iacomini, ISSIMI's Team Manager, is taking the Lambo for a spin to accomplish a childhood dream. The car is registered in California.

The listing mentions some minor stone chips on the bumper and scrapes on the underside of the nose. The driver’s side window doesn't fully close, the seat sliders do not lock into place, and some buttons on board have turned sticky. There is also a minor steering rack leak, the ad indicates.

Whoever wants to drive this car home, with all the qualities and flaws, must know that the seller is asking $499,000.