It’s 2003. Lamborghini is five years into Audi ownership and has already introduced a new V12 flagship in the form of the Murcielago, following on from the vastly improved Diablo VT 6.0. Though the performance car market was thriving at the time – and a global recession was still a long way on the horizon – the Italian marque knew it needed a more attainable model to help fund its twelve-cylinder halo car and keep its new owners off its back. The result was, of course, the V10-powered Gallardo.

That’s right, it’s been 20 years since the Gallardo made its debut, taking back the ‘baby Lambo’ tag from the very ‘80s and very dorky Jalpa. A name you may well have forgotten, because the company shifted naff all of them. The Gallardo, mind, was a smash hit from the get-go. Lamborghini sold over 14,000 examples over the car’s ten-year lifespan, some 10,000 more than the Murcielago, comfortably cementing it as the firm’s best-selling model ever at the time.

It’s not hard to see why the Gallardo was such a success. A mid-mounted naturally aspirated V10 with 500hp in launch spec, a manual gearbox (though the optional e-Gear was by far the preferred option in period) and all-wheel drive for the grand sum of £120,000 was unheard of. Yes, the Ferrari 360 and F430 were arguably more driver focused, but what set the Gallardo apart was its ability to deliver all the sensations and sounds of a supercar while offering a degree of usability. And because the whole thing had been overseen by Audi, there was a chance it wouldn’t spontaneously combust.

The question is, with so many revisions and special editions released over a decade-long production run, which was the best? The original has aged magnificently and is probably the easiest way to nab a manual, while the runout LP 570-4 Super Trofeo is perhaps the most bonkers model short of the track-only Sesto Elemento. But if you’re after for the most complete Gallardo there is, look no further than this glorious LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.

Named after the company’s longstanding test driver, the Balboni edition is essentially a greatest hits of the Gallardo range. The 550hp, 5.2-litre V10 from the facelifted model, plus bespoke suspension and steering, made the Balboni the most driver-centric Gallardo of the lot. It was also the first rear-wheel drive Lamborghini since the Diablo, shedding some 30kg – most of which was stripped from the front end. With power no longer going to the front axle, the limited-slip diff was given a retune to handle the extra grunt being sent to the rear, while a tweaked ESC allowed for more rear-end slip. This wasn’t the return of the widow maker Lamborghinis of the past; it was the most rewarding Gallardo of them all.

Given that the Balboni is probably the best Gallardo there is, it’s a shame there aren’t that many to go around. Just 250 were produced and they oh so rarely appear on the PH classifieds. This is currently the only one for sale at the moment, so good thing it looks to be a peach. Okay, so it’s an e-Gear model, but on the plus side it has been signed by Mr. Balboni himself, which just oozes cool. The price tag reads £120,000, too, which doesn’t seem bad at all given how rare and revered it is. Still a lot for a birthday present, mind, but it’s hard to think of a better way to mark the Gallardo’s 20^th lap around the sun.

SPECIFICATION | LAMBORGHINI LP 550-2 VALENTINO BALBONI

Engine: 5,204 V10
Transmission: six-speed automated manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 550@8,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 398@6,000rpm
MPG: 21
CO2: 315g/km
Year registered: 2010
Recorded mileage: 21,000
Price new: £137,900
Yours for: £120,000