As public unveilings go, Lamborghini’s first on-road exposure of the Aventador was nothing if not sensational. It lined up five examples of its new 700bhp supercar, and paired them with a priceless collection of five historic vehicles from the Lamborghini Museo – all of which are considered the Aventador's ancestors. And Octane was granted an exclusive ringside seat, having been invited along to drive in the parade.

Leading off the procession from the Piazza del Campidoglio was Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini’s president and CEO. At the wheel of one of his company’s new cars, he was flagged away by the Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno. The cars then followed in formation – new-then-old, new-then-old – with a Murcielago SV, Diablo, Countach LP400, Miura SV and 350GT. Legendary Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni drove the oldest car – and Octane magazine’s assistant editor Keith Adams drove the LP400.

But this wasn’t any old LP400. It was the original factory prototype, the second ever built. It’s also the oldest remaining Countach, as the original LP500 show car was destroyed in crash testing. According to Valentino, the prototype was literally fresh from its restoration, completed only a few days earlier.

At the 11.15am start, the crowds that had assembled were enormous and passionate, and took every opportunity possible to get close to the cars and photograph themselves with them. The Rome authorities did an amazing job of keeping the procession rolling, passing the Colosseum and other important landmarks, holding up traffic and waving the cars through. The procession stopped in three piazzas, allowing the adoring public to get close to the cars – and it was clear that the Aventador was the star of the show, as many Romans were seeing it for the very first time.

The cars will be on display in a temporary museum at the Chiostro del Bramante (Bramante’s Cloister) from 26 April to 8 May.

Full story to appear in the July issue of Octane, on sale 25 May.