Goodbye, Alberto!
Obituary: Albert Spiess • January 19, 1950 — September 20, 2026
Getting ready for the perfect photo—Albert Spiess in 2013 with his 1963 Lamborghini 350 GTV
Dear Albert,
You haven't gotten back to me at all lately—that's not like you. Should I be worried …?
Thoughts like these still linger in my mind. Because it's just so incomprehensible that you're suddenly no longer here. On September 20, 2026, you quietly bid farewell to this world. And in doing so, you left a void in the lives of those around you—a void that can only be filled by deep sorrow.
Whoosh, whoosh, out of the picture—Albert Spiess fleeing from the very first Lamborghini prototype
What remains are memories of extraordinary moments. Like at the Villa d'Este or in Pebble Beach, for example. You loved it when people—from little boys to distinguished connoisseurs—admired your cars, yet you always remained in the background. Unless, that is, you blended in anonymously among the awestruck crowd. At the most dazzling concours events, amid the gathering of the flashy, the loud, and the self-absorbed, you were the modest figure on the sidelines whom people only noticed at the awards ceremony—and usually as the winner.
Dominik Fischlin once again named Albert Spiess “Best in Class” at the 2013 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este—this time for his Lamborghini 350 GTV
Until then, your personal motto was “Ladies first”: Your enchanting Rita, your better half for more than 50 years, usually steered the dream cars through the rows of applauding visitors—with her natural poise—and, as was her tradition, barefoot. The fact that you felt most at ease in the discreet safety of the background seems almost like a contradiction to your downright childlike enthusiasm. But that was precisely your characteristic blend: somewhat shy, yet easily ignited by passion.
Going all out for the deepest black—Albert Spiess on his next assignment as a photo assistant, this time with the only Lamborghini Miura Roadster ever built
On my journalistic forays through some of the world's most spectacular automobile collections, I've gotten to know many of the most prominent collectors. They're a breed all their own—one to which you did not belong. You were always open, approachable, warm, patient, endearing, reliable, and unpretentious. Yet you never demanded anything from your unknown counterpart; it was enough simply to share your enthusiasm and fascination for the subject.
Ladies first—Albert Spiess's longtime partner, Rita Kälin, in the Miura Roadster
And yet you were the greatest collector of them all. Not only because you loved your cars more than other big names in the scene, but also because no one else could call such a breathtaking fleet their own. Of the numerous concept cars, show cars, and one-offs that Lamborghini has produced since its founding in 1963, it felt like 90 percent of them were in your collection—even though you didn't even set out to own as many as possible.
_und_sein_Wagenmeister_Nik_Waser_(rechts)_lassen_sich_vom_Lamborghini_Marzal_ablenken__Wolfgang_Blaube__zgcardetail__06_IMG_3569.jpg)
A break for a chat behind the game birds—Albert Spiess (left) and his car mechanic Nik Waser (right) are distracted by the Lamborghini Marzal
For you, it was a matter of making sober, rational decisions to leave some behind. Like the 1966 Flying Star II, which was simply too expensive for you. Or the 1964 3500 GTZ, whose angular rear end in its Zagato bodywork you didn't care for. Many didn't understand that. I thought it was true to my principles. And, quite honestly: the Marzal, Miura Roadster, 350 GTV, Athon, Bravo, 350 GT Spider, and many other one-of-a-kind Bolognese classics under one Swiss roof are incredible enough on their own.
Some of these icons wouldn't have been acquired by other bidders for all the money and sweet talk in the world. Why you? Because you've always nurtured your friendships without any ulterior motives and conveyed the utmost in honest, infectious enthusiasm coupled with a profound appreciation for automotive history. The sellers, who wanted to know their prized possessions were in the best hands, knew this from their long-standing, unwavering experience with you. It was clear to everyone that, with you, a twelve-cylinder masterpiece was by no means a mere commodity on its way to maximizing profit.
_und_Nik_Waser__Wolfgang_Blaube____07_IMG_3905.jpg)
Silverback on the inside, too—the sensational Lamborghini Marzal concept car, with Albert Spiess (right) and Nik Waser beside it
Thanks to this spirit of solidarity, even some manufacturers of top-tier vehicles came to place deep trust in you. As a result, they consulted you when it came to matters such as custom-ordered special editions. The initial spark for this was certainly Lamborghini's authentic reconstruction of the once-destroyed Countach prototype, the LP 500. I'm not exaggerating when I say that probably no other car collector has ever had as much influence on supercar manufacturers and their current special-edition models as you have.
__Wolfgang_Blaube__zgcardetail__08_IMG_7706.jpg)
Kids Take the Wheel – The author's daughter, Smilla Blaube, during a test drive in Albert Spiess's original Countach (Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2015)
What I admired most was your tireless dedication when it came to achieving photographic perfection: with touching diligence and unwavering devotion, you cleaned the cars to be photographed, swept the street, held the reflector, and drove the camera van. Whenever I wished for a glossy black asphalt surface in front of your garage, you'd reach for the hose as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
_in_entspannter_Gesellschaft__Wolfgang_Blaube____09_IMG_8025.jpg)
A moment of relaxation at the Concorso—Albert Spiess (left) in relaxed company
And when I was lying in the open trunk of a car to photograph the one behind it, and I yelled at you to drive more precisely, you simply did your best with patience. Without ever complaining. In hindsight, I always felt a little sorry about that. Today, I'm infinitely sorry.
_und_Tanja_Nebel_cruisen_im_Countach_Periscopio_durch_den_Park_der_Villa_Erba_(2015)__Wolfgang_Blaube__zgcarfull__10_IMG_8131.jpg)
Ladies' choice—Rita Kälin (at the wheel) and Tanja Nebel cruising through the Villa Erba park in the Countach Periscopio (2015)
And then there were the jokes that had us laughing so hard so often that—without being particularly sophisticated in content or intellect—they became our shared running gags. Whether on our legendary trip to Lamborghini, the photo shoots on the country roads behind your garage, or somewhere in between—always in the delightful company of Nik, your loyal friend and car master, the heart and soul of your collection.
You and Rita also treated my ladies to unforgettable experiences at one or another Concorso d'Eleganza. Rolling up in front of the stern judges in the Countach Periscopio with its scissor doors open is simply one of the greatest automotive pleasures. And I was always touched by how thoroughly you inquired about “the two girls” during every phone call.
,_mit_Albert_Spiess_an_der_Villa_d_Este__Wolfgang_Blaube____11_IMG_0039.jpg)
Greats of the scene—Dottore Adolfo Orsi, scion of the Maserati-owning family (1937–68), with Albert Spiess at the Villa d'Este
Is Tanja doing well? How is Smilla doing in her studies? Please give my warmest regards to both of them… It wasn't really anything special. Just the perfectly normal social interaction characteristic of Albert Spiess: always interested, respectful, and empathetic—never superficial, stilted, or artificial.
Well, at the remarkably youthful age of 76, you have passed away. Somehow, right in the middle of it all. With you, a rare prototype of a truly human person and an unconditionally good friend has left us. Oh, my old Alberto, we still had so much planned… Despite all the grief, I'm very glad that, as a prudent and cautious man, you ensured the continued existence of your incredible supercar collection during your lifetime.
From Red to Gold—Concorso d'Eleganza 2018—with his Alfa Romeo 33-2 Stradale, Albert Spiess, pictured here at the wheel, won the coveted “Coppa d'Oro.”
It may be a small comfort to you, however, that where you are now, there is at least one Lamborghini—namely, Ferruccio Lamborghini. You'll recognize him by his right hand, which is holding both the Muratti and the glass of Sangue di Miura. You two surely have a great, great deal to discuss.
Yours, Wolfgang
