One of the most beautiful motorboats ever built is for sale - for $600,000

A classic Italian motor boat - of a type widely regarded as one of the most beautiful ever built - will cross the block in May at an RM Sotheby's auction in Monaco.

The 1974 Riva Aquarama Special "Lealena," one of only 769 Aquaramas constructed, is a twin-V8 powered wooden runabout. The hull is lined in varnished mahogany, and the boat was powered by two engines from either Cadillac or Chrysler in the United States.

The name was inspired by the Cinerama, a wrap-around movie theater format from which the boat takes it elegantly-curved windscreen. It was an instant hit among the newly wealthy of the jet-set era.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was a customer - he had his refitted with two V12 engines from his 350 GT road car.

The auction house has not released an official sale estimate for the boat yet, but here is a list of similar Aquarama Specials on Yachtworld, all for north of $600,000.

Here's a look at the boat for sale in Monaco.