Experience with Lamborghini Espada?
Discussion
It is a car I really like the looks of and the concept behind it really appeals to me. While a used 456 is still far out of my budget, I can probably put the money for an Espada together within a very sensible timeframe.
I would be interested in reliability, servicing costs, how well it can be used on longer journeys, handling (dry/wet), etc. Any info is very welcome!
I would be interested in reliability, servicing costs, how well it can be used on longer journeys, handling (dry/wet), etc. Any info is very welcome!
I wanted one since I was a kid and finally got a lovely one in 2003. (see here
Reliability, not a problem. Long journeys, not a problem (period mpg was recorded as 11 - 15, I get 13 - 19 despite driving it hard). Service intervals are every 3K. It's important to get someone who knows Espadas to work on it. Handling is good (wet or dry) and the car, in all respects, is more than up to modern traffic demands. Brakes are excellent.
When I looked for one, it was my intention to use it as a daily driver but the one I found is too good to do that to really.
Now registered 12 POT:
Reliability, not a problem. Long journeys, not a problem (period mpg was recorded as 11 - 15, I get 13 - 19 despite driving it hard). Service intervals are every 3K. It's important to get someone who knows Espadas to work on it. Handling is good (wet or dry) and the car, in all respects, is more than up to modern traffic demands. Brakes are excellent.
When I looked for one, it was my intention to use it as a daily driver but the one I found is too good to do that to really.
Now registered 12 POT:
BossCerbera said:
I wanted one since I was a kid and finally got a lovely one in 2003. (see here
Reliability, not a problem. Long journeys, not a problem (period mpg was recorded as 11 - 15, I get 13 - 19 despite driving it hard). Service intervals are every 3K. It's important to get someone who knows Espadas to work on it. Handling is good (wet or dry) and the car, in all respects, is more than up to modern traffic demands. Brakes are excellent.
When I looked for one, it was my intention to use it as a daily driver but the one I found is too good to do that to really.
Reliability, not a problem. Long journeys, not a problem (period mpg was recorded as 11 - 15, I get 13 - 19 despite driving it hard). Service intervals are every 3K. It's important to get someone who knows Espadas to work on it. Handling is good (wet or dry) and the car, in all respects, is more than up to modern traffic demands. Brakes are excellent.
When I looked for one, it was my intention to use it as a daily driver but the one I found is too good to do that to really.
Thanks a lot! 3k is not a lot, if you are on a longer trip, so does that only involve oil or more significant work as well? How much (a range, perhaps) can a 3k service cost? It would in any case not be the only car in the household and not a daily driver. How well does the AC work, asuming one has it fixed (if it needs fixing, that is)? How much space is in it? Can it accomodate 4 adults or is it more of a 2+2?
KM2 said:
Thanks a lot! 3k is not a lot, if you are on a longer trip, so does that only involve oil or more significant work as well? How much (a range, perhaps) can a 3k service cost? It would in any case not be the only car in the household and not a daily driver. How well does the AC work, asuming one has it fixed (if it needs fixing, that is)? How much space is in it? Can it accomodate 4 adults or is it more of a 2+2?
3K is lubrication service basically but resetting the carbs might need doing (or you might want them fine tuning). 3K service can be very little - it all depends on where you go. My arrangement is unusual. I change all the fluids annually, whatever the mileage.
AC works but it's not like a modern system. It can cool the interior OK.
It is a proper 4 seater with plenty of space for luggage for 4 people although the luggage is 'on display' in the back.
For 4 people going out to dinner, it's about the coolest car you can possibly arrive in.
KM2 said:
Perhaps some known weak spots one should look for? What should one pay for a decent example and where to look?
Body rot is main weakness. A bit of smokiness from the left bank is considered 'normal'. Expect to see some black smoke when you boot it after it's been running at lower engine speeds for a while. Also expect a bit of smoke if you've been idling in traffic for ages and then boot it (oil gathers in the head and if the engine's red hot, some will sneak past the valve stem seals). Any more smoke than described will probably mean valve seals if the oil pressure is otherwise strong, else it's bottom end wear (rare!).
The age old question of what a decent example costs is hard to answer. People will say £25K+ for a minter, £15-£20K for a tidy one. However, a famous person recently spent over £100K restoring one to mint condition. If you want the best, be prepared to pay some way beyond the £15-£25K bracket because it will probably cost you less than buying inside that bracket and then trying to improve the car.
Talk to Owners Clubs in UK, Holland, Germany etc.. Try and look at as many cars as possible. If you drive them, expect a car that you don't need to make any allowances for. If you feel the need to try and ignore any noises/vibrations, there is something wrong with the car. Good Espadas are taut and smooth.
BossCerbera said:
Try and look at as many cars as possible. If you drive them, expect a car that you don't need to make any allowances for. If you feel the need to try and ignore any noises/vibrations, there is something wrong with the car. Good Espadas are taut and smooth.
Perhaps as a guideline, what modern car would it compare to? Just so that I know if the noise or vibration is excessive, to have an anchor
25k and above puts it out of the immediate ange, of course but I am willing to wait for a year or two
Boss Cerbera (above) is the best guy to ask, as he still owns one.
I sold mine a few years ago, but still have very fond memories of it.
If I were to be looking for one now, I would want another Series III car, with the benefit of the nicer dash, air con and better road manners.
Here is a pic of my old Lambo.
Like any proper classic, condition is everything. If you're serious, buy the best one you can.
Bosscerbera's is beautifull, and got as many looks as my G on our run together (possibly more) and, in the real world, is as quick as anything.
The Espada has reached the same "cool" status as the E-type, IMO.
Bosscerbera's is beautifull, and got as many looks as my G on our run together (possibly more) and, in the real world, is as quick as anything.
The Espada has reached the same "cool" status as the E-type, IMO.
360boy said:
Boss Cerbera (above) is the best guy to ask, as he still owns one.
I sold mine a few years ago, but still have very fond memories of it.
If I were to be looking for one now, I would want another Series III car, with the benefit of the nicer dash, air con and better road manners.
Here is a pic of my old Lambo.
360boy I think I've mentioned this to you before but I've seen 'J 007' on a Bentley Continental GT circa the time that the car was launched.
It was parked outside a Nightclub in Liverpool if memory serves...
Your Lamborghini looked stunning by the way. Yours too Phil
KM2 said:
Perhaps as a guideline, what modern car would it compare to? Just so that I know if the noise or vibration is excessive, to have an anchor
25k and above puts it out of the immediate ange, of course but I am willing to wait for a year or two
25k and above puts it out of the immediate ange, of course but I am willing to wait for a year or two
It's impossible to compare with specific 'modern' cars ...what I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't *feel* like you're making allowances for the car. The Espada is surprisingly modern-feeling in many ways. Performance-wise, I guess it's on a par with my 560 Mercedes except you have to work the Lambo harder because the power is higher up the rev range. Not long after I bought my Espada, I chased a Maserati GT round the M25 at, ahem, distinctly modern speeds and it felt great.
History is everything. Sub £25K cars can be mechanically sound and pretty good looking bodywork-wise. It depends on your expectation what you would be happy with. The driveline is pretty much bullet proof so a 'tidy' runner could be a lovely thing to own and drive about. It's when/if you decided to get that 'showroom look' that your wallet might get torched.
Lots of Espadas - as they were relatively plentiful once (in Lambo terms) and unloved in the market - gave up their engines to the power boat crowd who routinely run them up to 9,000rpm. That's helped make Espadas rare but also says a lot about the inherent strength/quality of the V12.
BossCerbera said:
For 4 people going out to dinner, it's about the coolest car you can possibly arrive in.
Dinner in 
Paris, or wait Milano . . . no Bilbao! The car is - like all Lambo's - made to drive hard. And that's what it does best.
The Spada was the first Lamborghini I saw to touch. Seats are comfy, lots of glass to look around, engine is absolutely gorgeous. With a milder cam compared to the Countachs, it's less racy and it'll announce madmode (beyond 4-4.5k). IMO the perfect GT. And it looks the nuts without beyong an overstatement. Friend: "Is that a '73 Challenger?" :slap:
To Boss: didn't an aquintance of yours had a Spada for sale? It's a bit blurry in my gray stuff but it flew past in a recent topic if I'm correct . . .
Edited by dinkel on Wednesday 30th August 13:55
dealmaker said:
There are (or certainly were) two Series 3 Espadas up for grabs at the moment.
One is Metallic Blue/Grey and One is, I think Peter's (360boy's) old white car?
Don't know what sort of condition they are in? Had been considering one myself at the sort of money they are being offered.
One is Metallic Blue/Grey and One is, I think Peter's (360boy's) old white car?
Don't know what sort of condition they are in? Had been considering one myself at the sort of money they are being offered.
Colin Gilmore Merchant's black S3 is up for grabs I believe. It's the cleanest other S3 I've seen (apart from Dinkel's friend's car which I doubt will ever be for sale!).
BossCerbera said:
dealmaker said:
There are (or certainly were) two Series 3 Espadas up for grabs at the moment.
One is Metallic Blue/Grey and One is, I think Peter's (360boy's) old white car?
Don't know what sort of condition they are in? Had been considering one myself at the sort of money they are being offered.
One is Metallic Blue/Grey and One is, I think Peter's (360boy's) old white car?
Don't know what sort of condition they are in? Had been considering one myself at the sort of money they are being offered.
Colin Gilmore Merchant's black S3 is up for grabs I believe. It's the cleanest other S3 I've seen (apart from Dinkel's friend's car which I doubt will ever be for sale!).
Do you know where the details can be found for this car? I have looked at one but it had a number of issues, nothing terminal but a little too much for me!
BossCerbera said:
ettore said:
Do you know where the details can be found for this car? I have looked at one but it had a number of issues, nothing terminal but a little too much for me!
Colin's car popped up on eBay a little while ago. He can be reached via the Lamborghini Club UK.
Is Colin's the Black with the Cherry red interior ???
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