Thursday 21st December 2017

Lamborghini Espada: Spotted

For when two seats just aren't enough

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Have you heard the story of the lady in America who drove her Lamborghini Espada everyday, accumulating over 100,000 miles? Well, aren't you in for a treat: Lorrie Stern, a grandmother of five and an amateur acrobatic pilot owned her Espada for 37 years. A Christmas gift from her late husband, she didn't flinch at carpool duty; picking up kids from all across what what must have been a rather excited neighbourhood. The odometer stopped at 98,800 miles but Lorrie is certain the car went past the 100,000 mark before she had it restored and sprayed pink to "show off the body lines better".

Which leads us neatly onto the subject of today's Spotted: one of just 121 right-hand-drive Series III Espadas ever made. This example has received a complete, glass-out restoration, with the interior refitted by Tod's - the Italian shoemakers. The four-seat model itself was the third Lamborghini to use names related to bull fighting; Espada being the Spanish word for the slender sword used by matadors in the ring. Until Countach production was expanded, it was the manufacturer's biggest selling car.

Naturally, the fabulous Bertone-styled body was part of the appeal, and barely changed over three generations; save for the mildly restyled nose and tail lights of the Series III. Its output though, spilling from Giotto Bizzarrini's 3.9-litre quad cam V12 like a spoken word poem, rose with each iteration, finishing at 355hp.

In keeping with the Grand Tourer pedigree, Lamborghini fitted dual fuel tanks - providing it with a 95-litre capacity - but had you fill them seperately, and only provided a sender in the left-hand side, which presumably made gauge's accuracy a notch lower than pinpoint.

That's all part of the Espada's charm of course, and while there are cheaper versions available, it's reassuring to know that the potential cost of restoration has already been taken care of. And if an Espada is in the wrong stable for you, Ferrari made a 365 GTC 2+2 that was in the shadow of its prettier sibling, the Daytona.

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SPECIFICATION - LAMBORGHINI ESPADA

Engine: 3,939cc, V12
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 355@7,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 291@5,500rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1973
Recorded mileage: 2,000 miles
Price new: 8,750,000 Lira
Price now: £245,000

See the full advert here

Sources: NY Times

[Vee12V]

I'd buy it in a heart beat. Close to being my favourite Lambo ever.

[cookie1600]

I know people are going to flame me for being an odd car-perv, but I'll take that to put beside my Rolls Royce Camargue and Aston Martin Lagonda (wedge) in the lottery garage please!

[m444ttb]

I have to say I'm a massive fan of the Espada. Shame Lamborghini don't make a modern equivalent to take on the Ferrari FF/GT4 Lusso and are going down the SUV route instead.

[Gameface]

Cool lady.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/automobiles/...

[Krikkit]

Absolutely love the Espada, the one Harry Metcalfe had was rather lovely too. I remember when they were <£50k!

[MikeT66]

Oooh, fabulous 70's sleaze.
https://vimeo.com/229474023

I'd still prefer a late 1970's Aston Martin V8 Vantage or Jensen Interceptor for that mythical pan-European tour with the mistress, though.

[Leins]

A lot better looking than an espada fish

[cookie1600]

I used to know someone who was in the same motor club as me who borrowed an Espada to do the 1984 (I think) Brighton Speed Trails. A rather ungainly car to compete in, but it went quite well.

[lufbramatt]

m444ttb said:

I have to say I'm a massive fan of the Espada. Shame Lamborghini don't make a modern equivalent to take on the Ferrari FF/GT4 Lusso and are going down the SUV route instead.

they almost did:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Estoque

[P5BNij]

Big fan of the Espada, from some angles a little ungainly in photographs but in the metal they're utterly beguiling, bonkers cars. Saw Harry's Series 2 at the NEC last month and couldn't stop looking at it. Lamborghini's biggest selling car for a while.

Cheshire Classic Cars have a nice RHD Series 3 for sale...

http://www.cheshireclassiccars.co.uk/classic-cars-...

'70s Italian cinematic cheese with fantastic Espada content...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k70R4HhzIe0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgGQWAysGiM

And a spot of French swishness from '74...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ytIEBLQW7E

Edited by P5BNij on Thursday 21st December 15:21

Edited by P5BNij on Thursday 21st December 15:23

[givablondabone]

Love these

[Dr G]

Krikkit said:

Absolutely love the Espada, the one Harry Metcalfe had was rather lovely too. I remember when they were <£50k!

Although that example looks to have (easily) £200k of time, effort, and love in it.

Jarama for me, though. Spectacularly weird and all the better for it.

[cookie1600]

What on earth possessed this person?

http://www.lambocars.com/lambonews/customized_lamb...

Or this one!

http://www.mautofied.com/1970-Lamborghini-Espada-C...

[Hairymonster]

cookie1600 said:

I know people are going to flame me for being an odd car-perv, but I'll take that to put beside my Rolls Royce Camargue and Aston Martin Lagonda (wedge) in the lottery garage please!

Not at all - I'd happily have all 3 in my fantasy garage to play with!

[Hairymonster]

cookie1600 said:

What on earth possessed this person?

http://www.lambocars.com/lambonews/customized_lamb...

Or this one!

http://www.mautofied.com/1970-Lamborghini-Espada-C...

Looks like they've been to that finest of all purveyor of customised cars to the discerning petrol head - Mansory!

[Hairymonster]

P5BNij said:

Cheshire Classic Cars have a nice RHD Series 3 for sale...

http://www.cheshireclassiccars.co.uk/classic-cars-...

Now there's a website I didn't need to see - that's another 30 minute internet wormhole down which to disappear!!

[P5BNij]

Hairymonster said:

P5BNij said:

Cheshire Classic Cars have a nice RHD Series 3 for sale...

http://www.cheshireclassiccars.co.uk/classic-cars-...

Now there's a website I didn't need to see - that's another 30 minute internet wormhole down which to disappear!!

It's not advertised on their site but they also have the 'Italian Job' Miura (chassis number 3586) on their books...

[andymac]

Nice remember when prices were so low you couldn't give them away!

[marksmith59]

How about a retro GIANT test on grand tourers say Espada V Bristol V Bitter

[LuS1fer]

One of my favourite cars of all time.

I bought a Corvette C4 back in the 90s and was blown away by having a real V8 sports car. When it came to picking it up, it was parked next to a white Espada and the Corvette suddenly seemed very ordinary.

Best in this blue though.