Espada S3
Author
Discussion

V41LEY

Original Poster:

3,025 posts

269 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
Really like these cars.


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C259538

Anyone know what is involved and costs of recommissioning this beauty ?
Love the phone on the dashboard !

Sesto

236 posts

185 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
V41LEY said:
Really like these cars.


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C259538

Anyone know what is involved and costs of recommissioning this beauty ?
Love the phone on the dashboard !
In some cases restoration costs can far outstrip the final value of these cars , but if you love these cars then that's not an issue . If you do most of the recommissioning yourself you will save thousands . A nice young lady on here is having her Espada fully restored with full documentation of the progress . If she comes along I'm sure she'd be more than willing to give you all the details . Rare cars with not too many left on the road , most are in bits in garages across the country I'd say . I'd budget 15k upwards depending on condition ( at a geuss )

ZOLLAR

19,920 posts

204 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
V41LEY said:
Really like these cars.


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C259538

Anyone know what is involved and costs of recommissioning this beauty ?
Love the phone on the dashboard !
laugh
That is amazing biggrin


Allandwf

1,773 posts

226 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
Trim parts can be difficult to come by, but as said there are a few in bits around the country. I sold mine,in bits! The auto box would put me off, as by accounts at the time I think its a thtree speed and was not well suited to the high revving V12. Also love the phone, mine had an 8 track fitted as well!!

XXVIII

2,800 posts

245 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
... the gearbox used is a 3-speed Chrysler Torqueflite which has the advantage that there is a little more space in the transmission tunnel over (under?) the Lamborghini 5-speed all-synchro box.

Perhaps the UK's best authority on these cars told me (less than a few weeks ago and on many occasions...) that the issue with the Torqueflite is that, being an automatic, there is no engine braking and with an Autospada wink having the kind of brakes it has, it will be less than a joyful and safe experience to drive or travel in sometimes ...

I love Espadas. I've driven a few and traveled in a few more. They are magnificent, excellent examples of Ferruccio's best intentions but, when fitted with the Torqueflite, a gearbox which whilst very strong in itself is about as well matched to the Lamborghini V12 as a Branston-a-like and Aldi cheapchedder butty is to a plate of Fettucini Alfredo served with a glass of chilled Prosecco.

so, not exactly a hymn of praise to the very rare Autospada but then, if you want it then you should just buy it - what has 'making a sensible choice' got to do with any Lamborghini? smile

Edited by XXVIII on Monday 7th November 11:16

Oelholm

321 posts

216 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
That phone is amazing biggrin

If you would like to know a bit more about these, contact Bosscerbera on here - he has one.

M3John

5,974 posts

250 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
Oelholm said:
That phone is amazing biggrin

If you would like to know a bit more about these, contact Bosscerbera on here - he has one.
Beat me to it ^

Thats exactly what i was about to say.

Lambokb

17 posts

190 months

Tuesday 8th November 2011
quotequote all
Hi if anyone is looking for an Espada Joop Stolze (in Holland but the car is RHD and I think he bought it from Bonhams about 4 years ago) has an S2 manual that is in reasonable condition for the price which I think is about £15000, it needs some cosmetic work to the front nearside, which he can sort out, but the bodywork seems good and the engine has been rebuilt, I was going to take a punt myself but I have decided to finally go for a countach

RallyRider

1,127 posts

235 months

Tuesday 8th November 2011
quotequote all
tannucats has also just restored one, lovely cars

paulqv

3,124 posts

226 months

Wednesday 9th November 2011
quotequote all
Hi

that is very rare!! Another Auto! i have an auto too and had understood from Del hopkins ex Lambo head mechanice that there were only 6 RHD ones! Well there are about 5 autos in austalia and another one here or was in Gold.

The auto isnt a good match with the engine mainly as it changes up to 3rd very quickly and hence youa re effectivley driving in 5th gear most of the time

The auto is a very robust unit and parts are common. they can be upgraded to 4speed auto fairly easily

Biggest drawback is the big heavy torque convertor which robs the engine of quick revving. Above 100mph dont think much difference

I have done about 12000km in mine since bought it in 93. disagree with DAvid about the brakes which i think are quite good for that vintage of car, ie designed in 1968!

Also done a complete rebuild of everything and have substantial knowlege of these cars and whats invloved

Doubt there are many left in bits in garages though! Were only about 1250 built and would mean only about 125 EVER in UK

Paul



Johnboy Mac

2,666 posts

209 months

Wednesday 9th November 2011
quotequote all
14500 to buy, plus maybe 14500x3 to get right. Still, might be worth it if it's somebodies dream machine.

XXVIII

2,800 posts

245 months

Wednesday 9th November 2011
quotequote all
paulqv said:
Hi

disagree with DAvid about the brakes which i think are quite good for that vintage of car, ie designed in 1968!
I agree Paul - the Espada brakes are fine for a sixties / seventies car but try telling that to a generation or two raised on modern likehittingastonewall-effect brakes ... planning ahead with any skill is an increasingly dying art!!

t' was with Del 'imself that I was discussing the car that's been mentioned here ... I guess he will have had first skinned-knuckle experience of working with the Lamborghini all-synchro box versus the Torqueflite unit - never heard that a 4 speed unit could be fitted though!





paulqv

3,124 posts

226 months

Wednesday 9th November 2011
quotequote all
The 4 speed was just a three speed adapted! have the info on how to do it, but didnt think was worth the trouble. I have bought a manual box for mine and will convert it over to manual in early course

I find the brakes more reassuring the the countach's...........mind you that isnt saying much!

Happy to provide advice on the costs, but be prepared to be scared!!!!!


Paul

V41LEY

Original Poster:

3,025 posts

269 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
paulqv said:
Hi

that is very rare!! Another Auto! i have an auto too and had understood from Del hopkins ex Lambo head mechanice that there were only 6 RHD ones! Well there are about 5 autos in austalia and another one here or was in Gold.

Also done a complete rebuild of everything and have substantial knowlege of these cars and whats invloved

Doubt there are many left in bits in garages though! Were only about 1250 built and would mean only about 125 EVER in UK

Paul
Well there are a few bits here
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C254538
Another RHD auto in Red. Shame to see such a great car in this state.

paulqv

3,124 posts

226 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for that

Could be that it was 6 RHD in UK! Must be as that is three apart from mine I now no of. Think there were only 54 autos in total made?

Sorry to see it the car in that state and doubt it would be restorable as the costs would be horrific and will never get the return.

If need any advice please get in touch

Paul

Johnboy Mac

2,666 posts

209 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
paulqv said:
Sorry to see it the car in that state and doubt it would be restorable as the costs would be horrific and will never get the return.



Paul
Hey Paul. How much would you guess to sort that one correctly, 75k, 100k?

paulqv

3,124 posts

226 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
it depends on what parts are missing

Engine rebuild with no major work £12000; gearbox ditto £2-3000; diff £2000
Last bonnet the factory had about 6 years ago was £3000 and only one
It is a big car with loads of trim and carpets
Body is alos very big and depends on how bad the rust is. No panels avaialable
There is only s/h trim bits when available
So if the bumper is banged will need fixed
Looking at that pic of the car in bits i would say £75000 at least
Cars today in top condition about 25-35000? either you want an auto or you dont
Manual cars have their own issues as some bits in the gearbox are not avaialable now and would need made
Paul


Johnboy Mac

2,666 posts

209 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
paulqv said:
it depends on what parts are missing

Engine rebuild with no major work £12000; gearbox ditto £2-3000; diff £2000
Last bonnet the factory had about 6 years ago was £3000 and only one
It is a big car with loads of trim and carpets
Body is alos very big and depends on how bad the rust is. No panels avaialable
There is only s/h trim bits when available
So if the bumper is banged will need fixed
Looking at that pic of the car in bits i would say £75000 at least
Cars today in top condition about 25-35000? either you want an auto or you dont
Manual cars have their own issues as some bits in the gearbox are not avaialable now and would need made
Paul
At that rate a Jarama looks great value, no?

tannucats

362 posts

223 months

Thursday 10th November 2011
quotequote all
paulqv said:
it depends on what parts are missing

Engine rebuild with no major work £12000; gearbox ditto £2-3000; diff £2000
Last bonnet the factory had about 6 years ago was £3000 and only one
It is a big car with loads of trim and carpets
Body is alos very big and depends on how bad the rust is. No panels avaialable
There is only s/h trim bits when available
So if the bumper is banged will need fixed
Looking at that pic of the car in bits i would say £75000 at least
Cars today in top condition about 25-35000? either you want an auto or you dont
Manual cars have their own issues as some bits in the gearbox are not avaialable now and would need made
Paul
Hi All

Just got back from Valencia (Moto GP) and visited Del whilst there. Sends his best wishes to all.
He is part of lamborghini history and I have asked him to start writing it!
Paul, I would agree with you on restoration costs knowing what we have spent on ours over the last seven years plus we paid £9500 for it in 1977. I am ever hopefull that there will be a much more realistic value being put on these cars once restored, because they certainly deserve it. Most of the work on our car has been done at Jennings Engineering in Essex but if you are doing the work yourself, it can take forever locating or manufacturing parts. The biggest problem we face today is that Lamborghini themselves used whatever parts they had on the shelf on the day, supplied from all and sundry. We were looking for bushes and speaking to Del, they came from Rootes. Via the Rootes car club, I found a guy that had loads of what we were looking for but without that priceless knowledge we would have been stuffed.
Both Richard and I are available for discussion should anyone need help but be prepared for a lot of heartache when you start on a restoration programme, you must have bottomless pockets and end goal. Mine was "its my grandson's inheritance" and nothing could stop me from finishing it.

tannucats (Lynne)

CONTI T

104 posts

201 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
paulqv said:
Hi

that is very rare!! Another Auto! i have an auto too and had understood from Del hopkins ex Lambo head mechanice that there were only 6 RHD ones! Well there are about 5 autos in austalia and another one here or was in Gold.

The auto isnt a good match with the engine mainly as it changes up to 3rd very quickly and hence youa re effectivley driving in 5th gear most of the time

The auto is a very robust unit and parts are common. they can be upgraded to 4speed auto fairly easily

Biggest drawback is the big heavy torque convertor which robs the engine of quick revving. Above 100mph dont think much difference

I have done about 12000km in mine since bought it in 93. disagree with DAvid about the brakes which i think are quite good for that vintage of car, ie designed in 1968!

Also done a complete rebuild of everything and have substantial knowlege of these cars and whats invloved

Doubt there are many left in bits in garages though! Were only about 1250 built and would mean only about 125 EVER in UK

Paul
your transmission can be tweaked to make it much more responsive to drive, you could also fit a looser t converter for better initial acceleration,, WATTS RACING TRANSMISSIONS