One to Buy: 1969 Lamborghini Espada Series 1 (SOLD)
Having established his car company to build the kind of conservatively-styled Grand Tourers that appealed to discrete industrialists like himself, Ferruccio Lamborghini’s firm soon found itself producing the most extraordinary-looking cars on the planet.
The first of these to arrive was the mid-engined Miura that a small team of Lamborghini engineers had developed in their spare time. Ferruccio Lamborghini gave the green light to the Miura thinking it would serve as a useful publicity tool, but the response from customers was so positive that a production version became inevitable.
Two years after the Miura debuted in fully clothed trim at the Geneva Salon in March 1966, a no less fantastic creation arrived at the same show two years later.
Unlike the Miura, the Espada adopted a conventional front-engined layout which made its remarkable appearance arguably an even more impressive feat.
The Espada’s specification comprised a steel monocoque bodyshell with double wishbone suspension and disc brakes all round. In the engine bay was a reduced compression version of the Miura V12 with side instead of downdraught carburettors to facilitate the lowest possible hood profile.
Just 186 examples of the first series Espada were built between 1968 and 1969, after which the specification was toned down a little to make it more commercially appealing. The revised Series 2 variant perhaps most notably came with an interior that veered away from Marcello Gandini’s show car-esque original.
This beautiful late production Series 1 Espada (chassis 7458) is currently on offer with Real Art on Wheels in Burgeveen, Amsterdam. It was delivered new to an Italian customer via the Lamborcar agency in Milan and left the factory configured in the fantastic exterior colour of Oro Metallizato which it retains today.
Chassis 7458’s second owner was based in Los Angeles and registered the car in February 1971. He retained it until 2009, at which point the gold Espada returned to Europe. Today it has a little over 61,000km which is believed to be original.
Reprinted below is Real Art on Wheels’ description for the superb first series Esapada:
Desirable first series Lamborghini Espada
Full history known, impressive history file
Attractive original color Oro Metallizzato
Recent service at Mugello Engineering
The Espada was launched at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show, alongside the Islero. The Espada was equipped with a 3.929 cc Lamborghini V12 engine derived from that used in the 400 GT 2+2, rated at 325 hp in the series I cars. The design of the series I dashboard was inspired by the Marzal concept car, and featured octagonal housings for the main instruments, topped by an additional binnacle for the secondary gauges. The alloy wheels were made by Campagnolo on knock-off hubs, of the same design seen on the Miura. A total of 186 examples were made before January 1970.
At the 1970 Brussels Motor Show Lamborghini unveiled the Espada S2. Outside the only change was the deletion of the grill covering the vertical glass tail panel. Inside changes were much more radical: a new dashboard, center console and steering wheel were installed. The instrument binnacle was of a more conventional rectangular shape, with round gauges. A wood-trimmed fascia extended along the entire width of the dashboard. A total of 575 Series II Espadas were made.
In 1972 the third series of the Lamborghini Espada was introduced. The interior now incorporated a redesigned aluminum-trimmed instrument panel that kept all instruments and most controls within easy reach of the driver. Several exterior changes were also made. Newly designed wheels on five-stud hubs replaced the earlier knock-off wheels. These wheels were also used on some late Series II Espadas. The front grille now had a square instead of hexagonal mesh. New tail lights were used, sourced from the Alfa Romeo 2000. In 1974, a Chrysler Torqueflite 3 speed automatic transmission became available as an option. From 1975, large impact bumpers had to be installed to meet United States safety requirements. US emissions requirements also led to the factory adding a secondary air injection pump and special tuning of carburetors and the ignition system.
Our Lamborghini Espada Series I
According to factory documents, our Lamborghini Espada Series I was originally delivered to Lamborghini’s Milan agency, Lamborcar on October 8, 1969. The car was delivered in Oro Metallizzato over a Nero leather interior. One year later the car was shipped to California and registered in name of Los Angeles based Mr. Perla on February 11, 1971. He cherished the Lamborghini Espada until he sold the car in 2009.
Before the car was shipped to Germany, the engine and gearbox were rebuilt by marque specialist Claudio Zampoli. When the car arrived in Germany in early 2010, it was repainted in its original shade of Oro Metallizzato. Pictures of the car before painting (the car was in the same color) are present in file. The car was sold to a German enthusiast and received a German Fahrzeugbrief in 2011. In 2015 the car was sold to the last owner who brought the car to marque specialist Mugello Engineering in Hilversum (invoice in file). The car received a complete inspection. Since then the car was barely used.
This is a unique opportunity to purchase a very well looked-after Lamborghini Espada S1 that was for almost four decades in the hands of one owner. The car has a fantastic history file. The odometer reads 61.160 kilometers, which is believed to be original.
