1975 Lamborghini Espada

Lot details
Registration No: AMC101N
Chassis No: 9398
Mot Expiry: Aug 2013

Penned by maestro Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the two-door, four-seater Espada (Spanish for sword) broke cover in 1968 and was a development of the Marzal concept car debuted at the Geneva Salon the previous year. Power was supplied by a front-mounted all-alloy, quad-cam V12 of 3929cc producing 325bhp (rising via 350bhp to 365bhp over the years) - sufficient for a 0-60mph time of under 7 seconds and top speed of around 150mph. The supercar specification included fully independent suspension and discs brakes at all four corners. Most examples drove through a five-speed manual gearbox, but a few were ordered with an automatic transmission - one of the first to be coupled to so torquey an engine, and unusual in only having two forward ratios. Three generations of the model were produced. The S2 of 1970 and S3 of 1972 each brought increases in power and changes to both the exterior and interior. A total of 1,217 Espadas are believed to have left the Sant'Agata factory between 1968 and 1978.

The rare right-hand drive Espada being sold is an S3 model from 1975. It sports Dark Blue paintwork and a Black hide interior and is equipped with the preferable five-speed manual gearbox. It has been the subject of a seven-year rolling restoration that included: a body respray; refurbishment of the suspension, braking and electrical systems; a top-end overhaul of the engine; retrimming of the interior, and a set of new Wilton carpets. The vendor now considers the Lamborghini to be in "good" condition with regard to its engine, gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim, bodywork and paintwork and is offering it complete with a large file containing bills from 1983 and an MOT valid until August next year. The odometer currently displays an unwarranted 62,642 miles. The Espada is one of the most practical of all Lamborghinis and good value in today's market.