13th Mar, 2024 13:00

Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire

 
Lot 36
 

1975 Lamborghini Espada Series III
1 of just 55 factory-built, automatic examples

Sold for £79,500

(including buyers premium)


Lot details

Registration No: T.B.A
Chassis No: 9652
MOT: February 2025

  • 1 of just 472 Series III Espadas built
  • Supplied new to the USA complete with automatic transmission
  • Owned by the Kuwaiti royal family for 20 years
  • Last American custodian was a prominent Lamborghini collector
  • Over $60,000 spent on recommissioning
  • Believed never restored
  • In absolutely lovely condition inside / outside and underneath

Introduced at the 1968 Geneva Salon, the Lamborghini Espada was a true four-seater supercar. Styled by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, it was visually indebted to the carozzeria's previous 'Marzal' and 'Pirana' show cars. A low-slung menacing 'wedge' (actually no longer than a contemporary Ford Mustang), its Giampaolo Dallara honed pressed-steel platform chassis featured all-round coil-and-wishbone suspension, Koni dampers, disc brakes and anti-roll bars. Although, the 'quad-cam' Bizzarini 3,929cc V12 was front-mounted and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the Espada enjoyed near ideal front-to-rear weight distribution (52:48). The world's fastest four-seater at some 155mph, it was praised for its handling and ride quality. Debuting at the 1972 Turin Motor Show, the Series III came with power steering and air-conditioning as standard. Boasting 365bhp and 290lbft of torque, it also carried a revised interior, re-jigged rear suspension and uprated brakes. In production at Sant'Agata Bologna for just six years, a mere 472 were supposedly made.

Chassis No. 9652, the car offered here, is the 118th Espada out of a total production of 1217 built and the 99th last before production ended. Finished in Bianco (White) with a Rosso (Red) Connolly leather interior this Espada is one of only 55 cars to have been specified and fitted with the optional Chrysler TorqueFlite three-speed automatic gearbox which actually suits the ‘grand tourer’ character of this car very well. Originally supplied to the United States after leaving the factory in April 1975, #9652 was delivered to its first owner in February 1976. Passing into the ownership of a member of the Kuwaiti royal family in 1995 and remaining in their collection of cars for twenty years, it was later acquired by noted car collector Michael Kerns who kept the Lamborghini until late 2022. Although the Espada had been well-looked after while in the Royal Collection, Mr Kerns decided to embark on a recommissioning programme costing over £60,000 while retaining the original character of the car. Having covered just 58,000 miles from new, the paintwork is believed to be largely original and presents exceptionally well, while the supple Red Connoly hide interior is virtually unmarked and still smells factory fresh. As expected from an engine which is almost clean enough to eat your supper off of, it starts up well and runs as smoothly as you’d imagine from a Lamborghini V12. Said by the vendor to drive very well, this is truly one of most stunning Espadas we have ever seen, ready to be enjoyed by the true Lamborghini afficionado looking for the very best. Offered with a comprehensive history file, containing invoices, an original sales brochure and an original owner’s pack containing owner’s manuals and a service booklet.

PLEASE NOTE: The registration number shown in the photographs IS NOT included in the sale. An age-related registration number has been applied for.

For more information, please contact:
Julian Pinkster
julian.pinkster@handh.co.uk
07889 223 904

 

Auction: Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire, 13th Mar, 2024

An auction of classic, collector and performance motorcars to be held at the iconic and visually stunning Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Venue Details 

To enquire about entering your classic or performance car into the auction please call our sales office on 01925 210035, email sales@HandH.co.uk or click here: Enter Your Classic Motorcar 

All our professional valuations are complimentary and without obligation.

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Tues 12th March from 12pm
Wed 13th March from 9am

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All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.

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