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LOT 123

1975 Lamborghini Espada Series III Coupe Coachwork by Bertone Chassis no. 9606 Engine no. 41420

Sold for US$75,040 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 123

1975 Lamborghini Espada Series III Coupe

1975 Lamborghini Espada Series III Coupe
Coachwork by Bertone

Chassis no. 9606
Engine no. 41420


3,929cc DOHC V-12 Engine
6 Weber 40DC0E Carburetors
350bhp at 6,200rpm
3-Speed TorqueFlite Automatic Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes

*Distinctive Bertone styling
*V-12 motoring with room for four
*Delivered new to Canada
*Fetching Oro Metallizzato over Senape color scheme


THE LAMBORGHINI ESPADA

"Carrozzeria Bertone unveiled one of its motor show sensations at the 1967 Geneva event, the Marzal. This dramatic concept car was seen as an approach to a four-seat Lamborghini... and it turned out to be a forerunner of the Espada, a genuine four-seater and a distinctive 1960s supercar." – David Hodges, Lamborghini – The Legend.

Named after a matador's sword, the Espada was styled along lines similar to those of the stillborn, rear-engined, six-cylinder Marzal but carried its 4.0-liter, four-cam V-12 up front. The latter - first seen in the 400GT and used also by the contemporary Islero - produced 325bhp, an output sufficient to propel the distinctive, Bertone-styled coupe to 150mph. Islero running gear was employed but wedded to a platform-type, semi-monocoque chassis rather than the former's tubular frame. Introduced in January 1970, the Series II cars came with an extra 25bhp, 155mph top speed, an improved dashboard layout and the option of power assisted steering. The dashboard was revised yet again in late 1972 for the Series III, which also incorporated power steering as standard, upgraded brakes, minor suspension improvements and a restyled front grille. Espada production ceased in 1978 after 1,217 of these imposing cars had been built.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This example of the final series Espada was completed at the Sant'Agata, Bolognese based Lamborghini plant in the early months of 1975, and benefits from the refinements carried out throughout the production run. Elegantly finished in Oro Metallizzato (gold) over a Senape (mustard) interior, it was completed to American spec and delivered new to Carrie Auto in Canada on May 14, 1975. The early history is not recorded, but the car has been in the present ownership for over two decades. Documented by a Lamborghini Certificato d'origine documenting that it is a numbers matching car in its original colors, a technical inspection letter from Lamborghini from December 2003 goes further to indicate that the car had been totally restored by Automobili Lamborghini Centro di Restauro in Sant'Agata Bologense earlier that year. Garaged without use since the restoration, it is ripe for mechanical recommissioning. This elegant example of the Bertone-designed Espada presents nicely throughout, and offers its next caretaker the opportunity for ample V-12 power along with room for four.

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