Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this factory right hand drive 1970 Lamborghini Espada Series 2.

This car is a rare and desirable early Espada Series 2, featuring the distinctive Miura style knock-off wheels.

The factory records confirm this car was delivered new to Guthrie in South Africa on the 8th May 1970. It was delivered in Verde Pallido Metalizzato (light green metallic) with a Nero (black) interior. The records also confirm this car retains its original matching numbers engine.

The early history of this car is not known, however, it is understood to have come to Australia fairly early in its life.

Documentation on file confirms that by May 1987 the car was owned by R Thomas from Rowville, Victoria. At that time, it was registered in Victoria as CBQ 501 and an invoice on file dated 25th May 1987 notes the mileage as 45,020 miles

Thomas was a long-term owner of the car but only used it sparingly. There are a number of invoices on file documenting work carried out during his ownership, including an invoice from the Authentic Leather Company from Moorabbin in Victoria for the seats to be reupholstered in July 1988.

In 1993 Thomas decided to treat the car to a cosmetic restoration. The project commenced in May 1993 and the work was completed by Kool Kustoms and Restorations in Keysborough, Victoria. There are a number of photographs on file showing the car completely stripped back to bare metal.

An invoice on file dated 30th May 1994 shows the mileage as 46,297 miles.

In 1995 Thomas moved from Victoria to Western Australia, settling in South Yunderup, approximately 100 km south of Perth. He took the Espada with him and the car was registered in Western Australia as 9BJ 798. There are receipts on file dated July 1995 confirming his continued ownership.

Shortly thereafter, the car was sold to Mr John Thain from Geraldton in Western Australia. There are two receipts on file in his name for parts ordered in September and October 1995. The only subsequent documentation on file from that period is a Western Australian registration renewal document issued on 16th December 2015. At that time the car was registered in WA as 180G.

Around 2016 the car was acquired by a well-known Melbourne based collector. He used the car sparingly and throughout his ownership it is understood that it was maintained by Melbourne based classic car specialist Intermarque. Unfortunately, there are no receipts on file from this period.

Oldtimer Australia subsequently sold the car on behalf of the Melbourne collector to the current owner in August. At that time, the odometer read 57,882 miles. The car has essentially been kept in storage since then and, at the time of photography, the odometer read 57,900 miles.

In preparation for sale, the car has been recommissioned and a number of electrical issues have been attended to by Phil Hughes of Hughes Supercar Services in Braeside, Victoria.

Today the car presents well and certainly makes a statement in its striking red paintwork. The Espada is a particularly distinctive design and its long, low bonnet, sweeping roofline and expansive glasshouse give it a presence quite unlike anything else from the period. The styling is unmistakably Bertone and viewed from almost any angle, it is easy to appreciate why the Espada remains one of Lamborghinis most recognisable grand tourers.

The paint retains a strong depth of colour and an attractive gloss. It is now more than thirty years since the cosmetic restoration was undertaken and, whilst the car continues to present well, there are a few minor imperfections consistent with its age and use. As a result, this is a car that can be used and enjoyed without the concerns that often accompany a freshly restored example.

Looking more closely at the exterior, the distinctive front end, with its low bonnet and four headlights, is a real feature of the Espadas design. The chrome and brightwork generally present well and complements the red paintwork. During our inspection we noticed that one of the headlight dress rings is missing. We did notice that the rear glass has been replaced at some stage with Perspex, which now shows some crazing.

One of the most appealing features of this particular Espada are its Miura style knock-off wheels. These were fitted to the early Series 2 cars before Lamborghini adopted the more conventional five stud wheels on later examples. They are a wonderful period feature and really suit the car. The wheels themselves present well and are shod with Yokohama tyres, size 215/15R15 front and rear. Whilst the tyres appear to be in reasonable condition, they are due for replacement based on age.

Opening the long doors reveals a spacious and surprisingly practical cabin. One of the Espadas great strengths was its ability to accommodate four adults in relative comfort, something that set it apart from its competitors. The black leather interior provides an attractive contrast to the red exterior and the cabin has a distinctly Italian feel, with its combination of leather, timber and an impressive array of instruments and switches.

The front seats are generously proportioned and look particularly inviting. They were reupholstered in 1988 and some forty years later, they still present well. The leather shows some signs of age and use, as one would expect, but remains quite presentable. Unfortunately, the seats no longer feature the original perforated finish. The rear seats also present well.

The dashboard is another highlight of the interior. The large instrument binnacle, extensive array of gauges and switches, as well as the distinctive timber trim are all characteristic of the period. The timber rimmed steering wheel is particularly attractive and complements the dashboard beautifully. The instruments are clear and appear original, with the exception of an additional VDO Minicockpit unit mounted on top of the centre console. This is a later addition and could be removed if desired. Additionally, the six small square red lights on the centre console are not original.

The door trims, carpets and other interior finishes generally present well, although there are some signs of age and use consistent with the cars history. Overall, the cabin has a lovely period feel and is a very pleasant place to spend time.

Beneath the long bonnet sits Lamborghinis magnificent 3,929cc quad cam V12 engine, one of the defining features of the Espada. The engine bay is clean and everything looks to be relatively original and correct.

In addition to being a genuine four seat car, there is ample boot space under the large rear hatch. The boot space is carpeted and its presentation is consistent with the rest of the interior. Under the boot floor is a spare wheel and tool kit.

Following its recent recommissioning, the car has been test driven and it performed well out on the open road. The big V12 engine has plenty of power the gear changes both up and down the gearbox are relatively smooth. The car drives, handles, steers and stops as one would expect, thought it would benefit from a new set of period correct tyres.

Whilst the car drove very well, it will benefit from some further fettling to be reliable classic.

The Lamborghini Espada occupies a rather special place in Lamborghinis history. It combined the performance and character of the companys legendary V12 engine with a genuinely practical four-seat configuration, clothed in a unique and striking grand touring body. It was a remarkable achievement for its time and remains a car that attracts attention wherever it goes.

This rare factory right hand drive, early Lamborghini Espada Series 2 has much to offer and it is a particularly appealing example of one of Lamborghinis most distinctive models.

Highlights:
- Desirable early Espada Series 2 featuring Miura style knock-off wheels.
- Factory right hand drive example, delivered new to South Africa.
- Matching numbers V12 engine.
- Documented Australian ownership history dating back to 1987.
- Ready to use and enjoy following its recent recommissioning.

Price AUD $234,950


Background

The Lamborghini story is fascinating in itself but for the company to have survived all these years and indeed celebrate its 60th Anniversary in 2023 is quite amazing. Ferruccio Lamborghini was an entrepreneur, a very successful businessman and a lover of the finer things in life, including sports cars. He was fortunate enough to own some wonderful cars including Ferraris however, he found fault with them all. According to the legend, following a meeting with Enzo Ferrari to discuss some of the shortcomings of his cars, Enzo dismissed Ferruccio and he subsequently decided that he could and would build a better car.

Not long after in May 1963 Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SPA was established and the small town of SantAgata Bolognese, located between Modena and Bolgna, was chosen as the location to build his factory. Born under the Zoadiac sign Taurus Lamborghini chose the raging bull as the emblem for his sports cars.

Lamborghini knew what he wanted and he put together a highly skilled team and his first car the 350 GTV was shown at the Turin Motor Show in October 1963. This car received mixed reviews, however, Lamborghini was not deterred and made a number of improvements and design changes to this original concept and the first Lamborghini production car the 350 GT left the factory in 1964.

The 350 GT evolved into the 400 GT 2+2 and later the Islero. In parallel to building these classic front engine V12 GT cars, Lamborghini wanted to build a super car, enter the Miura first shown as a rolling chassis in 1965, and also a GT car that could comfortably seat four people, enter the Espada in 1968. The mid to late sixties were good times for Lamborghini and his cars were revered the world over.

Lamborghini continued the tradition of naming his cars with association to the legendary bull and Espada is Spanish for sword.

The Lamborghini Espada was first shown to the public at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show where a spectacular metallic gold car took the world by storm. Bertone used many styling cues from the Lamborghini Marzal (including the very funky hexagonal dash layout) and Jaguar Pirana show cars, The Espada wasnt beautiful, but it was very unique and many thought striking. It was a brilliant design a sporting GT car on the outside, yet a sedan on the inside!

To quote Lamborghini:

. . . Ferruccio Lamborghini always imagined a four-seater that would suit a driver passionate about beautiful, powerful cars, but who was bound by the need for space and comfort. His company produced the first Lamborghini to meet that brief when it launched the Espada 400 GT at the Geneva Show 1968. Known simply as the Espada when it reached production, the car met the design brief to carry four passengers and their luggage in some comfort, while also providing power and performance that was now expected of a Lamborghini.

To that end, it still retained the 4.0 litre V12, tuned to deliver 325 CV. The clean lines that were designed by Carrozzeria Bertone gave the car another iconic and distinctive look and the commercial success that followed showed that the company had again met expectations. For a long time, the Espada was Lamborghinis best-selling car.

The Espada was a great success story for Lamborghini with circa 1,200 cars built from 1968 to 1978. Exact production numbers vary from source to source, however, Lamborghini state . . . Series I (1968-69) saw 186 units produced, Series II (1970-1972) an incredible 575 units while Series III (1972-1978) saw 456 units sold.