Not only did 1968 see the birth of Australia’s Monaro, it also witnessed the manifestation of Lamborghini’s amazing four-door supercar — the Espada.
The Espada was the first series production four-seater in the history of the marque as well as the first to offer an automatic transmission — a three-speed Chrysler Torqueflite unit.
The name Espada is Spanish for sword, a reference to the sword the torero uses to kill the bull at the end of a bullfight.
I, for one, was blown away by the car when I saw it for the first time on the cover of Wheels Magazine.
Back then it was a virtual spaceship on wheels and I wanted one — desperately.
Of all the marque’s historic cars, the Espada boasts one of the highest number of units produced — 1226 during its 10-year production run.
The lines were the work of Marcello Gandini for Carrozzeria Bertone.
The car sits very low to the ground, at a little less than 1200mm, but is quite spacious inside.
Espada was powered by a longitudinal, front mounted 3.9-litre V12, with dual overhead camshafts and six twin-barrel Weber carburetors, delivering outputs ranging from 242 to 260kW, depending on the series and technical specs.
Top speed was about 245km/h.
The auto, of which only a few were sold, featured unusual gearing, with three ratios: first, drive and reverse.
The car featured a monocoque steel body, with fully independent suspension — double wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and anti-roll bars.
It had four-wheel disc brakes from Girling.
Series I and II Espadas were originally fitted with Pirelli Cinturato 205VR15 tyres (CN72), while Series II cars used 215/70VR15 Cinturato CN12 tyres.
The car had twin fuel tanks that held 93 litres, with fuel caps that were hidden behind a black cosmetic grille in the C-pillar.
Espada was produced in three series: Series I (until January 1970), consisting of 176 units, Series II (until 1972), consisting of 578 units, and Series III, the last (until 1978), with 472 units.
Series II saw a Miura-spec engine fitted, bumping power from 242 to 260kW, and introducing vented disc brakes, restyled grille and a (thankfully) revised dashboard.
Power steering was introduced with the Series III in 1972 and the Fiat 124-sourced tail lights were replaced by units from the Alfa Romeo Berlina.
Espada prototype
Lamborghini Espada brochure
1972 Series III Espada
Espada instrument panel
1969 Series I
Room for the fam
Special edition 1971 Espada VIP
Exploded view
Only the first few cars featured 'jail bars' on the rear glass
1975 Espada Series III
1972 Lamborghini Espada
Love that green
1968 based hotrod
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