This site is all about the Lamborghini Espada. Here you will find pictures, videos and history about the three different series of the Lamborghini Espada. Ferruccio Lamborghini really wanted to have a four-seater car in 1968 during the Geneva Salon. So he began to put together a team to help him make this car into reality. When the Espada rolled off the assembly line, it looked like nothing anyone had ever seen before. The Lamborghini Espada was built for 10 years from 1968 to 1978 and was considered one of the most commercially successful Lamborghini's produced. However, outside circumstances contributed to the decline and finally haulted production of the Lamborghini Espada.

Automobili Lamborghini was still in its infant stages and things were going great. The Lamborghini Miura and the Lamborghini Islero were selling very well and although the Islero was a four-seater, the back seats were not comfortable. That was when Ferruccio knew it was time to build a true four seater Gran Turismo and it was shown off as the Lamborghini Espada 400 GT. Marcello Gandini was brought on as the designer for the Espada and the engineering was done by Giampaolo Dallara, who kept the classic trademark of a front-mounted V-12 engine and bringing its power through a 5-speed Lamborghini gearbox. The chassis was built by Marchesi of Modena and simply adding 3.8 inches to the wheelbase, it created more room for the four-seater. The styling of the Espada was terrific, with all eyes on its widetrack and low lines. The interior of the car came with four bucket seats that provided plenty of space for rear passengers, as long as the front seats weren't pushed all the way back. Also the dashboard gave the driver all that was needed for a complete driving experience. In 1968, at the Turin Auto Show, the Espada was presented with a new Lancomatic suspension, but only a few Espada's were order with this option. This system was tuned by the German Langen company that replaced the spring / damper units with units that were monitored by the resistance of fluid, but unfortunately, this design was unreliable. A mere 186 Lamborghini Espada Series I cars were built making this a rare find and if you wanted purchase one a Series II car was the way to go.

In early January at the 1970 Brussles Auto Show, a moderately altered Espada was debuted and called the Espada 400 GTE, but it was better known as the Series II. There were many changes in this car, mostly in the interior, such as a totally redesigned dashboard, a glovebox that is now lockable, a newly styled steering wheel, rear passengers now received extra ventilation and a tiny light was inserted into the new rear armrest. Styling wasn't changed too much but during the Series II production run, new five bolt wheels were added. The engine also received a huge overhaul, starting with installing the Muira / Islero "S" engine, that had a 10.7 compression ratio and was able too output 350 BHP and 7500 rpm. Newly ventilated disc brakes that were 32 mm wide in the front and 22 mm at the rear were installed and power assisted steering was now made available as an option. At this time Lamborghini produced 575 cars, making the Series II Espada very successful, even though it was only manufactured for two years. Any Espada that is bought today is most likely a Series II model because of the high quality it carried, most think of as the best Lamborghini Espada.

The interior of the Lamborghini Espada had yet another redisgn by Bertone and the Espada Series III was presented at the 1972 Turin Auto Show. The dashboard now went toward the driver and Bertone changed the aluminum to wood and power steering and airconditioning was now standard. The grille was changed slightly and the rear tail lights were new as well, they were now just like the Alfa Romeo 2000. Beneath the bodywork, rear triangular suspension arms were altered, spring and shock rates rejigged, disc brakes were upgraded and two alternators were installed under the hood. Lamborghini now had some options available, like a sunroof and from 1974 someone could order a Chrysler automatic transmission. Then in 1976, the black safety bumpers that were needed for the US markets were installed on Espadas in the European market. Some would even go as far as calling them the Series IV, but Lamborghini kept calling it the Series III. This car was produced for six years, making it the longest Espada manufactured, but it never sold as well as the Series II. Lamborghini produced only 456 cars and total production was 1217 units, making it only second to the Countach. Even by today's standards, the Espada is still turning heads and its design is as sharp and clean as ever. Near the end of its production, Bertone designed a luxury four-door cruiser version of the Espada, but unfortunately, Lamborghini wasn't thrilled with this new Espada and it never went into production. Lamboghini specialists agree this is a shame because it would have probaly sold well. After such a long and successful run, the Espada was ready to retire and a new model was eager to take over. A lot of Lamborghini's most wealthy customers did want the Espada to return, but it never did. Rumor has it however, that there might be designs of a new Espada 2000, we will just have to wait and see.

Lamborghini Espada Series I

V12 3939 cc's dual overhead camshafts, chain drive, two valves/cyl.

325 bhp at 6500 rpm, later production produced 340 bhp at 7000 rpm

276 lbs.ft. of torque

Top speed : 245 Km/h (158 mph)

0 - 100 Km/h : 6.5 seconds

0 - 100 Mph : 15.0 seconds

Standing Km. : 26 seconds

Standing 1/4 mi : 15 seconds at 100 Mph

Lamborghini Espada GTE Series II

V12 3939 cc's dual overhead camshafts, chain drive, two valves/cyl.

350 bhp at 7500 rpm

290 lbs.ft. of torque at 5500 rpm

Top speed : 260 Km/h (161 Mph)

0 - 100 Km/h : 6.6 seconds

Standing Km. : 26 seconds

Lamborghini Espada 400 GTE Series III

V12 3939 cc's dual overhead camshafts, chain drive, two valves/cyl.

350 bhp at 7500 rpm

290 lbs.ft. of torque at 5500 rpm

Top speed : 250 Km/h (155 Mph)

0 - 100 Km/h : 6.6 seconds

Standing Km. : 26 seconds

The Espada Series I car went up against some other large cars. The Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 and the Aston Martin DB6 were its main competition. Also the Jenson Interceptor and the Maserati Mexico were also considered competition.

The Espada Series II car was an improved version of this car. The only other cars that could have been considered its competition were the Maserati Indy and the Jenson Interceptor MKII. The Mercedes 350 SLC was another big four seater sportscar that was mass produced and really was not on the same scale as the Lamborghini Espada.

The Espada Series III was considered the supersedan of the large four seater exotics. The Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 was its main competition. Other cars such as the Jaguar XJ-S, Jenson Interceptor III, Maserati Kyalami and Mercedes 450 SLC were also important competitors to the Lamborghini Espada.