Lamborghini Espada

Didn't Top Gear UK do an episode a few years ago about "affordable exotic cars"? I know they're TG and utter morons and all but the thought of all the ticking time bombs in a delicate elderly Italian car give me enough of the willies that I'd stay clear until I can hire my own personal mechanic.

Same drive line as I have in my Islero. The Espada is a love it or hate it car as far as styling goes (I kind of like them) and is the least expensive Lambo - but if you find one for $50K take a VERY c lose look at why it is that cheap as body restoration can quickly put you in for far more than the car will ever be worth.

They are very low and very wide. Just under 48" high (Fiero height) and very wide at 73" (4" wider than the Fiero)

Fun reads: http://www.caranddriver.com/columns/the-lamborghini-guy http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/features/octane_features/243373/driven_lamborghini_espada.html

mazdeuce wrote: My favorite friend and enabler and I were talking theoretical cars today and got on the subject of V12's since neither of us has ever driven something with a V12 much less owned one. One thing led to another and I learned about the Lamborghini Espada. V12, seats four in comfort, memorable styling. I think I'm in love. Every time I think I know cars, something amazing like this pops up on my radar. I love this hobby.

I've driven one. At high speed. On the open road.

My father was friends with a wealthy guy named Carl Cantera, who started out buying a Maserati Indy in the mid '70s, then got into Ferraris in a big way in the early '80s. Dad was an old friend, good mechanic, and excellent machinist, so he did a lot of work for Carl, back when parts and specialist mechanics were hard to find. Word got around, and Carl's friend, a dentist (with a dentist's mechanical aptitude) had this Espada, which he claimed "wasn't running right and had no power."

So we went up one evening to check it out. It did, in fact, run poorly, and after tinking with it for a while, we decided to take it back to our place. As we were headed out of town, dad said "Let's see what he means by no power," so I put my foot into it. It bucked and snorted and spat, but eventually, it quit breaking up and started to howl. The good old Italian tune-up strikes again. It would shove you back into your seat and it sounded ferocious.

This was on MD 213, a beautiful rural 2-lane with wide paved shoulders, and probably 1:30am. I drove the crap out of that thing for 20 minutes, well north of 100 and touching 140 at one point. I remember not being familiar with European switchgear, so I had all the lights, fogs, and highbeams on, and not sure how to dim them without turning them off. Almost the only other car we saw was after coming around a turn blazing light and rapidly getting bigger in his rearview. When we were still probably 200 yards behind him, he just moved off the road and let us blow past.

The Espada drove like a tow truck around town, with heavy controls and a balky shifter. But once you got it up over 80, it really started to make sense. It just wouldn't tolerate being driven like a dentist.

They also had a groovy window built into the hatch--- later cribbed by the second gen CRX. These photos were taken at Concorso Italiano in Monterey--- a must see event for those of you who love the latin beauties.

Duke wrote:

mazdeuce wrote: My favorite friend and enabler and I were talking theoretical cars today and got on the subject of V12's since neither of us has ever driven something with a V12 much less owned one. One thing led to another and I learned about the Lamborghini Espada. V12, seats four in comfort, memorable styling. I think I'm in love. Every time I think I know cars, something amazing like this pops up on my radar. I love this hobby.

I've driven one. At high speed. On the open road. My father was friends with a wealthy guy named Carl Cantera, who started out buying a Maserati Indy in the mid '70s, then got into Ferraris in a big way in the early '80s. Dad was an old friend, good mechanic, and excellent machinist, so he did a lot of work for Carl, back when parts and specialist mechanics were hard to find. Word got around, and Carl's friend, a dentist (with a dentist's mechanical aptitude) had this Espada, which he claimed "wasn't running right and had no power." So we went up one evening to check it out. It did, in fact, run poorly, and after tinking with it for a while, we decided to take it back to our place. As we were headed out of town, dad said "Let's see what he means by no power," so I put my foot into it. It bucked and snorted and spat, but eventually, it quit breaking up and started to howl. The good old Italian tune-up strikes again. It would shove you back into your seat and it sounded ferocious. This was on MD 213, a beautiful rural 2-lane with wide paved shoulders, and probably 1:30am. I drove the crap out of that thing for 20 minutes, well north of 100 and touching 140 at one point. I remember not being familiar with European switchgear, so I had all the lights, fogs, and highbeams on, and not sure how to dim them without turning them off. Almost the only other car we saw was after coming around a turn blazing light and rapidly getting bigger in his rearview. When we were still probably 200 yards behind him, he just moved off the road and let us blow past. The Espada drove like a tow truck around town, with heavy controls and a balky shifter. But once you got it up over 80, it really started to make sense. It just wouldn't tolerate being driven like a dentist.

Great story. I don't mind the way they look and after DD an Alfa how bad could it be?

A few months ago, I met a guy who owns four Lamborghinis. He makes more money than I do. Anyway, he mentioned that his Countach needed a new clutch at 5000 miles.

93EXCivic wrote: If it doesn't have to be a V12, what about a Bentley Turbo R to make your wallet busting parts dream come true?

Not really, once the RR lump gives too much trouble, LSx and 4L80e is a straightforward swap.

Woody wrote: A few months ago, I met a guy who owns four Lamborghinis. He makes more money than I do. Anyway, he mentioned that his Countach needed a new clutch at 5000 miles.

If I owned a Countach I'd be quite pleased if I could nurse 5k out of the clutch. Lord knows every stoplight would be a full-throttle launch followed by the ear-to-ear grin from the glorious noise behind your head.

What's the rule of thumb for Italian cars? It's one fire extinguisher per carburetor, right?

Woody wrote: A few months ago, I met a guy who owns four Lamborghinis. He makes more money than I do. Anyway, he mentioned that his Countach needed a new clutch at 5000 miles.

Can't be so. Jay Leno says the Countach is "bulletproof."

I love you guys. I bring up an obscure car like the Espada and several people have real life experience with them.
What a country!

Kenny_McCormic wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: If it doesn't have to be a V12, what about a Bentley Turbo R to make your wallet busting parts dream come true?

Not really, once the RR lump gives too much trouble, LSx and 4L80e is a straightforward swap.

In reply to Junkyard_Dog:

Its downright easy if you use a TH400. They used the a special one with the Rolls Royce/Bentley bell pattern from the factory.

EDIT:Scratch that, starting in 1992, they DID use the 4L80E... Meaning a 3/4 ton truck/van 6.0/4L80e should be a pretty much a drop it in, locate it via the trans mount, square it up, make the engine mount brackets, and go affair.

KyAllroad wrote: Didn't Top Gear UK do an episode a few years ago about "affordable exotic cars"? I know they're TG and utter morons and all but the thought of all the ticking time bombs in a delicate elderly Italian car give me enough of the willies that I'd stay clear until I can hire my own personal mechanic.

That episode ended with NONE of the three cars finishing the challenge

Espada

Hope this ads fuel to the fire, nice little video. I've always been a fan, I'll see if I can find the pick of me as a 12 year old kid standing beside a beautiful chocolate brown Espada.

They made a few Espadas with Torqueflite autos.

I read an hilarious account by Valentino Balboni, the factory test driver, of him having an automatic Espada lock the drive line at considerable speed on the highway, leaving rubber marks that had the local Caribineri scratching their heads wondering what had taken place.

Buy a Lotus Elcat. Looks close enough, no one but the most nerdy euro motorheads will know the difference. It has the benefits of being cheaper, so you can afford the guaranteed repair bills and being lighter, it will save your back when pushing to the side of the road after the inevitable breakdowns.

Wow, an early-'70s British car? Nothing like getting English-style (and English-frequency) sex but still having to pay the same as a hot Italian wife would cost.

The Eclat - while I do like it - looks like a cheap kit car copy of the Espada put together in a shed. Which is basically how it was built, so at least it's honest.

I absolutely love old British cars but even I wouldn't consider an Eclat...

This coming from a man who has thought about a V12 Jag more then once...