190 | THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL SALE
'Carrozzeria Bertone unveiled one of its motor show sensations at the
19 7 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.
Ferruccio Lamborghinis first production car, the Touring-styled 350GT,
had debuted at the 19 4 Geneva Motor Show. The work of two of
0talys most illustrious automobile designers, the 350GT featured a
glorious 3.5-litre, four-cam V12 designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, housed
in a chassis penned by Gianpaolo Dallara. The 350GTs four camshafts
and all-independent suspension meant that it upstaged the best that
Ferrari offered at the time" but to compete with his Maranello rivals larger
models, Lamborghini needed a nominal four-seater and the 4.0-litre
400GT 2+2 duly appeared in 19 . Despite its novice status as an
automobile manufacturer, Lamborghini had quickly dispelled any lingering
doubts about its ability to compete with the worlds best Gran Turismos.
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-litre, four-cam V12 up front. The latter - first seen in the
400GT and used also by the contemporary 0slero - produced 325bhp,
an output sufficient to propel the distinctive, Bertone-styled coupt 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, up-rated brakes, minor suspension improvements and a
restyled front grille. Espada production ceased in 1978 after 1,217 of
these imposing cars had been built.This rare, right-hand drive Espada was sold new to a company called
Gilbey Textiles, passing to a new owner in 1975. 0n 19 7, the then
owner, John Roberts, commissioned marque specialists John Hartland
Motorsport to carry out a rebuild.165
1974 LAMBORGHINI ESPADA SERIES III COUPÉ
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Bertone
Registration no. HYM 297N
Chassis no. 9414
- Rare right-hand drive model
- Landmark 4-seat supercar
- Present ownership since 1997
- Extensively restored and upgraded