One of the two vehicles shown on the stand in Essen is a Series III Espada from 1976. During the ten years in which the Lamborghini Espada was in production, 1968-1978, nearly 1.300 examples were produced in three series (S1: 1968 – 1970, S2: 1970 – 1972, S3: 1972 – 1978), making it the second-best selling model among Lamborghini classic cars.
The Espada displayed, with blue exterior and a mustard interior, is undergoing a full restoration at Lamborghini Polo Storico. Owned by Automobili Lamborghini, once finished in May 2018 it is destined for the factory’s classic fleet and for display in the Lamborghini Museum. During the ten-month project the chassis, body, electrical system and mechanics of the Espada have been fully overhauled, returning it to its original lines according to the original production sheet preserved in the Polo Storico archive, and using exclusively Lamborghini Original Spare Parts.
The Lamborghini Islero, launched in 1968 with just over 220 units built until 1970, was the model that succeeded the Lamborghini 400 GT and equipped with the same 4.0 l V12 engine with 320 hp. On display in Essen is an Islero S in Pallid Green with a Tobacco interior: one of a rare number of S models with 350 hp, only 70 were produced. This version was introduced in 1969, with developments to the bodywork and interior making the car even more luxurious. Continuing its ongoing commitment to developing the Lamborghini Original Spare Parts inventory for classic cars, Automobili Lamborghini is gradually reproducing original manuals for historic models. In Essen Lamborghini presents reprints of two rare Espada owner manuals (10/70 and 3/73) as well as of the Islero S owner manual in the 50th anniversary year of these models. The new editions have been reprinted replicating the original design, printing and binding processes to ensure authentic reproduction.
Lamborghini Polo Storico
Lamborghini Polo Storico is the specialist department located within Lamborghini’s headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, committed to the restoration and certification of classic Lamborghini cars out of production for at least ten years (from Lamborghini 350 GT to Diablo); the preservation of archives and records; and the provision of original Lamborghini spare parts for classic cars. Automobili Lamborghini is committed to the manufacture of original spare parts in support of classic models, holding parts that cover over 65% of the classic car parc, and increasing the number of reintroduced parts year-on-year for cars from the 350GT up to Diablo. A further 200 part numbers were added to its catalogues in 2017 alone.