Lamborghini Espada: The Italian Rolls-Royce

In the late 60s, Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted a car that he could drive with his friends. He didn’t want a cramped 2+2 (like the Ferrari 250 GTE). He wanted a proper 4-seater. The Espada (named after the sword used by a bullfighter) was the result.

Design: Gandini’s Space Ship

Designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the Espada looks weird and wonderful.

• Glass: It has a massive glass rear hatch (some models even had a glass panel in the tail).
• Length: It is long and low.
• Interior: Four individual bucket seats. The dashboard looks like a spaceship control panel.

The Engine

It uses the same 3.9-liter V12 as the Miura, but mounted in the front.

• Power: 325 hp.
• Speed: It could hit 150 mph with four adults and luggage. It was the fastest 4-seater in the world for a decade.

Success

The Espada was actually Lamborghini’s best-selling car for years (until the Countach/Diablo era). It sold over 1,200 units over 10 years. It defines the “GT” side of Lamborghini—luxurious, fast, and slightly insane.