Lamborghini Espada

Lamborghini
Lamborghini Espada
Espada
Production period:	1968-1988
Class :	Sports car
Body versions :	Combi coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.9 liters (239-257 kW)
Length:	4670 mm
Width:	1820 mm
Height:	1190 mm
Wheelbase :	2650 mm
Empty weight :	1480 kg

The Lamborghini Espada is a four-seater coupe . It was built by Lamborghini in Italy from 1968 to 1978 . In the Espada, Lamborghini combined its twelve-cylinder engine with an elongated hatchback body, which is considered a milestone in automotive design. The model name Espada is Spanish ('sword') and refers to the sword that the matador uses in bullfighting .

Model history

The Espada, known internally as Tipo 108 , was the fourth model of the brand founded in 1963 after the 350 GT / 400 GT , the Islero and the Miura . As the first full four-seater Gran Turismo , it was the result of Ferruccio Lamborghini's efforts to offer a wide range of models. The Espada was created in three series. Lamborghini produced a total of 1217 copies of the coupé.

Production of the Espada ceased in 1978 when Lamborghini was in economic trouble. At that time, Lamborghini had high debts to suppliers, including Bertone , where the body was manufactured. Lamborghini then concentrated on the Countach , which - unlike the Espada - was almost entirely manufactured in-house and made a profit.

details

body

A special feature of the Espada rear: vertical second rear window

The body of the Espada was designed by Bertone. The executive designer was Marcello Gandini . The shape was developed from two designs that Bertone presented to the public in 1967. In many representations, Bertone's concept vehicle Lamborghini Marzal is named as the immediate predecessor of the Espada. In fact, the only thing the Espada has in common with this mid-engine coupé with large-scale glazed gullwing doors is the side profile. There is greater similarity to the Bertone Pirana , a front-engined coupé that was based on the Jaguar E-Type . So the body of the first Espada prototype was on the wooden form of Pirana driven .

Despite its height of only 118 cm, the Espada is a full-fledged four-seater. The rear window runs flat to the rear and also serves as a trunk lid. At its end there is a vertical second rear window to increase the rear view. A similar design feature later appeared in the Maserati Khamsin - also designed by Gandini - but also in the Honda CRX , the Citroën XM , smart roadster coupé , Mercedes-Benz CL 203 (C-Class Coupé, first generation), Toyota Prius (from the 2nd generation) and Citroën C4 Coupé.

The body was made of sheet steel, only the hood was made of aluminum.

technology

The Lamborghini Espada was launched in the same year as the Lamborghini Islero , and the technology of both models is largely the same.

The Espada was originally with a 239 kW (325 PS strong) twelve-cylinder - V engine equipped with 4-liter displacement. It had independent suspensions on all wheels and 4 disc brakes . Most Espada had a manual transmission . But it was also offered with one of the first automatic transmissions that was able to handle the torque of a large V12 engine. It had an unusual gear design with three stages: drive, 1 and reverse.

Production process

The production of the Espada was largely outsourced. The chassis and the frame construction were made by Carrozzeria Marchesi in Milan , the body was made by Bertone in Turin. It was only after Bertone had placed the body on the frame and installed the interior fittings that the vehicles were transported to Sant'Agata Bolognese , where Lamborghini mechanics installed the engine, transmission and suspension.

Modifications

The Espada was presented at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show.

During its ten years of production, the Espada went through a few changes. Three different models were produced in total. These were the S1 (1968–1970), the S2 (1970–1972) and the S3 (1972–1978). Each generation of the model got an improved engine . Only a few details have been changed in the external shape. The interior changed dramatically with every model change. A completely new dashboard and steering wheel was built into the S2. The interior was changed again for the S3. In 1970 power steering was offered as an option. The automatic transmission was offered from 1974. In 1975, shock absorbing bumpers were introduced to meet US safety regulations.

Modifications

"Four-door hatchback coupé" based on Espada: Lamborghini Faena

In the early 1970s, Bertone drew a four-door version of the Espada; however, there was no series production. In 1978 Pietro Frua designed the four-door Lamborghini Faena based on an extended Espada chassis , one of which was produced. Frua and Lamborghini exhibited the Faena publicly in 1978 and 1980. However, serial production did not materialize here either. The Faena still exists.

Technical specifications

Espada
engine	V12 engine with 60 ° bank angle, installed in the front, block and cylinder head made of light metal, wet cylinder liners
Displacement	3929 cc
Bore × stroke	82 × 62 mm
Valve control	Bucket tappets, 2 overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, chain drive
compression	9.5: 1
Carburetor	6 Weber twin carburettors
power	239 kW (325 PS) at 6500 rpm (from 1970: 257 kW (350 PS) at 7500 rpm)
Torque	374 Nm at 4500 rpm (from 1970: 392 Nm at 5500 rpm)
Power transmission	Rear-wheel drive, fully synchronized Lamborghini five-speed gearbox, Lamborghini differential, axle drive 4.5: 1
landing gear
Front back	Double wishbones and coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
steering	ZF roller steering , from 1970 with servo assistance on request (from 1973 series), 4.3 turns from lock to lock
Brakes	Dual circuit brake system with brake booster
Front	Girling discs, 300 mm in diameter
Back	Girling discs, 280 mm in diameter
Rims / tires	7J × 15 inch light alloy wheels, central locking with wing nut; Pirelli Cinturato CN 72 205 VR 15
body	Four-seater, two-door coupe in sheet steel by Bertone
Dimensions
length	4670 mm
wheelbase	2650 mm
Gauge	1490 mm
width	1820 mm
height	1190 mm
Empty weight	1480 kg
Performance
Vmax	245 km / h
0-100 km / h	6.5 s
number of pieces	1217 copies

gallery

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  1972 Lamborghini Espada S2

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  Front view

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  Rear view

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  V12 engine with a distributor and air conditioning compressor

literature

• Hans-Karl Lange: Lamborghini. Verlagsunion Erich Pabel - Arthur Moewig KG, Rastatt 1991, ISBN 3-8118-3063-5
• Anthony Pritchard: Lamborghini . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2006. ISBN 3-89880-574-3

Web links

Commons : Lamborghini Espada  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Motorbase, Lamborghini Espada (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Hans-Karl Lange: Lamborghini. Verlagsunion Erich Pabel - Arthur Moewig KG, Rastatt 1991, ISBN 3-8118-3063-5 , p. 28.
2. ^ Anthony Pritchard: Lamborghini. The history of the supercars from Sant'Agata. Heel Verlags GmbH, Königswinter 2006, ISBN 3-89880-574-3 , p. 60.
3. ^ ^{A b} Matthias Braun, Alexander Franc Storz: Typenkompass Lamborghini: Sports car after 1964 . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 978-3-613-02645-2 , p. 38.
4. ↑ > Matthias Braun, Alexander Franc Storz: Type compass Lamborghini: Sports car after 1964 . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 978-3-613-02645-2 , p. 38.
5. ↑ Illustration of Bertone Pirana ( Memento of the original from October 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . 
6. ^ Anthony Pritchard: Lamborghini. The history of the supercars from Sant'Agata. Heel Verlags GmbH, Königswinter 2006, ISBN 3-89880-574-3 , p. 61.
7. ↑ ^{a b} Anthony Pritchard: Lamborghini. The history of the supercars from Sant'Agata. Heel Verlags GmbH, Königswinter 2006, ISBN 3-89880-574-3 , p. 64.
8. ↑ Hans-Karl Lange: Lamborghini. Verlagsunion Erich Pabel - Arthur Moewig KG, Rastatt 1991, ISBN 3-8118-3063-5 , p. 29.
9. ^ ^{A b} Hans-Karl Lange: Lamborghini. Verlagsunion Erich Pabel - Arthur Moewig KG, Rastatt 1991, ISBN 3-8118-3063-5 , p. 30.
10. ^ Anthony Pritchard: Lamborghini. The history of the supercars from Sant'Agata. Heel Verlags GmbH, Königswinter 2006, ISBN 3-89880-574-3 , p. 68.
11. ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original dated November 11, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
12. ↑ espadatechsite.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6:lamborghini-espadas-3&catid=2:specifications-lambo&Itemid=6