- Lamborghini Espada
Infobox Automobile
name = Lamborghini Espada
manufacturer =Lamborghini
production = 1968-1978
class =Grand tourer
body_style = 2-doorcoupé
assembly =Sant'Agata Bolognese ,Italy
layout =FR layout
engine = 3929 cc 60°V12
Auto bhp|325|0
"(1968 - 1970)"
3929 cc 60°V12
Auto bhp|350|0
"(1970 - 1978)"
length = Auto mm|4730|1
width = Auto mm|1860|1
height = Auto mm|1185|1
wheelbase = Auto mm|2650|1
weight = Auto kg|1465|0The Lamborghini Espada is a
grand tourer which was built by Italian car manufacturerLamborghini between 1968 and 1978.Based on the Marzal show car, displayed at the 1967
Geneva Auto Show , and theBertone Pirana , a radically rebodiedJaguar E-type . It was to fill the spot of a true four seat car in Lamborghini's lineup, which already included the 400GT and Miura. 1217 cars were made, making it the most successful Lamborghini model at the time.The car was designed by
Marcello Gandini ofBertone . The name "Espada" means "sword" in Spanish, referring to the sword that bullfighters use to kill the bulls.The Espada was originally fitted with a 4L Auto bhp|325|0 V12 engine, fully
independent suspension and four wheeldisc brake s. Most transmissions were manual, and the Espada also introduced one of the firstautomatic transmission s able to absorb the torque of a large sportingV12 . It had unusual gearing, with 3 ratios: drive, 1 and reverse.During its 10 year production the car underwent some changes, and three different series were produced. These were the S1 (1968-1970), the S2 (1970-1972) and the S3 (1972-1978). Each model featured engine power improvements, but only minor details were changed with the exterior design. The interior was altered dramatically between each model. An all new dashboard and steering wheel was installed for the S2, and the interior was again revamped for the S3. In 1970,
power assisted steering was offered as an option, and in 1974 an automatic transmission was also offered. In 1975 impact bumpers had to be installed to meetUnited States safety requirements, and some people consider cars produced with them to be the S4, but Lamborghini did not officially change the designation. Near the end of the Espada's life, Bertone designed a four door prototype, which was never put into production.In 1999, a new version of the Espada was rumored to be in the works, but it was right at the time Lamborghini wanted to concentrate on a Diablo successor, so little became of the idea aside from a few drawings. [ [http://www.lambocars.com/archive/others/l149.htm The Lamborghini Nuova Espada 2000 : Project L149] ]
References
External links
* [http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/Espada/ Lamborghini Registry - Espada]
* [http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/5849/espada.html Lamborghini Fan Page - Espada]
* [http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/597/ Motorbase, Lamborghini Espada]
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