1970 Lamborghini Espada Series II

For sale by auction on Saturday 06 June 2015 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
Lamborghini wanted to include a four seat. grand tourer to the
model line-up which included the Miura and the 400GT; this came to
fruition in the Spring of 1968 when the Espada was exhibited at the
Geneva Salon. A very distinctive design by Marcello Gandini of
Bertone. it was radical in appearance yet extremely practical. The
name 'Espada' means 'sword' in Spanish. referring to the sword that
bullfighters use to kill the bulls. With 150mph performance from
the 3. 9-litre. V12 engine. five speed gearbox. chassis-mounted rear
axle and all-independent. coil spring suspension. the car was built
as a high performance supercar. 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.

This lefthand drive Series Two Espada was manufactured on
October 1st. 1970 and benefits from being one of the last Series
Two's to be built with the glorious Muira centre spinner Campagnolo
wheels. and the Series One rear lamps. It was delivered on October
15. 1970 to Lamborauto of Turin and sold to Ms. Zutinic Radmila who
owned the car until 1972.
The second owner. Roberto Jaime Gourlay. purchased the car in
Turin in 1972 and was working as a buyer for the Canadian Forces
Exchange Stores in Lahr. Germany. He had a Department of National
Defence driver's licence and was able to register the Espada with
the Canadian Forces and not with the German TUV and so the car had
DND Canadian licence plates in Germany.
When Roberto departed Lahr and set up business in Frankfurt. he
had to change the Canadian (CDN) plates for German duty free plates
and continued to enjoy the car. He then went to work in Spain where
the authorities let him drive the car on tourist plates as long as
he held a valid work and residence permit. When the permit ended
however. the Spanish authorities insisted he had to register on
Spanish plates and demanded a considerable fee. At this point. he
decided to leave Spain within the week and drove back to
Germany.

His intention was to sell the Espada but as the German economy
was not in good shape. he drove it to the UK where the car was sold
to a wealthy horse dealer and saddler. Kenneth Lyndon-Dyres. of
Maidstone. Kent. It was first registered in the UK on 10th
May. 1976 having had four owners by this time. It was then
shipped to California with the intention of selling but did not
meet the emission regulations and so was shipped back by a Don Kay
of Croydon who bought it in the USA. It was then acquired by a
Michael Percy of Piddington. High Wycombe on 23rd September
1980.
We believe it was owned by him until 1986 at which time. the
engine dropped a valve and the car was bought by Thoroughbred
Sports Cars. Whitney. Oxfordshire. The engine was removed and the
body re-painted from Azzurro Mexico (light blue) to red. It then
remained with the engine out until the vendor decided it was time
to rescue her and bought the car on 10th February. 1989.
David Eaton had wanted an Espada since first seeing the car
in magazines in the late 60's and had joined the Lamborghini club
in 1988. Being just 44 inches high (the car not the vendor). and so
long and wide. this spectacular four-seat shape had completely
hooked him. It is important to note that the decision to buy was
based on being able to see the body shell and chassis were rust
free and a desire to rebuild a Lamborghini V12. It took seven years
to take the car back to bare metal and then two-pack the
complete underneath (still in excellent condition) as well as
rebuild the suspension and. of course. that fabulous V12 engine.
The engine has the original pistons and bores but was rebuilt with
new rings. chains. shells. and gaskets at 77. 00km. The paint you
see has been on the car since 1986.

She was back on the road in 1996 and has clocked-up
approximately 18. 00 trouble free kilometres. More recently. she
has been back to the factory for the Murcielago launch in Germany
and numerous trips up and down the UK. It has also been to the 50th
anniversary timeline in London and the Silverstone Classics 2013
and 2014. But after 26 years of ownership. a difficult decision was
made to sell her; as another classic racing car project beckons.
Presented with a full year's MoT test certificate and a new set of
Pirelli tyres. it is with a heavy heart that one man's passion is
now available.



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