Red Espada in Kuwait - 5-5-08

All,

First time for me to post here in Lambo Chat.

The wife and I went out to dinner this evening, and look what I found all by itself in a parking lot here in Kuwait, next to one of the marinas...

Can anyone tell me anything about this car? Year of production? Level of unusualness (is that even a word?), is it rare? is it common?

Just curious... I left a note on the windshield and asked the guy to call me...who knows if he will...

Sorry for the not-so-good pictures... it was dark, and my digital is only so good...

Mr. Sackey, are you there???

Mike in Kuwait
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it is an espada 1968-1978
4 liter V12 engine
6 weber carbs
4 seats

not RARE in old lamborghini world: over 1000 built in 3 different series (this one looks an S2 1970-72 )

usable: yes as long as it is well cared for

p.s. interesting wheel hubs, i want them !

 

That's your basic Espada, named after the sword that the Matador uses to kill the bull. Pretty cool station wagon and probably the most affordable 12 cylinder Lamborghini. The early cars (Series 1 & 2) share the same wheels as the Miura.

 

Thanks guys, this is a real learning experience for me...as I don't know anything about Lamborghinis...

So, for this 'plain Jane' Espada, in clearly less than ideal condition, what would it normally sell for?

Mike in Kuwait

 

Hi Mike,

This is a 1968 or 1969 S1 Espada, 1 of 186 made (recognizable with it's dashboard layout), 1 of 1817 total. The steering wheel, mirror, two-tone interior, front indicator and front side lights are not original. The octogonal hubs could indicate it was maybe a German-spec car... The Espada script is VERY unusual. The Lamborghini script at the rear is missing. It' not a Miura, but not a station-wagon either... An exotic, beautifull, fast, comfortable, usable car to have and drive if well-maintained.

Philippe
Espada early S2 7987
www.lamborghinimiura.com

 

cool pics!

 

Thanks for sharing the pics Mike..........However I am curious, do you have soap and water over there???

 

Philippe,

Thanks for the info...is the Serial Number visible from the outside? If so, I can get it if it's still parked there.

Mike in Kuwait

 

Steve,

This IS the desert...!

But, yes, we do have soap and water....however, this was taken just after a sand storm... tis the season and all that...

I would say, however, having seen the car close up... it doesn't look like it's been very well taken care of.

Mike in Kuwait

 

No... You'll have to wait for the owner to open the hood. I'll be curious to know the chassis no....

Cheers

Philippe
www.lamborghinimiura.com

 

Jay Leno owns one and did a special on it. Its only a few minutes long if you have the time and he has some interesting stuff to say.

The link is http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=193318

Its pretty cool makes the car seem as though it has a lot of character.

 

All,

I stopped by the lot with the Espada in it today, and, lo and behold, someone had washed it...!

Pics below...

Mike in Kuwait
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........thus revealing the interior in all its glory!!!!

Usually the understated opulance of the espada is one of its strongest suits - try looking around the owners club sites & also top end advertising sites such as mobile.de/classicdriver.com/Anamera.com. for espada that have not had owners with questionable taste in matters of interior design.

These cars come up reletively often (for lamborghini anyway) and usually can be obtained for the price of a far less interesting modern eurobox & in unmolested form the cabin of one of these 12 cylinder continent cruising beasts is a very very nice place to be indeed.

I think I prefered your local espada with dirty windows.

Obviously for a car that can be obtained in top fettle for less than £30,000 (ofter far far less) you need to be aware that an engine rebuild could indeed should cost somewhere near £20,000 by someone who knows what they are doing & you must never let anyone near the engine who does not know what they are looking at.

If you buy an espada that hasnt been messed around with & has been cared for & has reciepts to show it's been cared for you will buy the best car of your life - a car that will stop traffic - make pedestrians walk into lamp posts - make dogs bark at you when you pass but you must get a specilist to pre purchase inspect before you buy.

Ignore the above & you will be lead slowly into ruination & madness.

Go on - get one & give a whole new generation of schoolboys a chance to see their first propper lamborghini pass by - it will live with them forever & one day they will be writing this sort of bollocks on obscure websites of the future.

salut.

Bax.

 

Looks like this one made a stop at "Pimp My Ride".

They are nice cars.

 

agree.

 

Excellent advice...! And advice I shall heed, although I wasn't really looking at it from a purchasing standpoint.

Just wondering, are you related to 512 Tea Are?

Mike in Kuwait

 

LOL!

He does have some of that "flavor" in his prose.

I'm still wondering if Graham is gone for good. I did not see a clear violation that would justify a perma-boot.

 

Nice find I saw a yellow/orange Espada going into Jabriya from the Fahaheel Expressway (the Hadi Hospital Entrance) about 6 months ago, I was zooming by going home from work and I saw it in motion, looked amazing

There are alot of Vintage cars here but not in running condition and hidden away in private basement garages. Sad but thats the way it is.

S

 

Salman,

Any idea who owns this one? It's parked by Jeans Grill next to the Yacht Club Marina...

Mike in Kuwait

 

++++++1!

Belongs in the Husein Ho House.

 

Seeing the front quater windows that operate this is a very, very early car.

 

Yes, exactly, but alas without the plastic vertical slats at the rear window

Mike, please try to find it's chassis no if possible...

Philippe
www.lamborghinimiura.com

 

I spoke to a guy a couple of weeks ago who has a beautiful black one with the vent windows and the slats. I was under the impression that the slats were metal? In any case, he said they were a pain to remove for cleaning of the rear window. Probably why they stopped installing them. I'm surprised that this one doesn't have the nice knock-off spinners.

Bob S.

 

You're right Bob, not plastic. Are you're going to Pocono with your car?

Philippe
www.lamborghinimiura.com

 

I want and hope to but this IS a very busy car year for me. I'm just getting my track car back into operation after a 2 year hiatus due an unfortunate track incident.
It's been a lot of work. It's also the focus of my car related attention right now.

If I can be there I will have my track car and hopefully the Espada. Would have to convince my wife to drive it ...

For the Espada I need to put the fresh intake manifolds/carbs etc back on and install all the new ignition stuff plus the converted distributor.
I've finished the new CV joints and steering linkage. I had to rebuild the entire fuel delivery system as well. The AC is getting a new compressor. Mine will be no concours entrant though. I have a couple of bad spots for paint repair and the interior though nicely worn could use some sprucing up. It's a nice looking driver which will be completely sound mechanically after this. The carbs and igniton had been very badly neglected. Fortunately the more difficult and expensive items have been recently gone over at Bobileff Motorcars. So compression, valves, cams, gaskets, seals are all up to snuff.

Are you planning on attending?

Bob S.