Espadas are possibly cooler than anybody ever anticipated, Check out this green car, if there was ever an ultimate 4door,this is it. Absolutely fantastic, my 11 year old daughter fits perfectly in the back seat. The hunt is on , i need one real bad, next to my Countach.
Hi All, It's 9 PM and just got it into place so it won't fall out! We will finish tomorrow. Bob Huber Image Unavailable, Please Login
I totally agree! It is a fantastic car. The problem is to find a good one. A lot of them were thrashed or had a lack of maintenance. But find a good one and it will be awesome. This car really has a split personality. On the one hand you can cruise safely with a great level of refinement and practicallity with 4 adults and a lot of luggages. We often take it with my wife and the two kids to go on weekends or even on vacation. It has power sttering, air conditionning, etc... Think of another exotic in which you can do that! On the other hand put it on a country road and it handles like a much smaller car with a very sporty feeling with an engine that is ever willing to rev and a roadholding to match. Mine is a series 3 which is the the one I way prefer. A lot of people don't, due to the newer front grille, the lack of Miura wheels and the newer of the 3 different dashboards. But that is really what appeals to me and which gives a more 1970s feeling. On top of that most of them have the power steering, which is mandatory I would say. I had an Islero for a number of years without PAS and there was no problem at all, but the Espada is a whole different story. It transforms the usability of the car if you intend to use it. It will be a fantastic addition to your Countach. You won't regret it! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hello all ! I was aware of the 1967 Jaguar Pirana concept - from Bertone - wearing many of the future Espada lines and details (presented mach 1968?), but I've just found now on the web this one-off from Ghia : 1969 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF Competition . Smaller car but some of the Espada lines... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for your informing words, my friend had one in Norway back early 80s, think it was a 72, drove it a few times,remember very well the planted yet comfy suspennsion feeling, also roomy and airy cockpit, nice shifting manual trans,and so on, lots of the 70 s cars dont appear/stand out the way they used to,they somhow shrunk and lost their flash,(daytona, bb ,pretty but not intimidating the way you remember) not so the Espada its even cooler now, low wide,like no other 4seater, lucky you for having one.
Hi All, The diff is in and the Engine/Trans are ready for next week install. Bob Huber Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Back in 2012 my Series I Espada was shown at the Concorso Italiano next to the Pirana. The two cars were on the stage together while Mrs. Bertone and the head of Bertone styling discussed the two designs. That morning, before the fog burned off, I did a short video comparing the two cars and showing the similarities between them. Please forgive the rather poor cellphone shots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS5Lgi0Zvu4
Ruh oh I smell another "Who really designed the X" coming on! That side profile is very similar in some ways. I like it but the details are very different. Not big on that Ghia does a Superbird wing thing.
Hi, It is a Chromex ceramic outside and ceramic inside. A company in Huntington Beach ( Specialized Coating) still can do it in California!!! Bob Huber Image Unavailable, Please Login
So the original headers were in good enough shape then? Is chrome the only ceramic color they do? Hey did they do the wrinkle finish stuff as well?
They did the wrinkle powder coating as well. It has a slippery (Teflon) feel to it, which should help when cleaning it. The headers were steel (not stainless) and you can see the underlying rust pitting in the picture. They were structurally sound though and no leaks. The exhaust after the headers is aftermarket stainless with 4 bellows up front for stress relief, so the relatively thin OEM header flanges should not have a problem sealing. Additionally, the transmission mount has gotten our rejuvenation treatment to prevent the age induced transmission (shifter) dance. Laust
What ... no more Espada boogaloo with the shift stick? I did my track car's valve covers with the powder coated red wrinkle. The only drawback I can see is if you really need a thick coat of larger wrinkles to hide terrible cosmetic casting irregularities like on my Bora engine then I don't know if they can make that adjustment? Lookin' good guys. I wonder if they could do my original exhaust after the headers as well? My rear mufflers just needed new wrinkle and a set of new tips welded on so they are fine.
Hi Bob, Nice job modifying the exhaust, good idea with the flex couplings. Since the O2 sensor you'd place on the bung only reads the exhaust stream from 3 cylinders, what do you do with that information, relative to tuning the other 4 carbs/9 cylinders?
Perhaps they're thinking of an eventual FI conversion. Laust's car has been converted to FI. I think Bob's is just the digital ignition at this point? If these cars ever get as crazy in value as the 350/400/Islero in value it may all have to come back off. But for now these cars are for driving!!!!!
Hi, Yes...let's drive them!!! We will have 3 Espadas (1, 2, and 3 series) at the Hillco Car Show in Garden Grove on Feb. 2nd (last year 600 wheeled vehicles). They are giving us the Prime Spot at the show! OK...Two sensors and gauges will allow real-time side by side viewing under different driving conditions to fine tune the carb jetting. (Two carbs on one side of the engine will have different settings. We will also test the progression hole spacing patterns. Bob Huber
Hi All, It's a nice day to install the motor/trans in Mike's S1. Bob Huber Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi All, The engine is in went well no problems. Bob Huber Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
