Any mention of Lamborghini and the 1980’s usually evokes memories of James “Sonny” Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs chasing bad guys in a Countach with Phil Collins’ In The Air Tonight playing in the background. But since not everyone could experience that level of Miami Vice-style excess, Lamborghini also produced the slightly milder and less expensive Jalpa model from 1981 to 1988. This surviving 1986 Jalpa can be found in Columbus, Ohio and is for sale here on eBay with no reserve and a current bid of $20,100.
Designed to be an entry-level exotic, the Jalpa was powered by a 3.5-liter V-8 that (in U.S. specs) made 250 horsepower, significantly less than the wild V-12 of its big brother Countach. The smaller engine did make the Jalpa more practical and tractable in day-to-day traffic, or at least that was the expectation. Only 411 were built, which still made it the best-selling V-8 Lambo ever. The Bertone styling is decidedly 1980s. When new, these cost in the neighborhood of $60,000, and the running joke is that’s about the same as their annual maintenance cost. Perhaps that is why this one is a non-drivable project now.
Here’s a look at the main reason this car is a non-runner. The seller states “Car does run, but smokes and runs hot. The radiator is clogged.” If the heads are warped or otherwise damaged, it’s time to start hoping that one of the other 410 examples is being parted out (to be fair, many parts are still available new, albeit at astronomical prices). Being a mid-engine design, an engine swap (heresy!) would likewise be quite a challenge – although not altogether a terrible idea as even a modern minivan V-6 makes significantly more power than this exotic relic.
The cabin hasn’t aged terribly well either. The seller continues: “Car had been sitting outside for a few years and leather has shrunk badly … Car is rough”. The boxy instrument panel is interesting in a Blade Runner-sorta way. And the sun visor-mounted mirrors were removable, a feature which the aforementioned Miami Vice crowd may have appreciated.
On the outside, the body appears quite straight, although some rust and bubbling are present. Underneath, the metal appears quite solid. The odometer reads the equivalent of 16,046 miles, although the seller notes this is probably not accurate. But with a current bid of just over $20,000, this represents one of the lower prices of admission into the world of the Raging Bull. With restored examples going for well north of $100,000 potential buyers have some headroom before crossing the breakeven precipice. Not a project for the faint of heart (or faint of wallet), would you consider locking horns with this beast?
James Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs chasing bad guys in a “Countach ” ……….. a WHAT, when is the last time you watched the show dipstick.
Ferrari Daytona replica then a white Testarossa
Phil Collins drove a new white Lamborghini Jalpa in one episode.
Someone needs a nap.
Lt. Castillo (Edward James Olmos) drove a black Jalpa while undercover in one episode.
Relax.. you’ll live longer.
And the “Ferrari Daytona” was a replica cobbled up from a Corvette chassis. Look it up.
That is what this one looks like with the Corvette wheels.
Those aren’t Corvette wheels
the test was also a fake,& cost more then the real thing,lol
Frank! Was not a cobbled up replica. They were well made replicas. Look them up!
Wtf is the matter with you, he meant chasing after badguys in a countach (countach being the bad guys car and a testarossa chasing it).
Crockett chasing a white Countach.
That was completely uncalled for.
Lamborghini hasn’t made a truly good looking car since the Miura.
boooo!!!!!
One of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Someone needs a “time-out”..it’s a bit silly to ask someone when they last saw Miami Vice considering it was twenty years ago or so..
I much prefer the Jalpa styling over the cartoonish Countach (or most other Lambos)…the proportions are nicely balanced – nor are the nose and the arse aren’t bizarrely styled.
It was thirty years ago and you’re busted, pal!
“Cover me Tubbs! Our careers are about to implode”
There was a White Testarossa on the show, ask me how I know…
Wasn’t there a story about how there were no white Testarossas and they painted it or something?
The donated real TRs from Ferrari were black. But didn’t film well in night scenes. So painted.
There was also a fake TR built on a beefed up Pantera used for stunts and Chase scenes.
How do you know, Adam? (Other than the obvious way that the rest of us know, of course)
Cool pic Adam!!!
Dam you all to hell for mentioning Miami Vice… I now can’t get the Jan Hammer theme tune out of my head!!!!
Out of all the exotics I drove over the years wrenching in specialty import car dealerships, I never understood the obsession why someone would spend the money to own or maintain one.
None were reliable. Just a cobbled mess of parts, most poorly engineered and way over priced. Yes, I am talking about Lambo’s, Ferrari, Rolls and Lotus nightmares.
Poor street manners, overheating, fuel and electrical problems made my paycheck weekly. Reminded me of a C4 Corvette.
Don’t cuss me yet, I have owned 5 C4 vettes. 1995 and 96 they finally figured them out…. And stopped making them!
SBC…with tuned exhaust…paint…sit with a 3D CAD gal and redesign the dash…fresh red upholstery…white linen suit w pink tee. Done.
😃 and no socks lol
Lovely looking car. I’ve heard of the Lamborghini Jalpa, and I read a magazine article about the Jalpa, but I’ve never seen one in person.
In the day, I had driven a Jalpa, Espada, Merak and Bora (at least these come to mind at the moment). Of those, the Bora was the most interesting. The dealer wanted some $20K or so, at a time when a new Corvette was about $18K, sooo… puh-leeze. Jalpa was second and Merak a distant 3rd (just starting it actually creeped me out, since – if you closed your eyes – it felt and sounded almost exactly like a Porsche 911 starting.
I drove a Khamsin, too. This one I could warm up to; but it was like the Lotuses for me, in the sense that I just never made it happen.
They all handled respectably well (in my nowhere-near-the-limits, brief experiences), and gobs better than nearly all American muscle of the time. And of course, they looked cool.
If your idea of a fun morning was sitting at a little outdoor bistro, sipping cafe-ole, and nibbling at a crescent with a bit of brie or jam, any would have been de rigueur.
Make mine American and preferably top-of-the-roster huge block.
Boy do I see a high buck restoration and in the end the best you get is IMO an old looking marginal performance at best car, sorry I don’t see the upside!
Rocky Balboa drove a Jalpa in Rocky IV
Only thing I would even want to attempt with this cash-eating car would be to get rid of the lambo engine and transmission and put in a Chevy LS motor. ya ya ya ya I know that’s ‘wrong’ to do to such a car — but every time I see one of these things it has serious (aka – expensive) running issues.
nice