OK folks, it’s Beverly Hills Car Club time! And that in itself usually brings interesting comments but let’s focus first on the subject, a 1971 Lamborghini Espada. This one has a few obvious issues (and a few that aren’t obvious at first blush) so let’s dig in. This Lamborghini is located in Beverly Hills (L.A.), California and is available, here on Hemmings for $59,950. Thanks to Boot for this most interesting find!
Somewhere in the past, I recall seeing an Espada but I cannot remember the time, place, or circumstances. The Espada would qualify as a seldom-seen vehicle considering that only 1,200 were assembled in its eleven-year (’68-’78) run. Being a 1971 model, this Espada qualifies as a Series II, offered in ’70 and ’71, and realizing a total production volume of fewer than 600 copies.
Besides all of the missing exterior stuff, this Espada, as with every version produced, is notable for its greenhouse, specifically, the quarter windows and C-pillar treatment – a dominating styling feature. To put things in perspective, an Espada is about fifteen and a half feet in length but it’s wide at just over six feet. In spite of its unibody architecture and aluminum engine, the Espada still tips the scales at about 3,500 lbs. Other than the missing grille, headlights, and front bumper, this example is fair – it has some contusions and surface rust evident on the forward edges of the front fenders; no reference as to what happened to the front end/missing parts. It appears that a horizontal steel bar has been attached behind the area where the grille would reside, possibly for body stability or to assist with towing. There is an image of some accompanying parts but no grille or bumper is included. Unfortunately, the windshield is smashed too.
Under the hood there are problems as well – the engine has been partially dismantled. When it ran, this Lamborghini was powered by a 350 HP, 3.9 liter, all-aluminum V-12. Unfortunately, it’s missing a lot of components, including the entire induction system, exhaust manifolds, front end, and electronics. It gets better too as the five-speed manual transmission has been yanked right along with the clutch and driveshaft – at least those items are included in the sale. It’s easy to imagine that if one digs deeper, numerous other missing and necessary parts will be revealed.
Inside is the archetypal Italian interior for a car of this era. A full-on 2+2, it’s in reasonable condition but is showing signs of age and wear. The black leather upholstery illustrates some typical cracking but it may a situation where it can be rejuvenated with leather preservative. The driver’s and passenger’s side footwell carpets are missing but the rest of what’s still there looks pretty good. The instrument panel contains all of its gauges and switchgear, it’s just very dusty. It’s hard to say what happened to the dash pad – perhaps the removal of a defroster/radio speaker grilles? My guess is that the radio/cassette player is non-OEM.
So, what’s it worth? Hard to say, there are several for sale on internet boards in both the U.S. and Europe and a nice Series II can bring $200K – documentation, mileage, and condition being the deciding factors. One thing that I couldn’t find, however, was a grille and bumper – though those parts are probably available, somewhere, at an unknown price. And those unknowns, coupled with the condition/missing parts of the engine, make this Lamborghini Espada seem like a risky undertaking I think. Would you agree or disagree on that matter?
Not going to say anything about BHCC, but think if one were to buy this car and spend $200K or more (at a minimum) finding the missing bits and getting the whole thing in nice shape, they’d have spent ~ $260K for a car that might be worth almost $200K.
So you’d have to be a serious Espada fan to take the bait. I’m not. A 400GT would be a different story for me, but I doubt that any recognizable example of same would come from this seller for $60,000….
Beverly Hills Car Club is not in Beverly Hills.
correct it’s in LA.
Boyle Heights, to be exact.
Yes, in fact, BHCC used to be the Boyle Heights Overpriced Automotive Estate Flippers. The new name is much catchier but far less accurate or informative.
Tell the seller, he advertises his location in the Hemmings ad as:
Beverly Hills, California, 90210
JO
Once you see the background and the condition of the car, you know it’s BHCC.
Replacing the six carbs will probably be the same cost as buying the car. Rebuilding what is probably a rusty engine is also going to break the bank. Jim called it right…”risky undertaking”.
The engine is made from aluminum, which can not rust.
It’s an aluminum engine, but I’d guess it has iron liners and a steel crank and potential for dissimilar metal reactions with certain components.
Rust is iron oxide, so your right, aluminum does not rust. But man oh man does it ever oxidize ……
You lost me at ‘Beverly Hills Car Club’.
You lost me at ‘Beverly Hills Hair Club for men’.
There’s only one reason someone would take this on. More money than sense.
One must be an inveterate Lamborghini fan to take this one on. Being a financial masochist also helps.
It’s a typical BHCC car. Buy it and throw bundles of $100’s at it. There’s an Espada block and heads on Bring a Trailer, but it’s got no internals and missing the same parts this one is. At least it’s clean.
Too pricey for a parts only car, where do they find them? They have many listings on FeeBay.
Let’s face it we live in this world with a lot of dreamers that need to come down to earth and face reality.
The carbs are available new for about 4K the set, bought a set for my Jarama which has the same oily parts as this Espada.
Had an Espada as well, but will be cheaper to buy a good car then to restore this example.
Okay, I know that this is sacrilege, but I would take this and resto mod it with a built LS engine and have a sweet long distance cruiser!
Since Chrysler used to own Lamborghini, I would install a Hellcrate Redeye engine myself … after installing an Art Morrison chassis so it could take the power.
Now you’re talking!!
What about a viper V10 with a manual?
Why give this business free advertising. I wouldn’t buy a used roller skate from them
Never liked the looks of this car…the front and back do not flow properly together…Even though it’s a Lamborghini, doesn’t do much for me….
$2k tops ….any more puts you underwater from the outset!!
This car would be best used for parts to save another