Description
Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Viewing: Tues 8th April from 12pm
Auction: Wed 9th April from 9am
Location: IWM Duxford Airfield, Cambridge CB22 4QR
1973 Lamborghini Espada
1 of just c. 130 right-hand drive examples
Estimate
£70, 000 - £90, 000
Registration No: WHJ 516M
Chassis No: 9256
MOT: Exempt
1 of just c. 130 right-hand drive Espada S3s reputedly built
Notable owners including the well-respected Ferrari specialists Reeder Brothers and Lamborghini ‘guru’ Del Hopkins
Just 67, 000 recorded miles
Discovered as a garage find in 2022 and fully recommissioned by the vendor since
Previous full engine overhaul by the Reeder Brothers at c. 60, 000 miles
Introduced at the 1968 Geneva Salon, the Lamborghini Espada was a true four-seater supercar. Styled by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, it was visually indebted to the carozzeria's previous 'Marzal' and 'Pirana' show cars. A low-slung menacing 'wedge' (actually no longer than a contemporary Ford Mustang), its Giampaolo Dallara honed pressed-steel platform chassis featured all-round coil-and-wishbone suspension, Koni dampers, disc brakes and anti-roll bars. Although, the 'quad-cam' Bizzarini 3, 929cc V12 was front-mounted and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the Espada enjoyed near ideal front-to-rear weight distribution (52:48). The world's fastest four-seater at some 155mph, it was praised for its handling and ride quality. Debuting at the 1972 Turin Motor Show, the Series III came with power steering and air-conditioning as standard. Boasting 365bhp and 290lbft of torque, it also carried a revised interior, re-jigged rear suspension and uprated brakes. In production at Sant'Agata Bologna for just six years, a mere 472 were supposedly made.
Chassis number ‘9256’ is a very rare right-hand drive Series III example, which was supplied new to the United Kingdom, being first registered on the 9th of October 1973. Known to have entered into the ownership of Lamborghini ‘guru’ Del Hopkins in 1976, the Espada was registered as ‘TTK 2’ during this time and was used as his mode of transport for his wedding. Subsequently acquired in 1984 by the highly respected Ferrari specialists Mike and Graham Reeder, the brothers stripped the car to bare metal, bodily restored ‘9256’, and provided a full repaint into Ferrari Rosso Corsa (there could be no other colour with their specialism!). In 1987, at c. 60, 000 miles, the engine was removed from the Lamborghini and provided with a full engine overhaul which included new pistons, timing chains, bearing shells, etc.
Between March 1984 and May 1995, the Espada led a charmed life, being driven exclusively by partners of the Reeder brother's business. Sold out of the Reeder ownership in 1995, the Lamborghini entered into the previous ownership in June 2000. Used for a very short period (less than a full year) the Espada, now registered ‘WHJ 516M’ was parked in the custodian's garage, where it remained for the following twenty-two years. Unearthed by the vendor in May 2022 who came to know of the car as a family friend of the previous owner, the Espada has since been comprehensively mechanically recommissioned. Works completed have included overhauls of the carburettor and distributor; new spark plugs and condensers; partial re-wiring; brake system recondition with many new parts; new front wheel bearings; renewed ignition system; full interior refresh including leather treatment; new fuel pump and battery; re-conditioned rear tailgate struts; clutch overhaul; and new tyres, amongst much more cosmetic and mechanical improvement. The whole re-commissioning process is fully illustrated in a document in the history file, with the expenditure totalling some £10, 700 in total. A regular attendee of classic car events in East Anglia since the completion in April 2023, the vendor informs the only thing the Espada still requires is the fitment of air-conditioning belts.
Offered with a history file that includes original sales literature, a handwritten log documenting the maintenance work completed by the Reeder brothers during their ownership, a collection of invoices and previous MOTs, images of the car throughout its life (including in Del Hopkin’s ownership and as a garage find), and a current V5C document. Starting readily and both running and driving excellently during the recent photography session, chassis ‘9256’ is due to be driven to the sale, and has covered just 7, 000 miles approximately since the full engine overhaul by the Reeder brothers, with a believed genuine c. 67, 000 on the odometer now. Very few Espadas were manufactured in right-hand drive so finding one with such an interesting ownership history and with the desirable manual gearbox, adds to the appeal of this example. A 155mph, four-seater, 1970s supercar, what's not to like!
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
