1968 Espada 400 GT S1
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1968 Espada 400 GT S1
The
Lamborghini Marzal show car sat atop a longer Miura chassis and given a
six-cylinder engine in 'vee' configuration and mounted mid-ship. It was
shown at the 1967 Geneva Auto Show. The Lamborghini Pirana was a show
car that sat atop a Jaguar E-Type chassis. Both were designed and built
by the famous coachbuilder Bertone. The Lamborghini Espada draws its
styling cues from both of these concepts. The Marzal design was deemed
to excessive for Lamborghini, plus it was void of the legendary
12-cylinder power-plant. Marcello Gandini, an employee
of Bertone, was tasked by Feruccio Lamborghini to design and build a
Gran Turismo vehicle based on both the Marzal and the Pirana. It was to
be a 2+2 GT car suitable for the rich and the powerful that could carry
them on long trips. In the front was to be a 3.9 liter twelve-cylinder
engine capable of producing 325 horsepower. The first prototype
featured wing-doors which were later replaced in future designs with
normal doors. The car appeared to be long due to its short height and
wide stance. The hood was comprised of aluminum while steel was used
for the remained of the vehicle. This meant the vehicle was heavy,
weighing in at over 3,300 pounds. The original series
was known as the Series I. In 1970, the series became known as the
Series II, also referred to as the 400 GTE Espada. This series had
vented disc brakes on all four corners, an improved 350 horsepower
engine, and modified dashboard. Power assisted steering was offered as
optional equipment to help combat the complaints of 'heavy steering'.
The Series II lasted until 1973 when Lamborghini introduced the Series
III. The series were given improved suspension and brakes, improvements
to the front aesthetics, and a newly designed dashboard. An automatic
Chrysler Torqueflight transmission was optional equipment. Powering
steering was now standard equipment. The bumpers were enlarged to
comply with the US safety regulations. The S1
(1968-1970), S2 (1970-1972) and the S3 (1972-1978) are hard to
distinguish. The changes that were employed were minor, and often were
improvements to the mechanics rather than the aesthetics. During
its production run, lasting from 1968 through 1978, 1217 examples were
produced making it the most successful Lamborghini model up to that
point. It had been the Italian manufacturer's first attempt at creating
a 2+2 GT sports car. Although the marquee was famous for their sports
cars, the luxurious 2+2 grand tourer endured great success for the
company during its ten year producing life-span. The Espada was a
practical and civilized sports car. It leather interior was plush and
the optional push-button AM/FM radio, air conditioning, and fog lights,
to name a few, made the vehicle accommodating to every customers wish
and desire. There were 186 Series I, 575 Series II, and 456 of the Series III.
1968 Lamborghini Espada 400 GT S1 | |
Year | 1968 |
Make | Lamborghini |
Model | Espada 400 GT S1 |
Engine Location | Front |
Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
Body Material | Steel body on tubular steel frame |
Production Years for Series | 1968 - 1978 |
Body Designer | Bertone |
Price | $21,000.00 |
Weight | 3263 lbs | 1480.1 kg |
Introduced At |
Performance | |
0-60 mph | 5.9 seconds. |
1/4 Mile | 15.70S seconds. |
Top Speed | 152 mph | 244.6 km/h Similar top speeds |
Engine | |
Engine Configuration | V |
60-degree | |
Vee-Type | |
Cylinders | 12 |
Solid valve lifters | |
Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
Displacement | 3929.00 cc | 239.8 cu in. | 3.9 L. |
Valves | 24 valves. 2 valves per cylinder. |
Valvetrain | DOHC |
Horsepower | 325.00 BHP (239.2 KW) @ 6500.00 RPM |
Torque | 276.00 Ft-Lbs (374.3 NM) @ 4500.00 RPM |
HP to Weight Ratio | 10.0 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
HP / Liter | 83.3 BHP / Liter |
Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 |
Main Bearings | 7 |
Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
1 Weber 2-barrel carburetor | |
Block | Light Alloy |
Head | Light Alloy |
Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight |
Transmission Information | |
Gears | 5 |
Transmission | Manual |
Final Drive | 4.50:1 |
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