(first posted 7/12/2013) Let’s start a list. Name the top 10 cars least likely to be found parked at a Sam’s Club in a small city in the Midwestern U.S. Is everyone done? Let’s compare. Yup, most of you listed a Lamborghini Espada. Yet, here it was, parked among the Chevy Silvarados and Ford Taurii. And in a handicap spot, no less.
On the drive home from the Great Curbside Classic Midwestern Meet-up in Iowa City (here), Mrs. JPC and I were en route home to Indianapolis. It being Mother’s Day, Mrs. JPC wished to continue a longtime tradition of taking her mother some cut flowers for our arrival at her house once back to town. The Mrs. knew that Sam’s Club sells flowers, so a quick check of the smartphone told us that there was a Sam’s location in Champaign, Illinois just off the highway. After finding the store, I dropped her at the door, and then parked nearby to await her flowery return.
I was in a CC kind of mood, and scanned the parking lot, expecting to maybe find a cool old Ford pickup or maybe a ’78 Malibu. What ho, something in an obsolete kind of beige, but what in the world is it? Here was a car that required me to revert to my most elemental car-identification skillset – reading the nameplates. Lamborghini. Espada. Wow.
Those of you in coastal California or Miami or New York City may yawn at the sight of another Lambo. Not this midwestern boy. I once saw what I thought was a Countach on the highway, but have never seen a Lamborghini parked in the wild. And certainly not at a Sam’s Club. I dutifully shot my pictures, still amazed at finding what was surely a rare car. Then, we continued home and I have let these pictures langush ever since, without a single idea for what to say about this car.
The recent photos of the Lamborghini 350GTV captured by reader C107 and written up by Paul Niedermeyer (here) reminded me of the Espada shots moldering away on my hard drive. I had not realized that the first very first Lamborghini came to be as recently as 1963, and my interest in the Espada was rekindled.
Wiki gives us the basics: The car was a four place coupe, which joined the 400GT and the Miura in Lamborghini’s lineup. The car was styled by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, and went on sale as a 1968 model. The Espada shared the Miura’s 4.0 liter V-12 engine (although mounted in front) that was rated at 325 bhp, and was good for a seven second 0-60 time. Oh yes – the word “Espada” translates to sword.
The Espada became the second highest volume model ever sold by Lamborghini, selling 1217 units over its lifetime, which is not an unsurprising volume considering the introductory price of $33,900 in 1968. There were actually three different series: The 1968-70 S1, the 1970-72 S2 and the 1973-78 S3. The easiest way to tell the difference is the dashboard, which is how I place this one as an S2. My initial identification of this car as a 1971 model was pure guess. Calling it the middle year of the S2’s run, I figured that I couldn’t be more than a year off either way. [Update – we heard from the owner of this car, who tells us that it is a 1972.]
In surfing the web to learn a bit about these, I came across a video at Jay Leno’s Garage. Jay reports that one of these was his daily driver for quite a few years. As Italian supercars go, this one is really quite practical and reasonably inexpensive. The entire video can be found here, and is worth a view. It appears that the owner of this car would agree with Jay, given the evidence of long-term use. Anyone who uses a plastic cup holder that hangs from the door top in a Lamborghini is an OK guy in my world.
My research uncovered one other interesting tidbit: the unique hood-nostrils on this car do not feed the six side-draft Weber carburetors, but are instead the sources of air for the cabin heating and ventilation system. Keep this in mind, for next time you are at a concours event where one of these is on display, and you can impress bystanders by citing this little-known fact in your most bored, urbane voice. (“I cahnt believe that my idiot bro-in-law thought those intakes were for the engine. My sistah could have done so much bettah.”)
The styling on the car is really fascinating to contemplate. This is a car that you have to look at for awhile, and from multiple angles before you can come to a conclusion. I am coming to sort of like it, and there is no better view than this rear 3/4, which I find to be quite alluring. The designers could have done some good things with the lines by eliminating the usable back seat or by giving the front seat occupants less room or comfort, but that was not the Espada’s mission. It was never intended to win races, but to be a comfortable, luxurious and fast cocoon for four (rich) adults as they travel across the countryside.
My other favorite feature of this car (OK, other than the 350 bhp V-12 in the S2 cars) is the glass panel under the rear window, which surely served as the inspiration for the much better known version on the later Honda CRX. Who says a Lamborghini can’t be practical? Not only do you have great rear visibility, but raise the hatch glass and you can fit mega packs of toilet tissue and gigantic jars of dill pickles in the cargo area. Then drive home at 130 mph. What a great car.
So, we have a car that is a four place grand tourer that is also a practical hatchback. I suppose that knowing what I now know about the Espada, what more likely supercar to find at a Sam’s club? Especially a beige one. I wonder how many of the 1217 were beige? Perhaps this is the only one, painted then whisked out of its country of origin. Aren’t beige Lamborghinis illegal in Italy? Just like bright red or chrome yellow Chrysler Newports should be illegal here in the U.S.
I suppose this car fits in at Sam’s Club in another way. Jay Leno tells us that people either love the Espada or hate it. There’s a lot of that about Sam’s Club too. (Let’s not all take sides about my Sam’s membership, I will point out that we hold dual citizenship with a Costco membership as well. But try to find a Costco out in the sticks). So there we have it: the most ordinary and practical of Italian supercars in the most ordinary and practical of colors parked at the most ordinary and practical of stores in one of the most ordinary and practical parts of the country. Yet after rolling all of these things together into a single event, we are left with a most unique and extraordinary experience, proving that the meeting of Italian and American can result in a lot more than just pizza.
Gorgeous apart from the colour,something more assosciated with a 1974 British Leyland Allegro!
I know “God don’t make no junk” but my lord is this hideous.
Great article!
You’ve hit the nail on the head about exotic cars in the Mid-West. About two months ago, Mrs. Jason and I saw a Ferrari going down the street in Overland Park, Kansas (Kansas City area). She commented about the car and gray headed geriatric man driving: “It looks like Magnum P.I. retired and came to live with Dorothy and Toto.”
Thank you for enlivening my day with something I had no clue as to its existence.
Watch that “geriatric” talk!
In case you’re wondering, she did a ride-along, then our daughter and I drove. Rusty Wallace Racing Experience, yesterday. Tons o’ fun!
Color me jealous! Mrs. Jason has been wanting to set me up with doing this for a while now. It sounds like it was a blast.
“Jay Leno tells us that people either love the Espada or hate it.”
….kind of like Jay….(rimshot)
But seriously, folks…I really want to like the Espada, but if I had my choice of the ’68 lineup from Sant’Agata it would be the Islero.
Good grief. I actually drove one of these sometime in ’73. I remember the distinctly Italian driving position, suitable only for those with extra long arms. I had to shove the seat way too far forward in order to reach the steering wheel which meant that engaging any of the higher gears resulted in my left knee being whacked by the gear lever (it was RHD). V stylish interior, but fitted with the world’s smallest ashtray and unless my memory’s playing up, the windows rolled down about 4 inches max! Lovely car, so long as you could put up with the discomfort and general impracticality/uselessness! No, it wasn’t mine and I suspect that a replacement door handle would have cost more than my ’73 Mk1 Ford Escort Sport! Nostalgia just ain’t what it used to be.
The key to driving Italian cars is understanding that the controls are positioned assuming that you will be holding the wheel at 8 and 4, not 10 and 2.
looks like a giant sandle (mandle?)
I’d rock it just for the wtf factor.
The 350GTV is the very sexy and smart older sister to this…this was the tom-boy of the family, the “dad always wanted a son so they named me Sam”
Those flush-mount, NACA-style hood scoops sure were a fad that didn’t last too long. The only other vehicles on which I recall them ever being used from the factory were the final ’69-’70 Shelby Mustangs and the last intermediate 1973 Pontiac GTO.
And the Australian XA Ford Falcon GT:
And the small single one on the R34 GT-R V-Spec (II?).
And the Alpine A310 (at least the earlier ones)
http://www.kewlwallpapers.com/bulkupload/111/Cars/ALPINE-a310-1600-1758.jpg
Wow, all-time great find.
I had been comtemplating doing an “exotics found in discount store parking lots” post but this one trumps anything I might have.
This is a staggering find, considering the location.
I live in Southern Cal and I’ve only ever seen an Espada in a car museum.
Aside from the long reach the choclate brown interior looks rather inviting. To fix the reach issue get one of those extensions that all the japanese racers use to get the seat as far back as possible. To me the espada looks like a flying saucer. I think I would own one if I could afford it Just to hear its v12 run at speed and to share the experiance with my wife(not interested in cars) and my car guy 9 year old daughter.
I’ve found a McLaren at a Walgreen’s and an NSX at Wendy’s, but this trumps all, JP.
Can’t really get excited about its appearance, except that it seems like something the great Syd Mead might have painted for “Blade Runner.” But in real life, it looks like a pack mule next to the gorgeous thoroughbred Miura. (Check spelling in the article…)
Spelling fixed. Thanks. Don’t be too hard on me, I just learned how to spell Lamborghini in the last few days. 🙂
Speaking of spelling nits, it’s “Champaign”. Spent 4 years there, learning engineering and drinking beer. Never had any Champagne in Champaign, though I had Mateus in Urbana (town next door)… 🙂
In the 70s, the most exotic cars in the area were a couple of Lotus Europas. Never saw the Lambo (I was there 70-74). Lots of Furys and a few Volvos. We did have a few Honda 600s after they hit the market–no roadsters.
Normally, I’d consider making a wager on that one, but I bet no hick from Champaign.
Hey, I let that pizza comment slide…your fine CCs are evidence that Irish-Americans have given us more than just green beer. 🙂
I have always loved these. Sure, it’s a bit awkward, but IMO it’s part of the charm. I love the rear end, and the interiors of so many Italian cars of the late 60s and early 70s were just so great looking.
There was a great article about a woman who’s driven one of these as a daily driver for years, in pink, no less.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/automobiles/collectibles/05EGO.html?_r=0
The pink Espada just sold for $82,,500….
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-lamborghini-espada/
I too like the way this car looks.
And speaking of interesting finds at warehouse stores – I have repeatedly spotted a black Bentley Coupe at my local Costco.
I guess you need to save all you can on TP to afford the monthly payment 😉
I saw a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow parked overnight at the Motel 6 in Palm Springs.
Congratulations; you’ve found my favorite car from 1969! And a true CC Holy Grail. I obsessed on the Espada (after the Marzal), and spent several years wondering why American midsize coupes or the Riviera couldn’t look like this.
I know it’s not perfect, especially from some angles, but the important thing to remember is this as a car designed to carry four adults in reasonable comfort, unlike all those so-called 2+2s that were suitable only for midgets in the back seat.
As such, it’s a groundbreaking design, and worthy of massive adulation from my 16 year old heart and mind, and since that is a very formative time of life, I still give it massive adulation.
Thank you for this highly unexpected treat; I know this was probably a bit of a challenge for you, the equivalent of me writing something nice about a 1975 Mercury Marquis. Well done!
Though they never had a booth for “International Crime Fighting Jet Set Playboy” at career day at school, I imagine that if there was and if I was to land the job, this is the car I would drive.
Running the V12 up and down through the gears while winding your way through the Italian Alps, gazing at the road through ahead through big yellow tinted sunglasses and a haze of Morland Specials, roaring through tunnels, making the occasional stop for champagne and snacks with the blonde beauty sitting in the passenger seat.
Turtlenecks, mustaches, yachts, Lear Jets!
Zipping down to Monaco, solving the case of the missing diamonds or a forged PIcasso here and there, what a life!
Then when you retire, you paint it beige and shop at Sam’s Club? 🙂
Where else can I get value pack of Vevue Clicquot?
Could this be the only beige Lamborghini in the world?
One of my first thoughts on seeing this car.
I have seen a couple of Isleros in this color.
Before the Countach, Lamborghini always intended its products to be cars, not symbols. Many of them were painted quiet colors. It was only in the 80s that they and Ferrari switched to producing primarily conspicuous consumption lifestyle accessories which aren’t really intended to be used as transportation.
The back of the car tells me a few things, I love the “driver carries no cash” sticker, no shit, if you own one of these, plus the license plate frame also identifies him as a possible boat owner too a sadist at heart, I hope he owns a plane to complete the trifecta.
I would have waited around a while to see if “the most interesting man in the world” came out, with a 20 pack of Charmin in one hand and a live Cougar on a leash in the other…..
Stay thirsty my friends….
LOL! I don’t always shop at big box stores, but when I do, I bring my pet Cougar.
His V12 runs perfectly
He has never missed a shift……
Italian design teams study the doodles on his dinner napkins
His nod is accepted as a membership card at Costco.
Lamborghini finances new cars through him.
He sprinkles a dash of Agip on his food, just for flavor.
This comment chain had me laughing so hard haha, I love this website!
Wow, what a great find! I’ve watched that Jay Leno video before. It’s entertaining.
I think I have what I consider a close second: I spotted a mint condition fire-engine red ’59 Coupe DeVille pulling into the Walmart parking lot. In February. In the rustbelt. And it was spotlessly clean. I did a U-turn and followed it. Missed meeting the driver, who had already parked and gone into the store by the time I caught up to it, but I have pictures.
Two winters ago I also spotted an early 50’s Caddy that was being used as a daily driver parked in the big-box hardware store parking lot. It was fairly “rough around the edges” and a big give-away was the block heater plug hanging out through the grille. No camera handy unfortunately.
Ha! Might be a daily runner for Jay Leno and his team of mechanics- try keeping twin distributors and at least three, maybe six Dellortos in tune!
Congrats to the driver for actually using that car on a day to day basis. I’m sad to think about all the great cars sitting in garages afraid to be driven in the rain, hot sun, etc. People, if you put on 10k miles a year, it would take you 10 years to come close to even using it up. Drive the cars! If you are afraid of door dings, someone stealing it, or a scrape on it, then Sell It! When I was done with my Benz, BMW, Triumph, and Ferrari, those cars were beat… but the buyers got a fair price and they knew what they were getting. What I got was tons of enjoyment and memories.
Wow, pretty exotic, and a daily driver, to boot. Looks like that interior could use a little refresh, though. Even in car-centric Southern Cal, I don’t recall ever seeing one of these, although I’m sure they were out there. Lamborghini didn’t even enter my conscious until about 1969, when Sandy Duncan did those cute bank commercials chatting over the teller’s counter with a guy wanting a loan for a Lamborghini Miura, she stumbled over the name, I think.
Sandy Duncan and her husband used to bring their two little boys to one of my favorite restaurants back in the 1980’s. Nice lady.
I’ve seen a couple of these Lambos over the course of many years. Many other sightings of contemporary Lambos here in Santa Monica and the West Side and in Laguna Beach where my cousin lives. But I think none in this color – red, white, and black come to mind as more common.
IMHO the two NACA ducts look better than a bunch of slots at the base of the windshield.
Between the car and the location, this has to be one of the best CC sightings ever.
Also, I’m pretty thrilled to see it: Aside from the really rare early grand tourers, the Espada is the only Lambo I’d want to own. (The rest are impressive vehicles… but I’d be a little embarrassed.)
Well, that makes the white Quattroporte I saw several times in the Albertson’s grocery store lot practically fade into insignificance.
Maybe that was this dudes wife?
No, she probably drives the car with a license plate that says ESPADA 1
Or this grandmother that drives a pink Espada: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/automobiles/collectibles/05EGO.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=pink%20espada&st=cse&
Speaking of slots does anybody know what the openings on either side of the front wheels are for? Openings for air? To grab when opening the hood?
Pure guess, but I would say that the slots are ports for outflow of hot air from the engine compartment. I think the car would look better without them, so they must be significantly functional.
Looks like a chopped and channeled Marlin.
1971 Mustang fastback meets 1970 Challenger, underpinned by Lamborghini? I LOVE IT!
Weird — the taillights look like they were sourced from an early 80’s Nissan – did the designers run out of time or something? Almost anything would looked better… they should have picked a ’67 or ’68 Cougar to “borrow” from. Could this be one of those mandatory modifications to get it titled in the U.S.?
It looks like it’d be fun to drive but not own. I’d probably pay $2,500 for a nice one though. 😛
They are quite similar but not identical to Datsun 240Z taillights. And the Espada came first.
Probably not the designers, but the budget. It can be expensive to tool up stuff like that for a limited-production car. It’s quite likely a unit used elsewhere.
The Alfa Berlina used those taillamps and so did the DeTomaso Pantera.
It’s refreshing to see a 60s sports/GT in beige. Camel hair sport coats, sailboats and beautiful women come to mind for me. I love how the side glass is as tall as the door’s sheet metal, you sure don’t see that anymore (come to think of it you didn’t see it much back then either!).
Nice write up JPC.
Plus its easier to use something that has already run the DOT gauntlet, look at the lights on motorhomes and trailers, usually a hodgepodge of OEM lights from GM, Ford etc etc.
Yes, I saw an older RV with headlight rims and modified grille bars from a 1958 Plymouth. Didn’t have the camera of course.
I remember seeing several older RVs that used ’77-’79 Bonneville taillamps: weird! It’s not like those were easy units to integrate into a different body either.
Awesome find. I’d have never guessed the Espada’s looks were considered ‘polarizing’… it’s been on my ‘top 5 most beautiful cars ever’ list since the first time I saw a photo of one.
I’ve only ever seen one in real life, a silver-grey one that pulled up at a red light next to my tram stop. It came up to about waist height on us bystanders… the driver’s line of sight looked to be about level with the bumper of the car in front. And the V12 shriek when the light changed–I won’t forget that anytime soon.
I remember seeing one of these in a similarly mundane setting, although in LA, you are likely to see anything, anywhere. I have seen a modern Lambo (Murcielago?) in a Bed, Bath & Beyond parking lot, although the young man who hopped in and drove away had been using the pay phone at the corner, so it’s my assumption he was transacting business for which he wanted to cover his tracks.
Who uses paid phone these days? Callin’ mistress without leaving a call record on his cell?
Probably can’t afford a cell plan with the Lambo payment.
I have pics of one rotting at an apartment complex…
Saw one of these this past spring at a car show…but to spot one at Sam’s Club! Great job!
“Then, we continued home and I have let these pictures langush ever since, without a single idea for what to say about this car.”
A common problem for the CC writer. I have a couple cars in the CC file also waiting for inspiration. Still, I’ve found it’s better to wait for your muse to speak, rather than forcing the issue.
Espada wasn’t pretty, but it will always be very striking.
I am looking to buy a Khamsin, which is somewhat similar to Espada as both are 2+2 grand tourer. Espada’s back seats are a lot more usable than the Khamsin’s, more exotic engine too. But Khamsin has Citroen’s suspension and steering, which to some is a minus, but I love them.
An acquaintance of mine owns one of these in red. I’ve lusted after these since I was a teenager, so you imagine the thrill I got when he let me drive it a short distance. Unfortunately it was an automatic, but hell, I actually got to drive a Lamborghini for the first and probably last time. I think it is one the most beautiful cars ever made.
I really like these, but have never seen one in the metal. A remarkable CC find, JP!
My Aunt Bobbie and Uncle Ron live in Urbana, I’ll have to ask them if they’ve seen this car around town.
Late to the party on this one but… The first Espada I saw was in period in a NYC parking garage and it was off white or beige. I didn’t see another Espada until some years ago when I heard of a SIII that was slumbering in a Houston repair shop for sale. An acquaintance beat me there and bought it for $5k.
Spotting a pre-VW Lamborghini on the street is just about impossible but spotting new ones is an almost daily event.
Great pics of the car!
Randomly decided to look up some Espadas
And came across this.
This is actually my dads car. Bought ten years ago in California.
Is definitely a driving car. Great ride beautiful ride
Has been a project for him over the years. Switched back to European standards car drive great and sounds amazing. All tweaked and restored like it was coming out of the factory.
Currently the interior has been completely taken out and is waiting on brand new carpet.
Beautiful new leather that has a red tint to it.
Next and all that is left to the restoration of this amazing piece of history will be the paint.
Somewhere between this beige and the original ivory white.
Has was repainted this color by a previous owner. Unknown date.
And you’re right. Only a year off. It’s a ’72
I’m going up to his shop tomorrow. If you’d like I could probably get a few pictures of the back seats in the new leather.
Fabulous of you to reply! I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed coming across that car. Needless to say, the only one I have ever seen in my life. I love hearing from the owners of cars that I have found that have made their way here. Any info in the way of follow-up on the car would be great. Perhaps even a “My Curbside Classic” piece? I can assure you that there are lots of people who would love to hear from someone who has lived with a great car like this. And I will fix the year in the piece.
+1 Michael, I enjoyed reading your response about your dad’s car as much as I enjoyed reading jpcavanaugh’s great write-up. Always liked the Espada.
When I worked as an insurance agent in the early 2000s, I had to replace the bonnet for one of these. The owner was a guy who ran a traditional Italian chippy at Glasgow Cross. If I remember correctly, an unpainted, unfettled bonnet was £5000 even then, and they were so scarce that I had to make a heck of a lot of phone calls just find one that was available. Strangely, the guy I eventually ended up buying the bonnet from became my boss a few years later!
Still my favorite random CC find ever on this site. Kind of surprised it hasn’t popped up again or elsewhere for that matter in the meantime.
Did I miss this one somehow?
A fantastic find, and a very cleverly written CC Mr Cavanaugh
Great find and entertaining write-up! Who orders a Lambo in the color of those Bandaid-toned sensible tennis shoes you see on elderly folks?
The S2 was the best of the bunch, before they tacked on ugly rubber baby buggy bumpers on the S3 that ruined the design. There’s a slightly ratty, er, well-used white S3 around here that shows up occasionally at the annual Euro car show.
I think these are endlessly fascinating to behold. Not pretty, not ugly, but really interesting. IMO one of Marcello Gandini’s better efforts during his salad days designing wild Lambos. Molto bene!
The only ‘exotic’ I’ve ever driven. All of a hundred metres to the wash bay where as the lowest of the low (a first year apprentice) I got to wash it.
Excellent discovery, JP. I really like it. Design of this automobile, almost a half century after being styled, withstands the test of time. No need to shout, the understated color is easy on the eye for admiring the car’s originality and grace. Would sure like to hear the deep rumble of the car’s engine as it’s fired up and raced into the distance. Not just your average visit to Sam’s Club! Nice job.