Description
The Lamborghini Espada 400 GT, unveiled at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show, was one of the most distinctive and ambitious grand tourers of its time. Conceived under Ferruccio Lamborghini’s direction as a true four-seat high-speed luxury car, the Espada redefined what a grand touring automobile could be. It combined the heart of a racing machine—a 4.0-litre V12—with space and comfort for four adults, wrapped in a striking, futuristic body designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone. More than any other model of its era, the Espada embodied Lamborghini’s philosophy of power, refinement, and bold innovation.
The Espada’s origins traced back to the 1967 Marzal prototype, a radical six-cylinder concept also designed by Gandini. The Marzal’s low, wide proportions and glass-heavy design fascinated Ferruccio Lamborghini, who asked for a more practical grand tourer built along similar lines but powered by the company’s proven V12 engine. The result was the Espada—named after the Spanish word for “sword,” a reference to the blade used by matadors in bullfighting. Its design was unmistakable: long, low, and wide, with clean geometric surfaces and a sharply truncated tail that gave it an almost architectural presence.
Under its large, flat bonnet lay Lamborghini’s 3,929 cc all-aluminium V12 engine, designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and refined in-house by Gian Paolo Dallara. With four overhead camshafts and six twin-choke Weber 40 DCOE carburetors, the engine produced 325 horsepower at 7,200 rpm and 370 Nm of torque. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through Lamborghini’s five-speed all-synchromesh gearbox and a Salisbury limited-slip differential. The car could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in around 6.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 245 km/h (152 mph)—extraordinary performance for a full four-seater in 1968.
The Espada’s chassis was a development of the 400 GT’s tubular steel frame, stretched to a wheelbase of 2,650 mm to accommodate a spacious cabin. The fully independent suspension used unequal-length wishbones with coil springs, telescopic dampers, and anti-roll bars at both ends. Ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels provided ample stopping power, while the car’s low center of gravity and wide track ensured impressive stability and grip. Despite its size, the Espada handled with poise and agility, feeling far lighter than its proportions suggested.
Marcello Gandini’s design for Bertone gave the Espada an unmistakable identity. The car’s wedge-like profile and long, uninterrupted roofline were revolutionary at the time. Its glass area was immense, with thin pillars and a nearly horizontal rear window that created a bright, airy cabin and excellent visibility. The front featured distinctive quad headlamps set into a slim, rectangular grille, while the rear was characterized by a steeply cut tail and full-width taillights. The combination of bold geometry and subtle curves gave the Espada a sense of speed and sophistication even when standing still.
Inside, the Espada was designed for comfort and luxury, an aspect Ferruccio Lamborghini considered essential. The interior was spacious enough for four adults to travel long distances in genuine comfort—a rarity among high-performance cars of the era. The dashboard featured a wraparound design with a bank of instruments angled toward the driver, giving a sense of control and cockpit-like focus. The seats were deep and leather-upholstered, with fine stitching and careful detailing. Air conditioning, electric windows, and a high-quality sound system were available, making the Espada as much a limousine as a sports car.
On the road, the Espada 400 GT delivered an experience that balanced brute power with refinement. The V12 engine was smooth and flexible, equally content cruising quietly at 2,000 rpm as it was howling at 7,000. The gearbox shifted precisely, and the steering was light yet communicative, giving the driver confidence at speed. Long journeys could be undertaken effortlessly, with the Espada’s stability and comfort making it one of the most capable long-distance touring cars of its time.
The Espada’s appeal extended to those who wanted both performance and practicality. It could carry four people and luggage with ease while maintaining the pace of a sports car. Its combination of space, power, and elegance made it unlike anything else on the road. Between 1968 and 1970, Lamborghini built 186 examples of the first-series Espada 400 GT, before introducing the more refined Series II in 1970 and the Series III in 1972, both with further improvements to power, suspension, and interior quality.
Today, the Lamborghini Espada 400 GT is celebrated as one of the most original and visionary designs in the company’s history. It demonstrated that Lamborghini could build not only exotic sports cars but also world-class luxury grand tourers that blended power, comfort, and avant-garde design in equal measure.
The Espada 400 GT remains one of the most charismatic GTs of the late 1960s—a car of contrasts, where the raw force of a V12 engine met the sophistication of Italian craftsmanship. It was both futuristic and elegant, audacious yet practical, and it captured the spirit of an age when design and performance knew no boundaries.