- The Lamborghini Islero is a rare example; only 225 exist
- The Lamborghini Jarama is a classic model that lasted six years
- The classic Lamborghini Urraco was made famous by Top Gear
- Lamborghini Espada, the most-sold Lambo prior to the Countach
- Now you’re a classic Lamborghini connoisseur
When most people think of Lamborghini, the car that probably comes to mind is the Huracan or the flagship V12 Aventador. However, there’s a handful of classic Lamborghini models that many folks might not know about. We’re talking about way deeper cuts than the 80’s icon Countach or the legendary Miura. Here are four funky classic Lamborghini models that even your lambo-loving friends may not know about! If you think you’ve got deep cuts with the Jalpa and the LM002, you’ve got another thing coming!
The Lamborghini Islero is a rare example; only 225 exist
After 50 years Lamborghini #Islero still gives us a thrill just to look at her. Sketch by Centro Stile. https://t.co/2PiyY8umlm pic.twitter.com/0sMkW8Im7y
— Lamborghini (@Lamborghini) August 16, 2018
Lamborghini produced the Islero only from 1968 to 1969. Additionally, only 225 of these sophisticated little coupes ever left the factory. That’s a bit unfortunate, as they are super cool-looking.
According to Wheels.ca, Ferruccio Lamborghini himself chose the Islero as his personal vehicle during its production. Under the hood, as one would expect, it had a 3.9-liter V12 engine with up to 350 horsepower. If you rowed your way all the way to the fifth and final gear on the Iselro’s manual transmission, you’d be able to max it out at a top speed of about 161 miles per hour.
Additionally, Lamborghini named the Islero after a bull that killed a famous matador named Manuel Rodriguez.
The Lamborghini Jarama is a classic model that lasted six years
1973 Lamborghini Jarama | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images
Lamborghini produced the Jarama from 1970 to 1976. While that may seem like a pretty impressive production run considering the Islero’s short life, there still wasn’t a whole lot of them made. Only 328 ever made their way out of the Lamborghini factory.
Incidentally, the Jarama came to be because the Islero failed to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards. Effectively, the Jarama was the response in an effort to get the Lamborghini name a little more household stateside. Which, ultimately, wouldn’t actually occur until the Countach wave hit.
The Jarama used the same 3.9-liter V12 found under the hood of the Islero, with a bit spicier output in the form of the Jarama S or GTS models that came with 365 horsepower.
The classic Lamborghini Urraco was made famous by Top Gear
“No, it’s not a kit car. It’s a Lamborghini. Philistine,” are words uttered by Top Gear presenter James May that will forever go down in history. He was behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Urraco he purchased for the “Budget Supercar” episode of the hit BBC car show.
The Urraco was the “working man” Lamborghini, much like the Porsche 944 compared to a 911. It was available with a variety of engines throughout its six-year reign from 1973 to 1979. All of them were V8s and ranged in power output from 180 to 247 horsepower.
Over the course of its six-year run, Lamborghini manufactured 791 Urracos.
Lamborghini Espada, the most-sold Lambo prior to the Countach
1970 Lamborghini Espada | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images
Lamborghini produced the Espasa from 1968 to 1978. Throughout its production run, the Espada became the most-produced Lamborghini model in history. It held that title until the whirlwind success of the Countach. A total of 1,217 Espada examples left the Lamborghini factory. To this day, it is still one of the cheapest Lamborghinis one can buy.
Under the hood, the Espada has the familiar 3.9-liter V12 engine with a power output of 325 horsepower. It’s a bit unique in the Lamborghini world because it has a 2+2 seat layout and two fuel tanks. It also has two fuel doors, meaning you can fill it up from either side.
Now you’re a classic Lamborghini connoisseur
There you have it! Four classic Lamborghini models that you now know and your friends probably don’t.
Now, in the extremely unlikely event that you happen to see one of these staples of classic Lamborghini history trudging down the road, you’ll be able to tell everyone exactly what it is!
Keyword: Here Are 4 Classic Lamborghini Models You’ve Probably Never Heard Of