In the 1970s, Lamborghini produced just over 1,200 units of the Espada, a two-door, four-seat grand tourer with a powerful V12 engine. One of such unique models has spent the last 15 years locked away in a barn in England. The precious Lamborghini, a 1971 Espada S2, was last driven in the mid-2000s before being hidden away in the same building where in 1605, conspirators had planned to assassinate King James I in the Gunpowder Plot.
The V12 engine was serviced before the car was stored, which makes starting it a breeze. The 3.9-liter engine has six twin-throat Webber 40 carburetors and is matched with a five-speed manual transmission. It was capable of producing 350 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque when it was brand new. The mechanicals have been largely preserved but some issues, like damage caused by rodents that chewed on the carpet and left droppings as well as fuel lines and connectors in rough shape, may pose some challenges during future restoration.
The car can be started with relatively little effort, and it settles into a comfortable idle. While the fuel leaks make it unsuitable for road use, it is driveable and can be cruisable on the property at low speeds.
The original dark blue paint of the car was replaced with Euro Mexico paint at some point, but the original red interior remains intact. The car’s door cards, instrument gauges, and headliner are in excellent condition, although it shows signs of animal damage. The Lamborghini Espada is just the latest fantastic barn find that showcases a slice of automotive history. Earlier this month, a fleet of Ferraris abandoned during Hurricane Charley, which hit Florida in 2004, was unearthed in Indiana.
Today, the carmaker’s preferred choice for those looking to have at least four seats is the Urus. Although it has four doors and a different engine, the Urus is just as impressive. In the new Performante trim, for example, the crossover makes almost double the Espada’s horsepower, producing 666 hp and accelerating to 62 miles per hour in just 3.3 seconds. Urus models are so popular that they have accounted for over 50% of the firm’s sales, with 5,367 sold in 2022 alone.