1971 Lamborghini Espada

This car is truly extraordinary, both for its originality and its very low mileage of just 9,229 miles, which we have no reason to doubt is genuine. 

It is so highly authentic and unrestored that we’re of the opinion that the paint is original and, quite possibly, so are the tyres.

The vendor bought the car with a friend in 2019. It was part of an estate sale in the US following the death of the owner, who had bought it new in 1971.

Incredibly, this wonderful Espada had been off the road and in storage since 1976.

The American owner was Jon Soligan, a retired Major who had served as a B25 bomber pilot in WWII and went on to complete 33 years of USAF service.

The vendor and his friend have been in touch with members of the family, who confirmed the car’s provenance, history and remarkable story. Jon’s son remembers being driven in the car on high days and holidays. 

As well as being a USAF pilot, Jon Soligan was also the founder of a Boston car restoration and body repair business called Foreign Auto Body, inc, a company that continued under Jon’s son, George. 

The business appears to have been very well-respected and Jon seems to have been an acknowledged master craftsman.

The vendors, who between them have a number of classic vehicles, have done some, but not all, of the light recommissioning work needed to get the car back on the road.

The fuel tanks have been removed and cleaned, and the fuel lines changed. The Girling brake boosters have been refurbished but the brakes will need to be bled and checked before use. The carbs have been stripped and rebuilt, the distributor has been overhauled, with new points and HT leads. 

The car has yet to be registered in the UK, but tax and duty is paid on it. It starts and runs but, as we haven’t driven it, our appraisal of it is necessarily limited to its cosmetic condition – which is absolutely first-class, inside, outside and underneath, and appears to be wholly original.

We can’t be sure but we’re quite prepared to believe that the car is still wearing the white paint with which it left the factory in 1971.

The bodywork is largely excellent and is uncompromised by any dents, creases or folds of any consequence that we can see.

The doors close with reassuring weight and precision. The shut-lines and panel gaps are consistent and even.

There is a small dink at the front of the bonnet and another on top of the n/s/f wing. 

The paintwork has the odd scuff, scratch and spot of touch-up paint visible here and there but, although clearly not in the first flush of youth, it has survived the passage of some 52 years with commendable fortitude and resilience.

All five Campagnolo knock-off wheels are in very impressive condition.

The chrome is in good order everywhere.

There are a couple of small spots of delamination visible on the hatchback glass.

The lights, lenses and badging are all good, as are any other external fixtures and fittings.

The good news continues uninterrupted on the inside, where almost everything is in exceptional condition and is far more a reflection of the car’s low mileage and careful curation than its age. 

The black leather upholstery has yet to earn much more than a light crease, let alone any ingrained patina. 

The seats, front and back, are comfortable, supportive and functional. 

This is a proper four-seater – you don’t need to be a circus performer or a contortionist to get into the back seats. 

You really have to pinch yourself to accept that this car is 52 years old. The door cards, carpets and mats look pretty much as good as new.

So, too, do the wood inserts on the dashboard, the whimsically angled speaker in the driver’s door, and elsewhere.

The headlining is also good, as is the luggage area at the rear, which contains a couple of boxes of spares and other bits and pieces. 

The steering wheel, gear lever, dials and controls are in a condition that far better reflects the car’s mileage than its age.

All in all, it’s just fabulous.

“The Lamborghini story was born with the V12,” remarked Maurizio Reggiani, former Chief Technical Officer at Lamborghini.

When you open the bonnet on this wonderful car you’ll find yourself face-to-face with one of the great masterpieces of automotive engine design.

Don’t feel embarrassed if you feel the urge to drop to your knees and start genuflecting. 

We certainly didn’t.

Rumour has it that Ferrucio Lamborghini offered legendary engine-designer Bizzarrini a bonus for every additional horsepower he could extract over the equivalent Ferrari engine.

When the engine was delivered, Signor Lamborghini decided that it revved too high and was overly track-oriented.

Ultimately, Bizzarrini had to go to court in pursuit of payment. 

The engine was then slightly detuned and made more suitable for the road by Giampaolo Dallara. 

That core V12 unit - which shared 99% of its DNA with Bizzarrini’s original design - appeared in every flagship from Sant'Agata (including the Countach) from 1964 until 2010, when it finally bowed-out with the last of the Murciélagos. 

Lamborghini had a pair of these engines – delivering over 700hp - fitted to his Riva Aquarama speedboat.

By that time, the Italian tractor manufacturer, automobile designer, soldier, inventor, mechanic, engineer, winemaker, industrialist and businessman had done very well for himself.

And Bizzarrini’s reputation as an engineering genius was assured and enshrined forever in an automotive hall of fame in which his quad-cam 60° V12 rightly has a very special place.

Anyway. Where were we?

The engine and engine bay on this car look clean, dry and almost factory fresh.

The undersides of the car look to have plenty of structural integrity. 

Clearly, you’ll want to see for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

This car comes with a Certificate of Title from the time of its purchase in 2019 (issued in Memphis, Tennessee). 

It also comes with a copy of an original owners’ handbook, some generic articles and cuttings about the car, and a couple of boxes of assorted spares and other stuff. 

Finds like this really don’t come along very often.

Not least because Espadas tend to now be either concours-quality museum pieces or small mounds of oxidised rust dust on a landfill somewhere. 

This is a rare car and it’s in truly rare, original condition that reflects the fact that it has only covered 9000 miles and has been laid up since 1976.

We really, really like this car and we’re frankly rather envious of the person who’ll win the auction.

We’re confident to offer this exceptional vehicle for auction with an estimate of £70,000 - £90,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.