•Supplied new to Iran
•More powerful Series II model
•Present ownership for 26 years
•Registered in Switzerland

'Carrozzeria Bertone unveiled one of its motor show sensations at the 1967 Geneva event, the Marzal. This dramatic concept car was seen as an approach to a four-seat Lamborghini... and it turned out to be a forerunner of the Espada, a genuine four-seater and a distinctive 1960s supercar.' – David Hodges, 'Lamborghini – The Legend'.

It is the stuff of legend that Ferrari-owning industrialist Ferruccio Lamborghini only turned to automobile manufacture as a result of receiving off-hand treatment at Maranello, vowing to build a better car. A successful manufacturer of tractors and related machinery, Lamborghini possessed the resources to realise his dream without having to compromise.

Ferruccio Lamborghini's first production car, the Touring-styled 350GT, had debuted at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show. The work of two of Italy's most illustrious automobile designers, the 350GT featured a glorious 3.5-litre, four-cam V12 designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, housed in a chassis penned by Gianpaolo Dallara. The 350GT's four camshafts and all-independent suspension meant that it upstaged the best that Ferrari offered at the time; but to compete with his Maranello rival's larger models, Lamborghini needed a nominal four-seater and the 4.0-litre 400GT 2+2 duly appeared in 1966. Despite its novice status as an automobile manufacturer, Lamborghini had quickly dispelled any lingering doubts about its ability to compete with the world's best Gran Turismos.

Named after a matador's sword, the Espada was styled along lines similar to those of the stillborn, rear-engined, six-cylinder Marzal but carried its 4.0-litre, four-cam V12 up front. The latter - first seen in the 400GT and used also by the contemporary Islero - produced 325bhp, an output sufficient to propel the distinctive, Bertone-styled coupé to 150mph. Islero running gear was employed but wedded to a platform-type, semi-monocoque chassis rather than the former's tubular frame. Introduced in January 1970, the Series II cars came with an extra 25bhp, 155mph top speed, an improved dashboard layout and the option of power assisted steering. The dashboard was revised yet again in late 1972 for the Series III, which also incorporated power steering as standard, up-rated brakes, minor suspension improvements and a restyled front grille. Espada production ceased in 1978 after 1,217 of these most imposing cars had been built.

Built to production number '473', chassis number '8346' was delivered finished in Verde Pallido with Verde leather interior. It was supplied new to the Lamborghini dealer, Sartippour in Teheran, Iran, some eight years before the revolution that would sweep away the Shah and establish the Islamic Republic. The previous owner gave this Espada to the current owner around 26 years ago. It was restored some years ago by a garage in Winterthur, Switzerland and is currently finished in blue metallic (a Mercedes-Benz colour) with beige leather interior. Sold with Swiss Carte Grise.

Please note this motor car is subject to the reduced local import tax should it remain in the EU.

Although the car also comes with a Swiss Carte Grise, ASI document, and a Carta di Circolazione, please note the car will be subject to re-import tax should it return to Switzerland with a new owner.