The iconic Lamborghini Islero was produced by Lamborghini between 1968-1970, featuring the almighty Lamborghini V12 engine. It was the replacement for the 400GT. The Lamborghini Islero was first introduced at the 1968 Geneva Auto Show alongside the Lamborghini Espada. At the time, both automobiles featured a 2+2 coupe body style. The Islero was intended to be a more visually conservative alternative to the then-radical Espada, in keeping with the traditional style of the earlier 400 GT. The Islero comes with a unique story. The car’s namesake, Islero, was named after a Miura bull that killed Manuel Rodriguez back on 28th August 1947.
How Well Built Was The Iconic Lamborghini Islero?
Carrozzeria Marazzi was chosen to construct the Islero’s iconic body. This firm was selected as it was founded by Carlo Marazzi, a former employee of the now-bankrupt Carrozzeria Touring.
The design was essentially a rebody of the 400 GT, with its superior outward visibility, roomier interior, and additional soundproofing improving driver and passenger comfort compared to previous models. The Islero’s body and interior suffered from numerous deficiencies in fit and finish, some of which were corrected in the later Islero S. Lamborghini test driver, Bob Wallace, stated in an interview that the Islero’s quality issues were due to Carrozzeria Marazzi’s lack of resources and that Marazzi-built cars were never built to the same quality as those built at Touring. In total, only 125 were ever manufactured.
An updated Islero, dubbed the Islero S or Islero GTS, was released in 1969. With this model, there were quite a few styling changes, including engine cooling vents on the front fenders, an enlarged hoop scoop (which supplied air to the car, not the engine), tinted windows, round side-marker lights (instead of teardrop lights shown with the original), and a fixed section in the door windows. Various other changes included slightly increased power output, larger brake discs, revised car suspension and revamped dashboard and interior. 100 copies of the Islero S were built, bringing the production total of the Islero nameplate to 225 cars.
What Was The Performance Like In The Lamborghini Islero?
The Islero had 325 hp and a 4.0-liter Lamborghini V12 engine, identical to the one used in the 400 GT, Miura, Espada and Jarama. With its elegant, simple, clean styling, it was exactly the ‘businessman's express’ which was close to Ferruccio Lamborghini’s heart, making it the ideal personal car for him. The Lamborghini-designed five-speed manual transmission was equipped with synchromesh and a hydraulically operated dry clutch. The fully independent double wishbone suspension and disc brakes were based on the 400 GT design, with thicker anti-roll bars, a wider front track and revised suspension. The Islero’s top speed was recorded at 154 mph, and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph took a swift 6.4 seconds. With the Islero S, the engine was tuned to 350 hp, but the torque remained the same. Rear suspension was revised to be closed to the Espada’s design, to improve stability under acceleration and braking. The top speed of the S improved to 161 mph and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in a slightly better 6.2 seconds.
Have Any Of These Classic Lamborghinis Been Maintained?
The earliest history files accompanying this car pinpoint previous ownership to Switzerland, then the Netherlands. In the car of its Dutch owner throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, invoices show the Lamborghini was maintained by Italauto of Achterveld. The lengthy document on file covers work both minor and major, including engine piston and head gasket replacement. The car also received a new clutch slave cylinder and the suspension and brakes had also been given some love, including new shock absorbers as well as new brake hoses. The interior had been reupholstered in the ligo al Tobacco color scheme, and wiring for the wipers, turn signals, and headlights had also been tweaked. Offered for sale after years of static display in Kuwait, this rare Islero presents an opportunity for any keen Lamborghini collector. Though it only shows a mere 23,000 miles, the Islero has spent time at some classy gatherings, including several appearances at the Concorso Italiano and the Quail. When the Islero was first manufactured in 1968, they were placed on the market at a reasonably priced $20,000. Upon review, the top sale price for the iconic Lamborghini Islero was $313,000 in August 2019. Overall, the average price of an Islero comes in at a hefty $249,525. The most recent purchase of a Lamborghini Islero was made in Dubai in February 2020, for $218,500.
This exemplary machine still today provides class, style and shows impeccable taste. Its popularity is still ever present; even 53 years on from its debut. With keen Lamborghini enthusiasts from all over the world still showing interest, it’s proven that this classic monster will continue to hold its value throughout the decades.