1968 Lamborghini Islero Coupe

The Lamborghini Islero was style and built by Mario Marazzi, formerly of Carrozzeria Touring in Milan. It had a longer roofline than the 400 GT and rode on light-alloy, center-lock wheels sourced from the Miura. Power was from a four-liter V-12 engine delivering 320 horsepower and controlled through a five-speed gearbox. Zero-to-sixty was accomplished in less than six seconds and it had a 165 mph top speed. It had a fully independent suspension and larger, power-assisted, four-wheel Girling disc brakes.

This Lamborghini Islero 400 GT 2+2 is number 106 of a series of 125 units. It departed Sant'Agata Bolognese wearing Blu Notte Metallizzato (Blue Metallic) paint over Senape (Mustard) leather. It was delivered to Dr. Giordello in late November of 1968, a Lamborghini dealer in Naples. It is believed to have been exported to the United States in the 1980s, passing through the hands of an individual in Boston and then spending 15 years parked at a Jaguar dealership in Chicago.

In 2001, having approximately 30,000 km on its odometer, it was purchased by Dr. Fernando Sanchez of New Orleans. Dr. Sanchez restored it to working order, and drove it sparingly. The current owner purchased it from Dr. Sanchez in 2003 and commissioned a restoration.

The car was stripped to bare metal and then re-sprayed in its original factory color. The door panels, center consoles, and dashboard retain their original pigskin; the seats have been re-covered in leather; the carpets have been given new Wilton wool.

Currently, the odometer shows 53,000 km.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2017