1968 Lamborghini Islero Coupe

Ferruccio Lamborghini's first production car, the Touring-styled 350GT, was introduced in 1964 at the Geneva Motor Show. It was followed by the 400GT 2+2 and then the Islero in 1968, with Geneva once again serving as the venue of choice. The 3.5-liter, four-cam V12 engine powering the 350GT was designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and installed in a tubular chassis penned by Gianpaolo Dallara. A total of 131 examples of the 350GT were completed before the arrival of the 400GT, and 247 of those were built before it was superseded by the Islero.

The square-tube chassis utilized by the Islero was based on the one used by its predecessor but with a wider track to accommodate the wider tires. With Touring having gone out of business, the Islero styling was penned by ex-Touring personnel led by Mario Marazzi.

The 4.0-liter four-cam V12 engine powering the 400GT was carried over to the Islero but tuned to produce 320 horsepower. Output rose even further in the Islero S to 350 horsepower. A five-speed manual gearbox was standard, and the suspension was fully independent, with unequal-length A-arms and coil springs at all four corners. Girling disc brakes at all four corners provided the stopping power.

Following tradition, Lamborghini named the Islero after a famous bull - one that killed Spain's best matador, 'Manolete.'

The Lamborghini Islero was able to achieve 154 mph (161 mph in the S) and could sprint from zero to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds (6.2 seconds in the S).

A total of 225 examples of the Islero were built between 1968 and 1969

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2024