Lamborghini has a long history of famously naming their cars after fighting bulls. The Miura, Diablo, and Murcialago are all bulls or bull breeds that inspired their cars. After all, their logo is a fighting bull, so naturally it fits!
In 1968, Lamborghini released their newest 4-seat grand touring coupé and named it the Espada. For this car they bucked tradition and did not name the car after a bull.
The 325hp Lamborghini Espada was launched at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show along side the Islero. This was the company’s family car offering. This was the thinking man’s choice when the wife pointed out the kids wouldn’t fit in a Lamborghini.
It was designed by the Gandini at the design house Bertone. Gandini took cues from two of his own show cars, the Lamborghini Marzal and the Bertone Pirana. Ferrucio Lamborghini didn’t love to the glass panels in the gullwing doors on the Marzal, but loved the Pirana, so the design house combined features of both.
Three different series were produced during its ten year run from 1968 to 1978. 1,227 were made before it ceased production in 1978 making it one of Lamborghini’s best sellers.
The origin of the Lamborghini Espada name
For the Espada, Lamborghini shrugged off tradition and decided to change things up slightly. They decided to name the car not after a bull exactly, but something none-the-less associated with bull fighting.
Espada is a Spanish word for “sword” referring to the sword that the torero uses to kill the bull after a bullfight.
This weapons theme is why we decided to put the Espada in the weapons category of the Ultimate Taxonomy of Car Names poster.