Lamborghini Islero 400 GT, 1968
Lamborghini Islero
Lamborghini Islero•
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Chassis No.: 6243
Engine No.: 2254 (see text)
US$200,000 USD | Sold
- 3,939cc All-Alloy DOHC V12 Engine
- 6 Weber Twin-choke Carburetors
- 325bhp at 7,000rpm
- 5-Speed Manual Transmission
- 4-Wheel Independent Suspension
- 4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- One of just 125 Islero 400 GTs produced
- Extremely well documented example with copies of factory records on file
- Striking and original 'Bronzo over Senape' livery
As with the 400 GT, housed beneath an impressively low-slung bonnet was the sonorous 4.0-liter V12 providing the power. The engine was designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and finessed by Giampaolo Dallara. This four-cam engine sported six Weber carbs and could spin up to 7,000 rpm. It was rated at 325 horsepower, and a five-speed manual transmission was standard. The suspension was fully independent, with unequal-length A-arms and coil springs at all four corners and Girling disc brakes clamped all four wheels. Contemporary reviews reported excellent handling and grip. The Islero offered virtually all the performance of a Miura in a far more civilized package.
magazine's test Islero achieved a true 157mph back in 1969, proving to be as quiet and stable at its maximum as at 130mph. It was also startlingly quick off the mark, hitting 60mph in just 5.9 seconds and hurtling to 100mph in only 13.7 seconds, outstanding figures even today. Despite an impeccable pedigree, the Islero, 125 of which were manufactured between 1968 and 1969, is today one of the most overlooked of Lamborghini's early front-engined cars. The first Islero was completed by the factory March 6, 1968 and all the rest of the first series were finished by Christmas except for one car which was finished on February 17, 1969.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
According to factory records on file, this stunning Lamborghini Islero 400 GT was delivered new on October 2nd, 1968, to renowned dealer Garage Foitek of Switzerland. The new Lamborghini was finished much as it appears today, in the striking 'Bronzo' (bronze) exterior color, over a 'Senape' (mustard) colored leather interior and is believed to be one of just a small handful lsleros finished in this era-evoking livery. As the car was fitted with air condition and a miles per hour speedometer, it is quite possible that the car was ultimately sold to Bob Estes, although other records mention it was purchased new by a gentleman named Mr. Bader.
By the 1980s, the lslero was found in the hands of a Mr. Gunther Kraxner of Kirchberg, Switzerland, although the car ceased to be registered after 1991, presumably following his passing. When acquired by Carlo Pina of Solothum, Switzerland, Mr. Kraxner's son reported that the engine had been rebuilt in 1985. The engine could possibly have been swapped early on with another Islero unit, or the numbering could have been carried out incorrectly at the factory, as it is very close in proximately to the number listed on the factory ledger. Mr.
Pina put the Islero up for sale in 2000, at which point it was bought by Beverly Hills, CA-based enthusiast Randy Simon, who soon sold it to Mike Finegan of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Finegan treated the aging lslero to some much-needed attention, commissioning a rebuild of the brakes, fuel lines, leather seats and radiator.
Acquired in September 2003 by Joe Corbacio, the Hershey, Pennsylvania-based Italian car collector renowned for his annual Le Belle Macchine events, the lslero was treated to further refurbishment, as demonstrated by a thick file of receipts found in the history file. This work included rebuilding the suspension and brakes, and installing a correct wood-rimmed steering wheel, headliner, shelf upholstery, carpets, a new custom exhaust, plus copious seals, gaskets, and hoses.
A repaint was commissioned and significant effort was devoted to properly matching the subtle bronze paint color (including consultation with the factory), which takes on the shimmering hues in direct sunlight, giving the elegant V-12 grand tourer a sublime glow. Offered from a Chicago-based collector of exceptional European sports cars, this is a sensational and rare example of one of the final evolutions of the early Lamborghini V-12 grand tourer and will be sure to provide thrills from behind the wheel or on the concours field.
Cost
734,500 AED
