Although the 400GT may be the 2+2 Lamborghini that gets all the heat on auction blocks and in collector car magazines, the sports car that succeeded it—the Lamborghini Islero—is just as deserving of attention. In fact, the more modern Islero, which was built for the 1968 and 1969 model years, has held up better than its predecessor in terms of drivability and reliability.
This is especially true when considering the 1969 Lamborghini Islero S - opens in new window or tab., the name given to the 2.0 version of the coupe. In this iteration, the Italian automaker corrected the quality issues from the early run of cars. Not only did the S boost the power of its 4.0-liter V-12 by 25 horses—bringing the total to 350—but it also punched top speed up to 160 miles per hour, making it one of the quickest cars of its day. A five-speed manual transmission was standard with the car, and six carburetors fed its gulping intake. Other improvements included gentle flaring of the fenders, new seats, and bigger brakes to go with a tweaked rear suspension system.
The 4.0-liter V-12 can be relied on to produce 350 horsepower.
In terms of styling, the Lamborghini Islero and Islero S were a definite step forward from the 400GT. The biggest difference was the deletion of the awkward headlights from their hood-top pods, replaced by hidden units that smoothed out the face of the coupe, giving the car an almost Elan-like feel.
This example shows off the gorgeous seats and other improved interior amenities that came with the S edition of the Islero.
Of course, no Lotus comes with an origin story involving a famous bull from the Miura cattle ranch (the car’s Islero namesake), who managed to fatally gore Manual Sanchez, better known as Manolete and considered by some to be the greatest bullfighter of all time.
The 1969 Lamborghini Islero S found in this auction is one of only 100, with the remaining 125 Isleros built in 1968 without the “S” improvements. Although many of these cars have survived to the present day, few have been given the level of attention seen by this example, with its extensive, six-figure restoration undertaken in 2010 to bring it to better-than-showroom condition. The vehicle has just over 37,194 miles on the clock, with only 75 of those added post-redux.
The Lamborghini's sleek profile still stops traffic today.
At nearly a half-million dollars, this Islero S - opens in new window or tab. might seem too valuable to drive on a regular basis. Indeed, even having such an expensive classic out in regular traffic would be enough to stop the pulse of most auto insurance actuaries. Still, if you were looking for a classic Lamborghini that could handle mile after mile and not have you immediately seek out a chiropractor upon arrival at your destination, this 12-cylinder supercar is it.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.