Lamborghini Islero
1968–1969 · Lamborghini Islero — Grand Tourer, V12, designed by Mario Marazzi.
The Story
The Islero is the Lamborghini that didn’t want to be noticed — and that was precisely the point. Launched in 1968 as the 400 GT’s replacement, it was deliberately the anti-Espada: where Gandini’s four-seater was long, low and sensational, the Islero was crisp, restrained, almost anonymous. Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted a true gentleman’s express, and had the body built by Carrozzeria Marazzi — a small firm of ex-Touring craftsmen — more or less to his own brief.
Beneath the discreet skin sat the familiar 4.0-litre Bizzarrini V12: 320 hp, or 350 in the later Islero S, good for over 150 mph in near silence. The name, as ever, came from the corrida — Islero was the Miura fighting bull that killed the great matador Manolete in 1947. There is no more Lamborghini way to badge the company’s most understated car.
The clincher: Ferruccio chose an Islero S as his own daily driver. The most telling endorsement any Lamborghini ever received came not from a magazine but from the founder’s own garage — proof that this quiet, continent-crushing GT was the car he’d been trying to build all along. Just 225 were made.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Grand Tourer class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Mario Marazzi
Founded Carrozzeria Marazzi from ex-Touring workers and built the Islero to Ferruccio Lamborghini’s own brief — a deliberately understated GT. Source: Wikipedia: Lamborghini_Islero. FLAG: limited public design record.
Studio Motors POV
The Islero is the insider’s Lamborghini — the one the founder actually drove. We love it precisely because it doesn’t shout: a documented Islero S is a rare, usable V12 GT with the best provenance story in the whole catalogue.
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Islero
Worth Knowing About the Islero
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- Ferruccio Lamborghini chose an Islero S (chassis #6435) as his personal daily driver.
- It's named after the Miura bull 'Islero' that killed legendary matador Manolete in 1947.
- Its body was built by Carrozzeria Marazzi — ex-Touring craftsmen — to a deliberately understated brief.
5 Fast Facts
- Built 1968–1969; 225 made (125 Islero + 100 Islero S).
- 4.0L Bizzarrini V12, 320 hp (350 in the S); 150+ mph.
- The conservative alternative to the radical Espada.
- Body by Carrozzeria Marazzi (after Touring's 1967 bankruptcy).
- The founder's own choice of daily driver.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
Ferruccio Lamborghini himself — his personal Islero S, chassis #6435 (documented, Classic Driver). His brother Edmondo also drove one.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
225 cars; the 100 Islero S models (350 hp, flared arches, vented bonnet) are the ones to want. On a car this rare, provenance and matching numbers are decisive; rust, trim and electrics are the watch-points. Values ~$250K–500K, S/GTS highest.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Lamborghini Islero
- Class
- Grand Tourer
- Production years
- 1968–1969
- Units built
- 225 total (125 Islero + 100 Islero S/GTS)
- Variants
- Islero S (GTS)
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V12
- Engine family
- Bizzarrini V12
- Displacement
- 4.0L (3,929 cc)
- Power
- 350 hp
- Torque
- 290 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 6.2 s
- Top speed
- 161 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 266 hp/tonne · 8.3 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 2899 lb
Questions
Islero FAQ
What is the Lamborghini Islero named after?
The Islero is named after the fighting bull Islero, famous for fatally goring the legendary Spanish matador Manolete in 1947 — one of the most celebrated incidents in bullfighting history. Lamborghini continues its tradition of naming cars after legendary fighting bulls.
Did Ferruccio Lamborghini drive an Islero himself?
Yes. Ferruccio Lamborghini chose an Islero S as his personal road car, chassis number 6435, a fact documented by Classic Driver. His brother Edmondo also owned one. The Islero’s understated, refined character made it the founder’s personal transport of choice from the range he had built.
What engine does the Lamborghini Islero use?
The Islero uses the 4.0-litre Bizzarrini V12 producing 320 hp in the base car and 350 hp in the Islero S. Drive goes to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox, and the car weighs approximately 1,315 kg, making it lighter and more nimble than the contemporaneous Espada.
How much does a Lamborghini Islero cost today?
Lamborghini Islero values range between approximately $250,000 and $500,000, with the rarer Islero S commanding the top of the market. A 2023 auction achieved approximately $478,000 for a strong example. With only 225 built, documented matching-numbers cars attract the strongest interest.
Can you buy a Lamborghini Islero?
Yes. The Islero surfaces occasionally through specialist classic-car dealers, marque registries and private collections.
The Lamborghini Lineup
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