Lamborghini Jalpa
1981–1988 · Lamborghini Jalpa — Sports Car, V8, designed by Marc Deschamps.
The Story
The Jalpa was Lamborghini’s olive branch to the real world: an ‘affordable’ Lambo for buyers who wanted the badge and the V8 howl without the Countach’s price or its impracticality. Launched in 1981 as a development of the ultra-rare Silhouette, it kept the Targa roof and the transverse V8 — now 3.5 litres and 255 hp — and softened the whole package into something you could genuinely live with.
Styled by Marc Deschamps at Bertone, with engineering input from Lamborghini’s Giulio Alfieri, it enjoyed a real moment of fame: in Rocky IV (1985), Rocky Balboa is seen lovingly polishing his Jalpa, a red Countach parked behind him. Through a turbulent decade of changing ownership, this was the entry-level Lamborghini.
Its real distinction is historical. When production ended in 1988, the Jalpa became the LAST Lamborghini V8 — and the marque would not build another until the Urus SUV arrived a full thirty years later, in 2018. The humble ‘baby Lambo’ quietly bookended an entire era.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Sports Car class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Marc Deschamps
Succeeded Gandini as Bertone’s design chief in 1980. Facelifted the Silhouette into the Jalpa and refreshed the Countach; also styled the mass-market Citroën BX. Source: Bertone design histories.
Studio Motors POV
The Jalpa is the affordable, usable, historically bookmarked Lamborghini — the last of the V8s and a quiet bargain. We’d take a clean, documented example as the most honest way to own an analog ’80s Lambo without Countach money.
The Engine
Lamborghini V8 (vintage)
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Jalpa
Worth Knowing About the Jalpa
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- It was the LAST Lamborghini V8 until the Urus arrived in 2018 — a 30-year gap.
- Rocky Balboa drives one in Rocky IV (1985).
- It's a more usable, affordable development of the ultra-rare Silhouette.
5 Fast Facts
- Built 1981–1988; 410 made.
- 3.5L transverse V8, 255 hp; Targa top.
- Designed by Marc Deschamps at Bertone.
- The entry-level Lamborghini of the 1980s.
- The last Lamborghini V8 for 30 years (until the 2018 Urus).
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
No individual owner is firmly documented in this pass; the Jalpa’s fame is on-screen (Rocky IV), not a celebrity garage. (We don’t guess owners.)
Studio Buyer’s Brief
410 cars; rust-free examples with history lead. The transverse V8 and Targa are robust, but trim and parts can be hard to source — check for corrosion and electrical gremlins. As the last Lamborghini V8, it’s an under-the-radar collectible. Values ~$50K–175K.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Lamborghini Jalpa
- Class
- Sports Car
- Production years
- 1981–1988
- Units built
- 410 total
- Variants
- Engine layout
- Mid
- Engine
- V8
- Engine family
- Lamborghini V8 (vintage)
- Displacement
- 3.5L (3,485 cc)
- Power
- 255 hp
- Torque
- 235 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 6 s
- Top speed
- 155 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 169 hp/tonne · 13.1 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 3329 lb
Questions
Jalpa FAQ
What is the Lamborghini Jalpa famous for?
The Jalpa is famous for being the last Lamborghini V8 sports car of the classical era. When production ended in 1988, the marque would not build another V8 until the Urus SUV arrived in 2018 — a gap of thirty years. It quietly closed the V8 lineage begun by the Urraco in 1972.
Is the Lamborghini Jalpa in any movies?
Yes. Rocky Balboa drives a black Jalpa in Rocky IV (1985), with a red Countach also featured in the scene — one of the more memorable Lamborghini cameos of the 1980s.
What engine does the Lamborghini Jalpa use?
The Jalpa uses a 3.5-litre transverse mid-mounted V8 producing 255 hp, an evolution of the Silhouette’s 3.0-litre unit designed by Giulio Alfieri. It drives the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox, giving 0–60 mph in approximately 6 seconds and a 155 mph top speed.
How much does a Lamborghini Jalpa cost today?
Lamborghini Jalpa values range from approximately $50,000 for driver-grade examples to $175,000 for the finest documented cars. As the last Lamborghini V8 for thirty years and a culturally significant 1980s icon, collector appreciation for the Jalpa has been growing and it is widely regarded as undervalued relative to its historical significance.
Can you buy a Lamborghini Jalpa?
Yes. The Jalpa appears regularly through specialist classic-car dealers and at auction, and at current values represents one of the most accessible entries into classic V8 Lamborghini ownership.
The Lamborghini Lineup
Explore every Lamborghini
350 GT ’64400 GT ’66Miura ’66Espada ’68Islero ’68
Jarama ’70Urraco ’72Countach ’74Silhouette ’76
Jalpa ’81LM002 ’86
Murcielago ’01Gallardo ’03Reventon ’08
Aventador ’11Veneno ’13Huracan ’14Centenario ’16Huracan Performante ’17Urus ’18Aventador SVJ ’18Sian ’19
Huracan STO ’21Countach LPI 800-4 ’21Revuelto ’23Temerario ’25
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