Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Lamborghini Islero
Now worth an average of $251,436 the Lamborghini Islero is one of the rarest and most obscure Lamborghini models in history.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Lamborghini Islerowas first introduced in 1968 at the Geneva Auto Show, along with its weird sibling, the Espada. It featured Lamborghini’s standard 4.0-liter V12 engine which could produce 325 hp at the time—propelling the Islero from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds.
Intended to be the successor of the exceedingly rare 400GT, the Islero only saw 2 years of production from 1968 to 1969. Only 225 Isleros were ever made—70 of which were the slightly modified Islero S version.
Want the scoop on one of Lamborghini’s most forgotten cars? We're delving into the furthest reaches of the autoverse to find you everything there is to know about the beautiful and rare Islero.
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What makes the Lamborghini Islero special?
Following Lamborghini’s trend of bullfighting-themed car names, Islero refers to a Miura bull that killed a matador in 1947. It was very similar to the equally obscure Espada in that it was not a race car—although an upgraded Islero was entered into the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans where it suffered a crash during qualifiers and never got to compete in the main race.
Unfortunately, the Isleros had quite a few quality issues throughout its two years on the market. However, that didn’t stop Ferruccio Lamborghini and his brother Edmondo from owning them and driving them regularly.
Engine
The 4.0-liter Lamborghini V12 engine was based on the original Lamborghini engine designed by Giotto Bizzarini. It produced 325 horsepower in the standard Islero and 350-hp in the Islero S with Miura P400S-type camshafts and a raised compression ratio. Both model engines sent this power to a five-speed manual transmission with a hydraulic clutch.
As with any Lamborghini V12 car, fuel economy was not exactly a priority. The Islero gets about 16 mpg on a good day, so it doesn’t exactly scream road tripper by today's economic standards.
Speed
The Islero can go from zero-to-60 mph in 6.2 seconds—not record-breaking by modern standards, but certainly impressive for a 1960s touring car. It tops out at 165 mph, beating its Espada sibling by 10 mph and just barely passing the 1971 BMW M1 Procar by 1 mph. This Lambo had a long way to go to beat the fastest Ferrari Boxers of the 70s, though, which topped out about 20 mph ahead.
Styling
It may not be a Miura—one of the most beautiful and iconic car designs in history—but the Islero does seem to succeed as a “futuristic” redesign of the 400 GT, especially with its hidden headlamps.
Roger Moore drove an Islero S in The Man Who Haunted Himself—he was also the only James Bond not to drive an Aston Martin. But then, James Bond never got to drive a Lamborghini… All this to say, even Roger Moore looked pretty good driving an Islero—and that is saying something!
Customization
While you could always build a custom Islero, it would almost seem like a crime against their rarity considering so few were made and even fewer remain in top condition. And while you may be able to find an original Islero with some custom modifications from the time of manufacturing, it’s safe to say that any remaining Islero of the original 225 is inherently unique.
The Islero S: The final Islero
It’s hard to say exactly why the Islero never caught on like the slightly less cramped and significantly sillier-looking Espada. The Islero S—sometimes referred to as the GTS—did attempt to remedy this by fixing some of the technical issues that the original model experienced.
The Islero GTS sported a new rear suspension—more similar to the Espada’s to improve stability and boosted the Islero’s top speed to 161 mph with more horsepower and a raised compression ratio. Still, the Islero S could not see this Lambo beyond its two-year lifespan.
How much does a Lamborghini Islero cost?
Prices so a used Islero will vary depending on the one you’re looking at—each old car has a different story, so some will be in better condition than others. That being said, the average price of an Islero is $251,436 according to Classic.com. That’s about twice the price of an Espada from the same era. A base model Islero leans closer to $200K, while the rarer, more sought-after S model runs toward $300K.
How much does it cost to insure a Lamborghini Islero?
Lamborghinis aren't exactly known for cheap and predictable insurance costs, but fortunately, older cars get much better rates than newer ones. On average, a 1969 Lamborghini Islero will cost about $2,122 a year to insure, but you can expect different costs for different drivers depending on age, credit history, accident history, and location.
For example, a senior driver who lives in a state with lower insurance costs could end up paying closer to $1,500 a year. On the other hand, if you’re a teenage driver living in a higher-cost state like
Louisiana
or Michigan
, you could end up with an annual premium closer to $3,500 or more. That being said, you’ll still be spending much less to insure a Lamborghini from 1969 as opposed to a newer model.
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How does the Lamborghini Islero compare to other models?
The Espada sure is unique! But just how does it stack up against modern competitors? From the Lamborghini Huracán, Countach, and Urus to competing makes like Ferrari and Bugatti, here’s how the Espada compares in price, specs, and speed.
Vehicle | Body types | 2022 starting price | Engine | 0 to 60 | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lamborghini Islero GTS | Coupe | $251,436 (average price) | 3.9-liter V-12 w/350 hp | 6.2 seconds | 165 mph |
Lamborghini Countach | Coupe | $2,640,000 | Electrically-assisted 6.5-liter V-12 w/802 hp | Unknown | Unknown |
Lamborghini Huracán | Coupe or convertible | $213,104 | 5.2-liter V-10 w/631 hp | 2.5 seconds | 204 mph |
Lamborghini Urus | SUV | $225,501 | Twin-turbo V8 w/641 hp | 3.2 seconds | 109 mph |
Bugatti Chiron | Coupe | $3,300,000 | 8.0-liter W-16 w/1,578 hp | 2.2 seconds | 261 mph |
Ferrari SF90 Stradale | Coupe or convertible | $507,000 | 4.0-liter V8 w/three electric motors, combined 986 hp | 2.3 seconds | 211 mph |
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Where you can buy a Lamborghini Islero
You’ll probably get laughed off the floor if you walk into a Lamborghini dealership asking to buy a new Islero GTS—given that only 225 of these were made over 50 years ago.
Instead, you’re going to have to find a private seller—just keep in mind that any Islero in good condition is likely to get scooped up pretty quickly. You may have to do quite a few online searches before you find a classic Islero available for sale or auction.
Save up for a Lambo by lowering your insurance premiums
You may be cutting it a bit close financially with your prospective Islero purchase, so it probably wouldn’t hurt to consider all options for buffering your budget. With
Jerry
’s brilliant comparison shopping layout, you can easily find savings on your car insurance
to free up some financial wiggle room.Jerry is a
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How much is the cheapest Lamborghini?
The Huracán coupe is the cheapest currently available Lamborghini, with a starting price of just $213,104—still cheaper than the average ‘69 Lamborghini Islero.
