Debuting at the 1968 Geneva Auto Show, the Lamborghini Islero is a grand tourer Lamborghini produced in 1968. But after a short production run of one model year, the Italian automaker followed up the Islero with the Lamborghini Islero S. Calling the 1969 Islero S a refresh might be an understatement since the updates were substantial. Changes included, among other things, a bigger hood scoop and engine cooling vents built into the front fenders. Lamborghini rolled out the Islero after its 400 GT, equipped with the Lamborghini V12 motor, had run its course. While many Lamborghinis resemble the automotive equivalent of proud and regal peacocks, Lamborghini wanted the Islero brand to be more aesthetically conservative than the Lamborghini Espada. The Espada also made its debut at the 1968 Geneva Auto Show. Both vehicles had a 2+2 coupe body style. Constructed with a tubular steel frame platform with riveted aluminum body panels, the Islero has a 3.9-liter Lamborghini V12 paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Mario Marazzi, a designer from Italian coachbuilding business Carrozzeria Marazzi, built the car's body. While Lamborghini manufactured the Islero and the Islero S for a combined two model years, the second model year in 1969 showed many styling updates. The Islero S had the Italian carmaker’s famed V12 engine. But what about the Islero S horsepower? The 1969 Islero S came with 350 HP -- 25 HP more than the 1968 Islero. It was a slight increase in power under the hood. Let’s dive into our Islero S review to learn about the car, find out about the Islero S price, and more. If interested in purchasing a car online, check out Exotic Car Trader to find the right Lamborghini for your needs. But before doing that, though, read our Islero S review.
Lamborghini enthusiasts don’t ask questions like -- where was the Islero S made? They know the automaker manufactured the classic coupe in Italy. Lamborghini tapped Mario Marazzi from Carrozzeria Marazzi to design the coupe. When Lamborghini built the Islero S in 1969, it was a relief in some respects. The follow-up to the Islero, dubbed the Islero S, corrected some of the Islero's shortcomings. According to some sources, the Islero's body and interior lacked the refinement people usually associate with Lamborghini cars. By this point in the Lamborghini Islero S review, you might want to know how many Islero S were produced. The answer is 100. As for the Islero, the carmaker made 125. So, the combined tally for the 1968 Islero and the 1969 Islero S is 225. If you have to choose between the two model years, it's hard to argue against the Islero S being the superior model. For one thing, the exterior changes make it a more refined Lamborghini -- but more on that in another section. There are also fewer Islero S cars than Islero cars, so collectability is better with the 1969 model. The Islero and Islero S replaced the Touring-built 350 GT and 400 GT cars. But Lamborghini lovers would likely be happy with any of these cars in their garages. If interested in selling your high-end car, you need the right partner to simplify the process. Exotic Car Trader is an online peer-to-peer platform for selling exotic, luxury, antique, and other high-end vehicles. Buyers and sellers are verified, so you don’t have to worry about being scammed. If you want to sell your car with minimum fuss, check out the site to learn how we make it easy to buy or sell vehicles.
When most people -- enthusiasts or otherwise -- think about Lamborghini, they envision raw power, awesome speed, and aesthetically attractive interior and exterior designs. While the Islero has a 325 horsepower engine, the Islero S benefits from a bump up in power for a total of 350 horsepower. Lamborghini also boosted the compression ratio for the Islero S to 10.8:1 from 9.5:1 in the original Islero. The torque for both vehicles is the same. The Islero S top speed is 161 mph. It turns out the vehicle can really scoot as the Islero S 0-60 mph time is 6.2 seconds, pretty quick for a car from the 60s. The Islero horsepower and torque are 350 HP and 276.6 ft-lbs, respectively, while the Islero S weight is 1,240 kg. The famed Lamborghini V12 engine wasn't just in the Islero and Islero S. The carmaker also included it in the Jarama, 400 GT, Espada, and Miura. The V12 had six Weber 40 DCOE carburetors providing fuel and air. The car company mated the engine to a five-speed all-synchromesh manual transmission.
There are some notable improvements on the Islero S interior compared to the Islero. In fact, the interior and the exterior -- more on the exterior in the next section -- had some issues that Lamborghini addressed in the Islero S. As for the Islero S interior, it benefits from an improved dashboard and overall interior fit and finish. The Islero S comes with a leather interior, power windows, and power steering. The windows for the driver and front-seat passenger came with fixed triangular planes. Unlike the Islero, the Islero S rear window is electrically heated. Lamborghini also went with a different seat style to replace the one in the Islero. So, you can see, the Islero S interior is noticeably different compared to the Islero. While an Islero in good condition can be a great deal today, you’ll likely want the updated Islero S interior. It’ll come at a premium, but the Islero S is an improvement over its predecessor.
The Islero S is a different vehicle inside and outside. It's 1,270 mm high, 1,730 mm wide, and 4,525 mm long. It also has a 1,380 mm rear track. In terms of changes for Islero S exterior design, it has flared wheel arches, side fender vents horizontally placed, a larger hood scoop, and a couple of driving lights placed on the front grill. The Islero S also has an improved suspension thanks to upgrades to the rear. Bigger disc brakes are also an improvement over the Islero a model year earlier. Similar to the Islero, the Islero S came with a variation of the square-tube chassis common with the 400 GT 2+2 -- along with a wide track to fit the Campagnolo wheels. Considering that only 100 Islero S vehicles were manufactured in its lone model year, you can bet there's some scarcity value. The Islero S interior and exterior afford improvements over the competent -- yet rough-around-the-edges Islero -- make it a good choice for classic car enthusiasts who want a classic Lamborghini. The Islero S design is a keeper.
Don't make the mistake of comparing the Islero S tech with the feature-laden tech in today's sports cars. By comparison, the Islero S tech could appear spartan. That said, it's really about the performance and driving experience for people seeking a sports car like the Islero S. When looking at the Islero S technology, it’s really about the powertrain. It starts with the Lamborghini V12 engine. The V12 produces 350 HP and is capable of a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 161 mph. It had enough get-up-and-go for Ferruccio Lamborghini, founder of the famed Italian car maker, to drive one himself. The vehicle includes Miura P400S-type camshafts and a higher compression ratio. The company's flagship engine is mated to a five-speed, all-synchromesh manual transmission with a hydraulically operated dry clutch.
If you’re looking for a Lamborghini with scarcity value, the Islero S is worth adding to your shortlist. Because of that scarcity, however, a car could cost you a pretty penny. That is if you can even find a Lamborghini Islero for sale. The Islero S originally cost $20,000. That amount in 1969 is worth almost $173,000 in today's dollars. If on the hunt for a Lamborghini Islero S today, the average cost is around $290,000. A model that's a bit of a fixer-upper will cost a lot less. But a mint or near-mint model can cost you well above the average price. When it comes to Islero S trim levels, there was really only one. But original buyers customized their cars based on features such as air conditioning, exterior paint colors, and even interior upholstery.
If this Lamborghini Islero S review has whetted your appetite, you might be interested in seeing if there are any for sale anywhere in the country. Your best bet is to use an online peer-to-peer platform like Exotic Car Trader to find vetted sellers -- if you’re looking to buy -- or vetted buyers -- if you’re looking to sell your classic or exotic vehicle. We do all the hard work to create an online community safe for buyers and sellers. We also partner with popular car-selling website platforms to maximize exposure and options for sellers and buyers. Based on this Lamborghini Islero S review and the Exotic Car Trader platform, you’ll have what you need if the goal is to buy or sell a Lamborghini or any other high-end classic car. You owe it to yourself to find out how we can help whether you’re interested in buying or selling a car.
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