Unique Lamborghini Espada Is A Fitting Tribute To The Model’s 50th Birthday

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Lamborghini Espada. A fitting time for this rather unique and storied example, then, to come up for auction.

The list of what makes this Espada more special than the rest is long and distinguished. For starters, chassis number 7293 was fitted with a plexiglass sunroof that let more light into its ample cabin. Bertone also painted it, at the customer’s request, in the same 15-coat metallic blue as the one-off Miura Roadster that preceded it.

But that’s not the end of this Espada’s story.

Before its American owner took delivery, Prince Rainier III drove it around the Monaco Grand Prix street circuit, just as he had the previous year with the Marzal concept that previewed its production. Accompanying him for the ride were his wife Princess Grace and his heir, Prince Albert II.

Following its widely televised debut, the four-seat Lambo was air-freighted aboard an Alitalia cargo plane to Boston, where it was showcased at the New England Auto Show. There it captured more than its fair share of attention from the public, and even featured in a Boston Sunday Globe article with the headline “Auto Show Spotlights Italian Beauty.”

The Espada underwent an exhaustive restoration in 2013, and was signed by Prince Albert the following year. It’s since been acquired by Ferruccio Lamborghini’s nephew Fabio, who put it up for auction, along with another Espada, a Jarama, and a pair of tractors from his uncle’s company.

The sale took place just a couple of weeks ago at no less fitting a location than Monaco. While we don’t know how much it sold for just yet, Coys estimated its value at €550,000-750,000 – or about $650-885k at current exchange rates.