When we did our list of the five most forgotten supercars, we expected that the most knowledgable car enthusiasts out there would probably know at least a few of them. With this list, we wanted to cater to a specific brand that many casual car enthusiasts think they know a ton about. Most people know all about the big Lamborghini V12 models dating back to the Miura, but there were plenty of models in between that people often overlook. These models may not be completely forgotten, but are often overlooked compared to models like the Aventador.
Lamborghini only builds two-seat supercars at the moment, but the company does have a history of building four-seat grand tourers. Lamborghini may have had its first big success with the Miura in 1966, but it followed up that success with the Espada. The Espada was built from 1968 to 1978 and 1,217 were built in that time, making it the most successful Lamborghini until the Countach. The Espada used a 3.9-liter V12, which made 345 hp in the most powerful version of the car. It is definitely not what we would call "classically beautiful," but we love the Espada and wish that Lamborghini would make a modern successor.
At the same time that Lamborghini produced the Espada, it also produced the Islero. The Islero was built as the replacement for the 400GT, which was an improved version of Lamborghini's first car, the 350GT. Only 250 examples of the Islero were ever built, with 100 being the S model. The car featured a 2+2 layout with a 4.0-liter V12 up front. Production of the Islero only lasted from 1968 to 1969, so it is often forgotten compared to other Lamborghini models that had much longer lifespans. With 325 hp on tap, the Islero could hit 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 154 mph. The Islero was quite tame stylistically compared to other Lamborghini models, another reasons why it is often overlooked.
The Islero was followed up by an equally forgettable model, the Jarama. This car was a bit more successful, with a 328 unit run from 1970 to 1976. The Islero needed to comply with new US safety standards so instead of revising that car, Lamborghini just rolled out a whole new model. The Jarama was built on a shortened version of the Espada's chassis and was heavier than the car it replaced. Still, it had the same top speed thanks to a more powerful version of the signature V12 which made 365 hp. We prefer the slightly uncovered headlights of the Jarama, which make it slightly more interesting than the Islero.
The Lamborghini Urraco had a revival in popularity after James May drove one in a popular Top Gear film with three "budget" supercars.The Urraco was a 2+2 mid-engined sports car that Lamborghini built from 1973 to 1979. The car came with three different V8 engines in 2.0-, 2.5- and 3.0-liter displacements. The most powerful P300 model had 247 hp and could hit 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. 776 units of the Urraco were built, and it is one of the least expensive Lamborghini models on the used market today. Prices have risen greatly since that Top Gear episode, but it is still one of the lesser models in the brand's history.
The Lamborghini Silhouette was an odd, fill-in model in between the Urraco and the Jalpa. The Silhouette used the same 3.0-liter V8 as the Urraco. Only 54 were made and only 31 are known to exist. This was the first Lamborghini to have a targa roof, which was also used on the Jalpa. The Jalpa was built from 1981 to 1988 and increased the V8 to 3.5 liters with 255 hp. When Chrysler bought Lamborghini in 1988, it killed the Jalpa and began developing the Diablo. Ever since then, Lamborghini models have been extremely popular even amongst non-enthusiasts.
