CHASSIS
NO.
6012
ENGINE
NO.
1848
24,909
km
(15,477
miles)
3,939cc
DOHC
V12
6
Weber
Carburetors
325bhp
at
7,000rpm
5-Speed
Manual
Transaxle
4-Wheel
Independent
Suspension
4-Wheel
Hydraulic
Disc
Brakes
*The
5th
of
Only
125
Isleros
built
*Unique
characteristics
present
on
only
the
earliest
examples
*Exquisitely
restored
from
top
to
bottom
in
striking
period
color
*Excellent
candidate
for
the
finest
Concours
events
*Rare
Evolution
of
Lamborghini's
Classic
1960s
Grand
Tourer
Launched
at
the
Geneva
Salon
in
1968,
the
Islero
was
the
ultimate
evolution
of
Ferruccio
Lamborghini's
first
model,
the
Touring-styled
350GT.
It
is
widely
believed
that
Ferruccio
Lamborghini
himself
greatly
influenced
the
car's
styling,
and
it
was
generally
considered
one
of
his
favorite
creations.
The
Islero
was
Ferruccios
choice
of
daily
driver
and
the
company
car
which
he
maintained.
The
Islero's
square-tube
chassis
was
based
on
that
of
its
predecessors,
though
with
a
wider
track
to
accommodate
wider
tires.
Since
Lamborghini's
go-to
coachbuilder,
Carrozzeria
Touring,
was
no
longer
in
business,
Lamborghini
commissioned
ex-Touring
personnel
led
by
Mario
Marazzi
to
design
and
build
the
elegantly
understated
coachwork
which
was
new
for
the
model.
The
model
was
named
after
the
legendary
bull
that
killed
Spain's
best
matador,
'Manolete'.
As
with
the
400
GT,
housed
beneath
an
impressively
low-slung
bonnet
was
the
sonorous
4.0
liter
V12
providing
the
power.
The
engine
was
designed
by
Giotto
Bizzarrini
and
finessed
by
Giampaolo
Dallara.
This
four-cam
engine
sported
six
Weber
carbs
and
could
spin
up
to
7,000
rpm.
It
was
rated
at
325
horsepower,
and
a
five-speed
manual
transmission
was
standard.
The
suspension
was
fully
independent,
with
unequal-length
A-arms
and
coil
springs
at
all
four
corners
and
Girling
disc
brakes
clamped
all
four
wheels.
Contemporary
reviews
reported
excellent
handling
and
grip.
The
Islero
offered
virtually
all
the
performance
of
a
Miura
in
a
far
more
civilized
package.
Car
magazine's
test
Islero
achieved
a
true
157mph
back
in
1969,
proving
to
be
as
quiet
and
stable
at
its
maximum
as
at
130mph.
It
was
also
startlingly
quick
off
the
mark,
hitting
60mph
in
just
5.9
seconds
and
hurtling
to
100mph
in
only
13.7
seconds,
outstanding
figures
even
today.
Despite
an
impeccable
pedigree,
the
Islero,
125
of
which
were
manufactured
between
1968
and
1969,
is
today
one
of
the
most
overlooked
of
Lamborghini's
early
front-engined
cars.
The
first
Islero
was
completed
by
the
factory
March
6,
1968
and
all
the
rest
of
the
first
series
were
finished
by
Christmas
except
for
one
car
which
was
finished
on
February
17,
1969.
This
outstanding
example
is
one
of
the
finest
Isleros
that
has
been
brought
to
market
in
recent
years.
Islero
production
began
with
Chassis
number
6000,
which
was
the
prototype,
more
commonly
referred
to
at
the
"prototipo".
Each
example
after
the
prototype
was
counted
by
3's,
making
chassis
number
6012
only
the
5th
Islero
to
leave
the
factory.
Cars
early
on
in
the
production
run
are
noted
to
have
unique
characteristics
before
the
final
production
procedures
were
put
into
place.
One
of
the
most
desirable
features
of
the
first
17
cars
were
the
Borrani
wire
wheels
that
they
were
fitted
with,
matching
the
Islero
that
appeared
at
the
Geneva
Salon
and
in
the
company's
brochure.
The
remaining
108
cars
wore
the
commonly
seen
production
Campagnolo
cast
magnesium
wheels.
Number
6012
also
wears
unique
side
vents
in
the
front
fenders,
as
noted
in
the
online
Islero
database.
In
the
early
2010s,
the
car
was
sent
to
Italy
where
it
received
a
multi-year,
nut-and-bolt,
rotisserie
restoration.
Every
inch
of
the
car
has
been
restored
to
better
than
new
condition.
The
exterior
is
finished
in
a
beautiful
and
period
shade
of
metallic
bronze
-
the
finish
is
absolutely
incredible.
Every
fiber
of
the
interior
has
been
replaced
with
the
highest
quality
materials.
The
supple
black
leather
sea