It’s been said that Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted the Espada built as a sort of Italian answer to the Rolls-Royce Corniche: a proper four-seat coupe with a spacious interior, comfortable seats, ample luggage accommodations, a powerful engine, smooth ride, distinctive styling and high build quality. Of course, Ferruccio also wanted this new, proper coupe to achieve speeds of 150 mph, but that was just Ferruccio being Ferruccio.

Introduced in 1968, the Espada enjoyed a 10-year production run with the final car rolling out of Sant’Agata in 1978 with around 1,200 built. The styling was controversial, a sort of love it-hate it design, something Lamborghini was already familiar with. He said long ago that they were not in the business of building cars for everyone, just a select few. The same could be said for Danton Art Kustoms of France, who reimagined what an Espada could look and act like by working with CHD Editions and Carrosserie Hervé to build an Espada that would be unlike any other Lamborghini ever seen.

Built to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Lamborghini Espada in 2018, it is the first ever Fabio Lamborghini-inspired Rat Rod and was custom built using an original Espada body and chassis. Powered by the 3.9 litre Lamborghini V12, the body and interior have been extensively modified for a much more rebellious look and flair. Drawings led to digital models of the concept, and the idea was to maintain the original Espada lines but incorporate modern Lamborghini design cues, like the side scoops from the Reventon.

Rivets were exposed and support trusses were used as styling elements, a satin grey paint applied to the body. Custom wheels were shod with modern Michelin tyres, giving the car an appearance much more in tune with a Hot Rod rather than a supercar. It measures over 8 feet wide, potentially giving it improved ride and handling characteristics over the original. This is certainly a one-of-a-kind Espada reworked as automotive art: controversial, much like the original.

Mecum Auctions will be offering this 1968 Lamborghini Espada CHD Edition at their upcoming Kissimmee auction held between the 2nd-12th January. For more information on this and other vehicles at the sale, click on the link below. Photos: © Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.

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