When Lamborghini found their Islero model would no longer meet US safety and emissions regulations mandated from 1970 they used the opportunity to develop today’s featured model the Jarama.
The Jarama sports Coupé was designed around a shortened Lamborghini Espada platform.
The bodywork was designed by Marcello Gandini working for Bertone.
Interestingly the headlight covers do not pop up but instead fold down into a recess below the light units.
Like the Espada the original incarnation of the Jarama was powered by the same 350 hp version of the 4 litre / 244 cui Lamborghini V12 motor.
From some angles the Jarama looks similar to another Gandini design, the slightly less aggressive ISO Lele which was launched the year before the Jarama in 1969.
In 1973 revisions were introduced which included a 365 hp version of the V12 and options including removable roof panels, power steering, automatic transmission were available with the model now known as the Jarama S.
The Jarama name was not taken from the race track outside Madrid, rather the Jarama Bull fighting region.
From 1970 to 1973 Lamborghini built 176 original variants of the Jarama and from 1973 to 1976 152 Jarama S models as seen in these photograph’s taken at last years Auto Italia held at Brooklands.
Thanks for joining me on this Short Sword edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Pikes Peak Special. Don’t forget to come back now !
