lambodiecast

I already own the silver metallic version of the Lamborghini Espada in 1/18 made by AutoArt from the day it became available, the Espada is something of an icon among Lamborghini models, a real four-seater with a massive V12 engine up front capable of speeds unheard of at that time ... no wonder it was also called the Italian Rolls Royce ... which might offend some UK residents I guess, nothing compares to a Rolls, but still it shows how important, and different the Espada was back in those days.

So when a nice 1/18 model presented itself I acquired one, silver metallic over a black interior was the first one to arrive, so naturally I went out to buy one. But later on AutoArt also released a few other shades, one being this amazing looking dark blue metallic shade over a nice tan interior ... in my eyes probably the best looking combination on the Espada.

But funds aren't unlimited on this end, so I never got round to adding the blue shade to my collection ... until now. Fortunately a fellow collector was selling his 1/18 models to free up space for his 1/43 scale models, so I was able to buy this magnificent model for a very nice price ... and when it arrived I was even more pleasantly surprised ... the straps were still on the doors, the wires were still on the engine cover and the luggage cover ... this blue beauty never even left it's box before, so I got hold of a brand new AutoArt Espada for a very reasonable price, sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you have bad luck buying models online.

Now I finally added the blue metallic over tan version of the Lamborghini Espada to my collection, and as a matter of fact I have it on display right next to the silver metallic counterpart, a very nice couple in my book. I know there is also a red version out there, but I’m going to stop at these two shades for now, if I’m locating other shades for a nice price I could probably be persuaded to add them, but for now I’m good with these two.

More about this model, what can be said … it is near perfect, the massive dual headlights are there, the amazing looking Series II wheels are mounted instead of the original knock-offs used on the Series I Espada, which also had a different dashboard cluster with a more hexagon design like the Marzal concept showed earlier … wouldn’t it be nice to have a 1/18 Marzal ?

If you open that massive engine cover you unveil a stunning looking V12 engine, 4-liter displacement in real life, and the attention to detail on this AutoArt is simply amazing, you might think I put in a small 1/18 ignition key it she’ll burst into life on the first attempt … but that would be wishful thinking I’m afraid, it isn’t that easy unfortunately, but it sure looks nice nonetheless. If you look very close you can even discover the decals on the filter house.

Onto the interior, as said this blue shade has a tan interior while the silver metallic one has a black interior, but there is also another difference … on the silver metallic shade, the first one released by AutoArt, they actually mounted seat belts for the front seats, on the blue one these are no longer there. I have absolutely no idea why they were no longer mounted, could be a cost issue perhaps, but it is a bit unfortunate I think, why would they omit on such a nice detail.

Other than that the interior is a sheer beauty, the wood looks really good, the dials and levers are all there, it just all fits together, the Lamborghini Espada 1/18 model if without a doubt one the best scale models out there … remember these were built in early 2009 which makes them even more impressive. The wooden steering wheel is just right with the Raging Bull logo in the center, the gear lever is also finished in glossy wood.

On this Espada model you can even open the large glass luggage cover unveiling a very big luggage space for which the Espada was famous back in the early Seventies, this is a very different kind of car compared to the models built at Sant’Agata these days … the Estoque was a model that could possibly be seen as a successor to the Espada actually, but production of this concept car isn’t officially foreseen at this moment.

When we take a close look at the exterior of this Espada model the attention to detail by AutoArt is obvious once again, those trademark air outlets on the front fenders look real, the massive doors with their round exterior rear view mirror are as authentic as can be. The grilles behind the rear side windows are just as real and when you admire the Espada script on the side you can even recognize the sword in it … Espada is the matador’s sword in bullfighting by the way. And at the rear the upright glass panel is present while the four large exhaust mean business like no other … the Espada is an impressive car in real life, and thanks to the effort of AutoArt equally as impressive in 1/18 scaled down form.

our RATING

Overall rating

8/10

Original price : € 62