Lamborghini Jalpa

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The Lamborghini Jalpa V8 replaced the Urraco and the Silhouette in 1981 and sold alongside the flagship Countach V12 as Lamborghini’s ‘junior’ offering through the 1980s, being designed to take the fight to Ferrari and their similarly-sized 308 series.

In true Sant’Agata fashion, the Jalpa was named after a breed of fighting bull (‘Jalpa Kandachia’) and featured aggressive Bertone-designed wedge-shaped bodywork. Powering this mid-engine beauty was a 3.5-litre quad cam V8 fed by Weber carbs that produced 255bhp at a heady 7,000rpm, giving the Jalpa a top speed of 145mph and a zero to sixty time of around 6 seconds – certainly a match for the Prancing Ponies from Maranello!

Compared to the ultra-modern VAG-backed company of today, Lamborghini of the 80’s was still a small-scale manufacturer and only 410 examples of the Jalpa were produced from 1981 until 1988 when new owners Chrysler decided to discontinue the model. Of these, only 35 were made in right-hand drive and it is believed that only around 25 still survive in RHD today, making this a rare car indeed.

Supplied new by Portman Lamborghini of London in September 1985, this Jalpa was used as their demonstrator and has had just five further owners since. It was cquired by the vendor in 2010 although this is actually the second time he has had the car: he previously owned it from 1998 – 2001, buying it from the second owner who was a good friend, as shown in some photos on file showing the vendor with the car in the late '80s.

The Jalpa has only covered some 77,000 kms (47,800 miles) from new with a good service history comprising 10 stamps in the book plus many invoices for additional maintenance. These include a new clutch kit and various other works by DK Engineering at a cost of £5,111 in September 2004 at 60,000 kms. There is also an AutoItalia magazine feature on the car from September 2008 when it was owned by a Don Haddway who states that he had the car restored by Colin Clarke Engineering following a 10-year period in storage including “a full engine rebuild, new exhaust, brakes, hoses and a bit of bodywork”, the engine rebuild also being mentioned in a subsequent advert for the car although there are no invoices on file to substantiate the engine work.

Being a 1985 model, this Jalpa benefits from the improvements which were made to the car in a 1984 facelift including revised tail lights and body-coloured engine cover and air intakes. Finished in Lunar silver with a black leather interior, it has a removable Targa roof section, also body-coloured, which fits snugly behind the seats when removed. Other features include air conditioning, a CD player with Bluetooth connectivity, Cobra immobiliser, stainless steel sports exhaust and Lamborghini's trademark 5-speed dog-leg gated gearshift that wouldn't look out of place in a Ferrari.

Clearly a much-cherished machine, this Jalpa is in very good order throughout and, apart from some localised body repairs and paintwork correction detailed in an invoice from October 2010, it appears highly original and correct with a particularly nicely-preserved interior, even retaining the original spare wheel in the front storage compartment and the fitted luggage cover in the boot under the rear wing. Shod with a matching set of Michelin tyres, it is said to drive as well as it looks and is due to have a fresh MOT in time for the sale.

In addition to many parts and maintenance invoices, 19 old MOTs and the aforementioned service book and AutoItalia feature, the history file also contains another glowing feature on the car from the October 2006 issue of Practical Performance Car; a favourable 5-page technical inspection report by Heritage Car Consultants of Bristol dated March 2001 at 49,222 kms; plus a second condition report dated September 2009 at 68,171 kms by Ferrari and Lamborghini specialist Peter Chambers of Automotive Ltd, Tewkesbury, describing the car as an “extremely clean and a good example”.

Also present is an undated dyno print-out by Mech Motorsport which shows the car producing 229bhp at the wheels and 255bhp at the flywheel; an official ‘Registrare Lamborghini Certificato’ from September 2003 which certifies the car as ‘Eccellente’, its only criticism being that the Lamborghini logos on the sides of the car are not original fitment; plus photographs of the car in the Alps on a driving holiday during which it ran beautifully - as it did when we were treated to an extended test drive on the occasion of our visit, the high-revving V8 pulling like a train and sounding sensational through the stainless steel sports exhausts.

This highly original and most usable Jalpa is a perfect introduction into 80’s era exotic car ownership. One of the last truly analogue Lamborghinis, the Jalpa retains Lamborghini’s original DNA and was produced in far lower numbers than rival machines from Maranello. Given the way that values of the Countach, Espada and Miura have rocketed in recent times, we can’t help feeling that the Jalpa is still something of a bargain and falls firmly into that ‘buy now while you can still afford to’ category…

Please note that the personalised number shown is not included and will be replaced by the age-related number C721 EUL prior to the sale.