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Spotted in the wild: 1968 Lamborghini Islero
Click the Islero for a high-res gallery
For a car fan it's always cool to be wandering around somewhere and stumble across an extremely rare automobile. That's especially when it's out on the road in a most unlikely of locales. My wife and I took a little road trip this weekend in the new Saab Turbo X (you'll be hearing more about that soon!) to Yellow Springs, Ohio. For those unfamiliar with Yellow Springs, it's a small town northeast of Dayton that is home to Antioch College and Dave Chappelle. As we were walking to get some dinner, I noticed a very red coupe with an extraordinarily long hood. It looked vaguely familiar, but I knew I had never seen one in the metal before. I grabbed my camera and started shooting away. It turns out the car was a GT known as the Lamborghini Islero. Isleros were built in 1968 and 69 following the end of the 400GT run and preceding the Jarama. Unfortunately for Lamborghini, the rather sedately-styled Islero didn't have the flash of the gorgeous Miura that debuted in 1969 and it never sold in large numbers. According to Lamborghini, only 225 were built including 70 "S" models in 1969 with slight body changes and a more luxurious interior. The Islero was propelled by Lamborghini's 4.0L 350hp V12. If the owner of this car sees this post please get in touch and share the story of your car.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Conor 6:21PM (5/31/2008)
I'd take one over a Miura, in complete seriousness. I love this! Thanks for sharing.
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M 12:31PM (6/01/2008)
The Islero IS a beautiful car, but it would be hard to choose it over a Miura. A friend of mine has a Miura (it was the pace car at Monaco in 1967) and it's fantastic in a totally different way than the Islero . . . or the Espada or Countach, et al. Each of Lamborghini's cars is special in a specific way. I'm sure the Islero is a more comfortable grand touring car, but the Miura will put a smile on your face as your hurtle down the road literally inches off the pavement.
K 7:06PM (5/31/2008)
This story reminds me of when I spotted an Enzo parked in front of a house a couple of years back while driving through a not-so-affluent part of Fresno, California. After doing a triple take when I spotted it, I parked next to it and got out for a good ten minutes or so to admire it, hoping the owner would come out and introduce himself/herself. Unfortunately, the owner never showed, and I drove away kicking myself for not having brought my camera. Still to this day the most rare car sighting I’ve ever made.
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biggins 9:01PM (5/31/2008)
I am a student from seattle, and when i was studying in London this past January, I had my nikon 80 digital slr all prepped to snap shots of this Ferrari F430 driving down New Oxford Street in downtown. As soon as the car passed and I had JUST put my camera back it its bag, a silver and red Bugatti Veyron rumbles past me on an intersecting street.
Man, do I kick myself for THAT every day....
M 12:01PM (6/01/2008)
Not having a camera at certain times is something we all regret. Years ago, months after I bought new my 1967 Sunbeam Tiger, I was driving along Elcamino Real (south of San Francisco). I stopped at an intersection and a Detomaso Mangusta pulled up in the next lane. The light turned green, and he accelerated ahead. I followed for several blocks before having to turn, kicking myself for not having a camera with me. I never saw a Mangusta again except in pictures.
Unknown 6:48PM (5/31/2008)
You should have blurred the plates. Good find though. Very nice.
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RGS 9:27AM (6/02/2008)
It's a temporary tag from a dealer, so it will be expired within 30 days, anyway.
Unknown 9:31AM (6/02/2008)
The tag on the 944 isn't a temp though.
waiownsyou 7:01PM (5/31/2008)
What's up with all these cars of Christmas past?
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Vintage 9:56AM (6/02/2008)
They're cooler than 99% of today's crap. Quit complaining.
Jeremy 7:14PM (5/31/2008)
There was a car show around there in Kettering. The Lambo was at the show.
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Joel R 12:16AM (6/01/2008)
Am I the only one seeing all North Carolina tags in the pictures? These were taken in Ohio?
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Sam Abuelsamid 7:06AM (6/01/2008)
The only car in the photos with NC tags is the Lamborghini which had a 30 day temporary tag. Other cars had mostly Ohio plates
toyotageorgetownky 12:31AM (6/01/2008)
no matter how much faster or quicker the new sports cars are, there will always be something neat about these older cars. The coolest car that I have ever seen on the road was a Duesenburg in Las Vegas. God bless the owners of cars like this that spend alot of money,time and effort to keep them in show shape
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M 12:09PM (6/01/2008)
RE: Duesenberg . . . When I worked at a TV station, the production director called me on morning, "Come to the studio. You've GOT to see this!" I walked in on a commercial shoot, but sitting in the middle of the room under the lights was a 1934 dual-cowel Duesenberg phaeton. An elderly gentleman (impeccably dressed in sport coat, slacks and alligator shoes) was standing to the side. I asked the obvious, "Is it yours?". Of course it was. "Did you trailer it here?" His reponse . . . "Oh no, I drive it at least once a week to keep it in shape." I didn't have a camera, but took still shots from the studio cameras that I kept for years.
DanMan 1:20AM (6/01/2008)
(wolf whistle)
Love the look of those late 60s cars foreign and domestic. Just about everything from 65 to 69 is gorgeous.
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chengdude 9:44AM (6/01/2008)
I love a neighborhood where you can park your car with the windows down.
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bakka 2:07PM (6/01/2008)
Sigh.
Sigh.
Sigh.
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Ian 11:39PM (6/01/2008)
I think I know who owns this car...I just heard a friend describing it at a recent BMW CCA meeting...I'll ask him again!
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MikeD 12:13AM (6/02/2008)
If we're sharing stories in the "Happened Upon Department'...
I was driving my new (at the time) Boxster S up the cost to visit my brother in Marin County. I had stopped at a little Chevron station in Woodland Hills (or some such). As I'm gassing up I look around to see what else is there. I notice the rear tail light of what could be a McLaren F1. But "Naaah, never ever going to see one of those on the street. Nope, never." It's at the front of island next to me so I inch back to see what on earth could look that similar. It didn't take many inches for me to realize... "Holy Cow! It was an honest to God, seat in the center, fricken McLaren F1". I'm sure my eyes got huge. And of course no camera. Not sure how many F1's are in the states, but I do know that they are only allowed 1500 public highway miles per year. So I know the chances of that happening again are zilch.
Next, I'm a passenger and we are approaching a stop light at night. I see a high wing on a low two-seater. First glance, I figure it's a MR2 or something with a "look at me" wing. We stop, and I give it the cursory glance. Nope, not an MR2, but a Noble! "Holy Crap!" (which scared the crap out of the driver). Fumble with my camera phone. But all I get are blurred red tail lights and black.
I've seen 2 Noble's in Southern Cal. since. But doubt I will ever see an F1 again. Not classics, I know. But still cool to see cars like that out in the wild.
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