A Lamborghini Espada V12 engine paired with its original 5-speed manual gearbox is now being offered for sale, giving collectors and restorers a rare opportunity to acquire a complete powertrain from one of the brand’s most distinctive four-seat grand tourers. The engine and transmission assembly is scheduled to cross the auction block in mid-March with a price estimate ranging from €20,000 to €30,000, or roughly $23,800 to $35,700.
The package includes the complete 3.9-liter V12 engine removed from a Lamborghini Espada, along with the matching 5-speed gearbox and the wheeled stand the drivetrain is currently mounted on. The listing identifies the engine as unit number 0577 and notes that it retains its original induction system, including six Weber 40 DCOE twin carburetors. The setup represents a fully assembled example of Lamborghini’s early production V12 design, an engine that would go on to become one of the most recognizable powerplants in the history of high-performance automobiles.
In Espada configuration, the Lamborghini V12 displaced 3,929 cubic centimeters, or approximately 3.9 liters. In factory form it produced up to 350 brake horsepower at 7,500 rpm. That output was enough to push the Espada to a top speed of roughly 150 miles per hour, making it the fastest four-seat Lamborghini available at the time of its release.
The Espada itself stood apart from the company’s mid-engine supercars by offering grand touring practicality with true four-seat capacity. Designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the car featured a distinctive wedge-shaped profile and expansive glass area that made it one of the most recognizable Lamborghini designs of the late 1960s and 1970s. The name “Espada,” Spanish for “sword,” reflected Lamborghini’s practice of naming models after elements associated with bullfighting.
While the Espada remains an important chapter in Lamborghini history, the engine powering it carries an even deeper legacy. The Lamborghini V12 would ultimately become one of the longest-running production car engines ever created. It remained in use for nearly half a century, appearing in various forms across Lamborghini’s lineup from 1963 through 2010.
The origins of that engine trace back to the early days of Automobili Lamborghini and the rivalry that helped create the brand. Ferruccio Lamborghini, already a successful tractor manufacturer, owned several Ferraris before deciding to build his own sports car company. In launching the new automaker, he assembled a team of engineers capable of developing a completely new high-performance powertrain.
One of the key figures involved in that effort was engineer Giotto Bizzarrini. Before joining Lamborghini, Bizzarrini had built a reputation working at Alfa Romeo and later Ferrari, where he rose to the role of chief engineer. During his time there he contributed to several significant projects including the Ferrari 250 TR Testa Rossa, the 250 GT 2+2, the 250 GT SWB, and the highly respected Ferrari 250 GTO.
After leaving Ferrari, Bizzarrini joined Ferruccio Lamborghini’s new venture and began work on a clean-sheet V12 design intended to rival anything then on the road. The engine he created featured aluminum alloy construction for both the block and cylinder heads along with dual overhead camshafts on each bank. Early prototypes produced impressive power figures, reportedly reaching as much as 370 horsepower at extremely high engine speeds.
Bizzarrini initially pushed for even more aggressive performance targets. Development versions of the engine were capable of spinning to around 9,000 rpm, and engineering ambitions reportedly aimed toward 400 horsepower at even higher revolutions. However, the version ultimately prepared for road-going Lamborghini models was tuned to produce a more practical output, balancing performance with durability and drivability.
The resulting engine would become the foundation for Lamborghini’s flagship cars for decades. Over the years its displacement steadily increased, growing from the early 3.5-liter versions into larger and more powerful variants. Despite the changes, the fundamental architecture remained intact, a testament to the strength of the original design.
Production of the Lamborghini V12 continued until 2010. The final evolution appeared in the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, where the engine had grown to 6.5 liters and produced 661 horsepower. By the time production ended, the engine had powered generations of Lamborghini icons and had become one of the longest-lived V12 platforms ever used in a production automobile.
The Espada engine now heading to auction represents a mid-period example of that lineage. Its 3.9-liter configuration reflects the development stage when Lamborghini had already refined the V12 for higher power output while still relying on carbureted induction systems that defined the character of classic Italian performance cars.
The listing provides limited information regarding the engine’s running condition or its service history. However, the inclusion of the original Weber carburetors and the accompanying manual transmission adds significant appeal for collectors looking for an authentic drivetrain package. Units like this are often sought after for restoration projects, static displays, or as spare powerplants for period-correct Lamborghini rebuilds.
Classic Lamborghini components rarely appear on the open market in complete assemblies, especially with matching transmission hardware. The wheeled stand included with the engine suggests it has been stored or displayed as a standalone mechanical piece rather than currently installed in a vehicle.
Auction house Artcurial is handling the sale, with bidding scheduled to take place in mid-March. The €20,000 to €30,000 estimate positions the engine and gearbox as a relatively accessible entry point for collectors interested in owning a genuine piece of Lamborghini’s mechanical history.
When the gavel falls, the buyer will walk away with more than a set of components. The package represents a direct connection to one of the most enduring engines ever built, a V12 design that powered Lamborghini’s flagship machines for nearly fifty years and helped define the sound and character of the brand’s performance cars.
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