1983 Lamborghini Jalpa

The first UK, right-hand-drive Jalpa. Excellent provenance. 'FHA 80' is #12056 and dates from early 1983.

Six owners from new. Much work carried out by penultimate owner. Amazing history file

Purchased in 2013, our vendor has used the car lightly and the indicated mileage is now 85,500kms (53,437 miles)

Dry-stored by 'Topcats Racing' in Buckinghamshire who have undertaken all the service work.

Topcats will also carry out a complete service prior to sale and the car will come with a fresh MOT.

Produced between 1982 and 1990 the Lamborghini Jalpa was the' junior' Lamborghini of the 1980s and was designed to rejoin the battle with Ferrari's similarly sized 308. Major changes included a quad-cam V8 engine with its capacity increased to 3.5 litres and somewhat more aggressive styling, mainly in the side treatment of the body, which was again conceived and executed by Bertone. However, the Jalpa was essentially a development of the earlier Uracco and Silhouette and remained a Targa-style two-seater with a carburettor-fed engine mounted transversely a five-speed transaxle, and fully independent suspension. Maximum power was 255bhp at 7000rpm, good enough to give the aerodynamic Jalpa a top speed of around 155mph. Production was both limited and sporadic, with a mere 419 examples manufactured over eight years.(34 in rhd).

FHA 80 is Chassis Number 12056 and dates from early 1983. Production cars commenced with 12010 (earlier cars were either pre-production prototypes or destroyed in crash-testing) suggesting that this car is number 46 off the line, however, it is certainly one of the first two right-hand-drive cars and the first UK customer car as its (Silver) sister car (both left the factory on the same day) was the Portman Group's official demonstrator and press road-test car. It has Silhouette rear lights and a fuel filler inside the engine bay, all features common to an early car.

Having been enjoyed by four owners, the Jalpa was purchased, with around 76,000kms indicated, in 2001 by its fifth custodian, a total Lamborghini enthusiast, who was to retain it until 2013. During the last few years of his ownership, the car was fully restored including fresh paint in its original Red with gun-metal grey bumpers and air-scoops as the original. The only deviation from factory finish was to paint the Targa top in body colour as he felt it looked better, fit a radio/cassette with a screen-mounted aerial, baby Vitaloni mirrors, and new Carello fog lights with covers. On its sale to our vendor, he passed on a remarkable history file which includes “ Bills, official club magazines, copies of paper documents from the original owner with the Lamborghini factory which includes letters to and from Ubaldo Sgarzi re the purchase of the new car, official Portman Lamborghini dealership documents and adverts, local press for the first owner, DVLA documents of previous owners and 80's club magazines with the car in, faxes, Telex from the factory, bills and UK Lamborghini club newsletters. Technical specs, old MoTs and many Tax discs”.

Since his purchase in 2013, our vendor has used the car lightly and the indicated mileage is now 85,500kms ( 53,437 miles). He tells us that “The paintwork is not perfect, but very good and that he has spent money as required on the car, but always keeping it as original as possible. Aside from routine servicing, the car has benefited from –

All new Engine Mounts

All Carbs rebuilt with new gaskets / jets / floats etc.

All suspension rebuilt – note this is rebuilt with new parts and NOT simply had gas inserts put in.

New Springs all round of the same spec

New Tyres all round

When not in use, the car has been dry-stored by 'Topcats Racing' in Buckinghamshire who have undertaken all the service work. Topcats will also carry out a complete service prior to sale and the car will come with a fresh MOT.

Until quite recently, the Jalpa has been overlooked by classic car investors, however, their rarity and approachability have resulted in prices steadily rising over the last three years and this eminently drivable, original engine/gearbox, low-mileage example seems to represent an excellent opportunity.