The Cheapest Way Into A Gandini-Designed V12 Lamborghini
Some automotive legends are defined by their achievements, while others are defined by how the world remembers them. In the world of exotic cars, recognition often follows the loudest, fastest, and most dramatic machines, leaving equally fascinating creations waiting in the shadows.
Yet these overlooked models can reveal a different side of a manufacturer’s ambition, combining craftsmanship, innovation, and character without the same collector’s attention. For enthusiasts willing to look beyond the obvious choices, some of the most rewarding discoveries are often the ones that history almost forgot.
Sometimes The Best Lamborghini Is Not The One Everyone Remembers
For every Lamborghini that becomes a household name, there is another that quietly fades into the background despite possessing many of the same qualities enthusiasts celebrate. The Miura transformed the supercar world with its revolutionary mid-engine layout, while the Countach redefined automotive styling and became one of the most recognizable exotics ever built. Their fame has naturally left little room for the company’s more understated grand tourers, even those developed during the same golden era.
Yet hidden between these two icons is a front-engine V12 Lamborghini that deserves far more recognition than it receives. It was designed by the same legendary stylist, powered by the same family of naturally-aspirated V12 engines, and built in exceptionally small numbers. Unlike its headline-grabbing siblings, however, this forgotten grand tourer has never become the darling of collectors. The result is one of the biggest bargains in the classic exotic market today, offering genuine Lamborghini pedigree, a charismatic V12 soundtrack, and remarkable exclusivity for a fraction of the price commanded by the brand’s most celebrated models.
The Jarama Was Designed To Keep Lamborghini Competitive
Introduced in 1970, the Lamborghini Jarama arrived as the successor to the Islero at a time when increasingly stringent American safety and emissions regulations threatened the viability of low-volume European sports cars. To adapt, Lamborghini developed the Jarama on a shortened version of the Espada’s platform, creating a more compact grand tourer that was better suited to evolving export requirements while retaining the company’s signature V12 performance. It was conceived as a practical 2+2 that owners could comfortably drive every day, rather than a weekend-only exotic.
Production remained extremely limited throughout its life, with just 327 examples leaving the factory (177 GT models and 150 GTS models), making it one of the rarest production V12 Lamborghinis ever built. Official production began in 1970 and ended in 1978 with the updated GTS (or Jarama S). Regardless of the exact end date, the Jarama occupied a unique place in Lamborghini’s lineup as a usable front-engine GT that balanced everyday comfort with unmistakable Italian performance.
Marcello Gandini Created A Different Kind Of Lamborghini
Unlike the dramatic, wedge-shaped supercars that would define Lamborghini’s image, the Jarama represented a more restrained interpretation of the brand’s design philosophy. Created by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the same visionary designer behind the Miura and Countach, the Jarama featured a distinctive boxy silhouette with sharp lines, a compact stance, and a purposeful appearance that prioritized function over visual theater.
Its most recognizable details included partially covered “eyelid” pop-up headlights, which gave the front end a unique character, and NACA ducts integrated into the hood, adding both aerodynamic purpose and visual aggression. Rather than chasing the extreme proportions of Lamborghini’s mid-engined icons, Gandini designed the Jarama as a practical grand tourer capable of carrying passengers and luggage while still delivering exotic appeal. The result was a very different kind of Lamborghini: less theatrical than the Miura or Countach, but still unmistakably Italian, combining Gandini’s design talent with everyday usability.
It Shared Lamborghini’s Legendary Bizzarrini V12
Beneath the Jarama’s understated styling was one of Lamborghini’s greatest engineering achievements: the legendary 3.9-liter V12 originally developed by Giotto Bizzarrini. This all-aluminum engine formed the foundation of Lamborghini’s flagship powertrains for decades, powering icons such as the Miura, Espada, Countach, and later V12 models. In the Jarama GT, it produced 350 brake horsepower, while the later GTS gained revised tuning that increased output to 365 bhp.
Feeding the engine were six twin-choke Weber 40 DCOE carburetors, helping the front-engine GT achieve a 0–60 mph time of 6.8 seconds (for the GTS model) and a top speed exceeding 160 mph. While the Jarama never achieved the fame of Lamborghini’s mid-engined legends, it carried the same mechanical DNA and intoxicating V12 character.
Its greatest achievement was proving that Lamborghini could combine supercar performance with everyday usability, creating a grand tourer that delivered the brand’s legendary engine experience without the extreme compromises of its more famous siblings.
Critics Never Loved It, But Ferruccio Lamborghini Did
Despite its impressive engineering and Gandini styling, the Jarama struggled to win over contemporary critics. Period road tests often praised its powerful V12 engine and high-speed capability but criticized aspects that affected everyday driving, including its heavy steering, awkward ergonomics, limited visibility, and inconsistent build quality. Compared with rivals that offered greater refinement, the Jarama could feel demanding to drive, which contributed to its reputation as one of Lamborghini’s less successful models.
The irony is that the very qualities journalists criticized were part of what made it appealing to the company’s founder. Ferruccio Lamborghini reportedly considered the Jarama his favorite Lamborghini for daily use, appreciating its combination of comfort, performance, and practicality. While enthusiasts celebrated the more dramatic Miura and Countach, Ferruccio preferred the understated GT that could be driven regularly. This contrast between public perception and its creator’s personal choice remains one of the most fascinating aspects of the Jarama’s story.
Bob Wallace Proved The Jarama Had Hidden Potential
While the Jarama was developed as a comfortable grand tourer rather than a track-focused machine, Lamborghini’s legendary test driver Bob Wallace revealed that it had far more sporting potential than many believed. In the early 1970s, Wallace created a one-off lightweight prototype often referred to as the Jarama Rally or Jarama Bob, transforming the understated GT into a far more aggressive performance machine.
The project featured aluminum body panels, a stripped-out interior, weight-saving modifications, and engine upgrades that increased output to around 380 bhp. Although it was never officially entered into competition, the Jarama Rally demonstrated what the model could achieve when freed from its luxury grand touring responsibilities.
Wallace’s creation challenged the perception that the Jarama was simply a comfortable V12 cruiser lacking excitement or sporting credibility. Instead, it proved that beneath its practical design was the same performance potential and engineering character that defined Lamborghini’s more celebrated models.
It Is Still The Cheapest Way Into A Gandini-Designed V12 Lamborghini
For collectors searching for an authentic classic Lamborghini experience, the Jarama remains one of the brand’s most compelling hidden opportunities. While exceptional examples of the Miura now regularly command values exceeding $1.2 million, the Jarama can still be found for under $100,000, depending on condition and history. That price gap is remarkable considering both cars share Lamborghini’s legendary V12 heritage and the influence of Marcello Gandini’s design philosophy.
With only 327 examples produced, the Jarama offers the rarity and exclusivity expected from a hand-built Italian exotic, without the multimillion-dollar price tag attached to Lamborghini’s better-known icons. It combines a charismatic V12 engine, Gandini styling, and a fascinating history that includes Ferruccio Lamborghini’s personal preference and Bob Wallace’s performance-focused prototype.
For enthusiasts willing to look beyond the obvious choices, the Jarama remains one of the last genuine insider buys in the classic Lamborghini market: a rare V12 grand tourer that still feels attainable before collectors fully recognize its significance.
Sources: Hagerty, Bring a Trailer, Lamborghini
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