Bertone Lamborghini Marzal four seats mid engine prototype 1967

Lamborghini and Carrozzeria Bertone entered a collaboration in the early sixties for the development of mid engined grand touring automobiles. They addressed both the two seats berlinetta and the four seats grand tourer.

The two seats mid engine berlinetta Lamborghini Miura was prepared by Lamborghini and Carrozzeria Bertone. It was first exhibited as a running chassis at 1965 Geneva Motor Show and the following year as a now classic supercar. The Lamborghini Marzal with four seats utilize adjusted version of the chassis and engine of the Lamborghini Miura.

The first automobile project was a two seats sports car with a 3,9 Litre V12 engine mounted transversally on the back axle with the gearbox and differential. This automobile soon to be named Lamborghini Miura appeared first at 1965 Geneva Motor Show only as a complete rolling space-frame with reclined seats and all mechanical components. It was only on occasion of the 1966 Geneva Motor Show that the stunning styling design of the Lamborghini Miura was unveiled and resulted in an instant success. 764 examples were produced between 1966 and 1973 in three different versions according to Wikipedia.
1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S sold for US$ 577.500 at Gooding and Co Scottsdale  Auction 2013
1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S sold for Euros 840.000 at RM 2014
1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S sold for US$ 1.115.000 at MECUM Pebble Beach 2018 -

see also Car Reviews Lamborghini Miura 1966 1972

The second automobile project by Lamborghini and Carrozzeria Bertone appeared at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show. It was a project for a four seats grand touring automobile with transverse mid engine. The chassis was a modified version of the one from the Miura with a wheelbase extended by 120 mm for accommodating the rear seats. The wheelbase is 2.620 mm (103.1").

 The propulsion system was also derived from the one of the Miura. There was only one six cylinder bench and the then 2 Litre engine was turned by 180° and inclined by 30° ; this means that it is more rear engine than mid engine. The six cylinder makes 1997 cc capacity and produces 175 bhp with three Weber 40DCOE carburettors. The engine cooling is operated by a radiator installed at the extreme rear end with two electric fans.

The styling design of the Lamborghini Marzal presents a drastic change from the voluptuous volumes of the Lamborghini Miura. With the Lamborghini Marzal the passenger cabin and the powertrain compartment are forming a geometric single volume with hardly visible wheel arches and the front end is an harmonious continuation of the overall styling. There are distinctive bumpers covered with black rubber both at the front and at the rear. The conventional headlights make place to six iode lamps.

The stunning style of the Lamborghini Marzal is reinforced by the overall height of 110 mm which combine with reclined position of the passengers. The passenger compartment is covered with glass like an helicopter cabin. Access to the seats is by extra large and glass transparent gull wing doors. Belgian Glass specialist produced the tinted glass for this elegant glasshouse on wheels. Air conditioning is included in the equipment; with so many glass there is no possibility for lowering a window and ventilate .

The Lamborghini Marzal is essentially an idea car even when it went to the Geneva Motor Show location by road from Italy. It is original to imagine going through a toll gate and get the highway ticket or buy a hamburger at the drive of a fast food shop; door must be opened and it exceed the body width!

The exceptional futuristic styling prepared by Marcello Gandini is completed by internal design including hexagonal figures on the seats leather as well as on the dashboard design or for the rear cover element ensuring visibility and engine ventilation through hexagonal shape aluminium elements.

The success of the Lamborghini Marzal idea car was followed bythe production of a similar styling Lamborghini Espada with conventional mechanical elements layout.

The exceptional success of the Lamborghini Marzal project at the Geneva Motor Show called for a production model like it happened with the two seats Miura. In the case of the Lamborghini Marzal a production model required some adjustments and the four seats Lamborghini Espada introduced in 1968 retained the styling of the Marzal but an adjusted V12 engine was installed longitudinally behind the front axle propelling the rear wheels in a more conventional layout- The glasshouse and gullwing doors made place to conventional doors with lowering side windows. The Lamborghini Espada was produced between 1968 and 1978 in 1275 examples and three consecutive versions. The styling for the Lamborghini Espada was prepared by Marcello Gandini for Carrozzeria Bertone; In terms of present value we can quote a 1970 Lamborghini Espada Series II sold for Euros 161.000 at RM Paris auction in 2018.

The one off Lamborghini prototype was eventually sold for Euros 1.512.000 at RM auction in Villa Erba 2011 auction..
The Lamborghini Marzal now acquired by Swiss collector Albert Spiess participated at 2019 Villa d'Este Concorso Eleganzia and grasped the TROFEO BMW GROUP RAGAZZI by Young People's Referendum (up to the age of 16).

text P. Damiens photos source Kenn and Paul DAMIENS -Bertone Media Archive-BMW Classic Media Archives

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