Lamborghini Jarama (1970 – 1973) Review

Following on from the Islero, the Jarama ushered in the 1970s with a confident and - dare we say it - challenging look. Out went the curves and delicate detailing of the '60s, to be replaced by an altogether more imposing beast, which you'll either love or hate.

Buyers of course decide the fate of any car, and it's telling that the Jarama ended up being the company’s final new front-engined sports car (at least until the 2010s), as after that it ended up concentrating on the mid-engined Countach and Urraco. In a market where styling counts above all else, the clumsy looking Jarama struggled against some very elegant rivals, not least the four-seat Lamborghini Espada.

But whatever your opinion on the way it looks, there's no doubting the way it goes, especially in 350bhp S form. Today, as a way of getting into a V12 Lamborghini, the Jarama is a great value proposition - although the build was bad and protection against rust almost non-existent. And combine that with low values, and you have a ticking timeboimb of future restoration costs... But what a way to spend it!