From the Classifieds: 1973 Lamborghini Jarama S

It sounds more like something you would slip into before going to bed at night, but the Lamborghini Jarama was a living, breathing example of what exotic Italian supercars were like in the early to mid-1970s.

Lamborghini might have been in its early days morphing from tractor manufacture to building exotic supercars, but in its day the Jarama 2+2 coupe was seen – by some if not all – as a legitimate challenger to Ferrari’s brightest road-going star.

The front-engined V12 Jarama has been described as a virtual equal to the revered – also front-engined and also V12-powered – Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona.

Resplendent in a Bertone body that reflected the low-glasshouse, knife-edged look of the early 1970s – although the rear overhang made it look a little frumpy from behind – the Lamborghini Jarama was reportedly Feruccio Lamborghini’s favourite model.

Almost as rare as hen’s teeth then (of the 328 built between 1970 and 1976, an estimated nine Jaramas came to Australia) and even more so today, the exquisitely complex Lamborghini was seen by some as the Ferrari Daytona’s nemesis – a reputation not done any harm by the American magazine Road & Track’s enthusiasm during a comparison between a Jarama and a Ferrari Daytona 365 GTC4 in 1974.

Road & Track reckoned the Jarama was the Daytona’s equal in handling, a close match when the respective V12 engines were given their heads and superior to the Ferrari in terms of braking abilities.

The growling V12 supercar from the upstart Italian manufacturer – is there any other kind of Italian manufacturer? – was clearly fit for a place in the highest ranks of auto exotica.

That reputation was boosted further with 12kW higher peak power from the 272kW S version introduced in 1972.

Lamborghini had only begun making cars in 1963, favouring Spanish names (Jarama is a river in central Spain) for each of its models.

After a few ownership hiccups during the international oil crisis in the mid-1970s, the company went through a few owners – and a bankruptcy – before eventually falling into the hands of the Volkswagen Group in 1998.

Now, 47 years after it was built in Italy at Sant’Agata Bolognese, one of Australia’s few Lamborghini Jaramas is up for sale on carsales.com.au, reflecting the relative status of a flying Lamborghini bull compared to a prancing horse of Ferrari.

A Daytona can be valued at around $1 million today, whereas this rare Lambo Jarama S, touted to be its equal, is tagged on carsales.com.au at just $349,999.

The Victorian owner describes the Jarama pretty frankly: “This unrestored example is in nice condition with the right amount of patina commensurate with its age and low mileage.”

“The exquisite Bertone coachwork is exceptionally straight and solid with excellent factory panel fit” while the “luxurious leather interior is original and in good condition.”

The owner says the Jarama has “been used sparingly in recent years” although it is currently unregistered and will be and sold as is, without a roadworthy certificate.

One thing’s for sure here: Your next-door neighbour is not likely to own one.

See previous carsales From the Classifieds