During the Jalpa production, Automobili Lamborghini SpA became aware
that a complete convertible would actually sell better than the Targa-style
Jalpa they now offered, Bertone created a prototype based on the same
chassis which became the Athon, this car didn't actually have a roof designed
for it, but the car was much admired by the public when it was shown on
some Auto Show.
Therefore Lamborghini started working on a Jalpa full convertible in 1982,
named the Jalpa Spyder, a prototype was
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created, based on a silver metallic over blue leather Jalpa which was
still owned by factory, a similar rear treatment as found on the Athon
was used for this special Jalpa, but the finished car didn't look as good
as the Athon.
When looking at the Jalpa Spyder from the side, you would immediately
see the problem, the rear was out of proportion compared to the rest of
the car. The engine cover en tonneau cover were just too large for the
Jalpa, the passenger cell was too much forward on this car.
The Jalpa Spyder actually had a working top designed for it, as you can
see on these images, probably a good idea would have been to include a
hard-top version too, but unfortunately it never came this far.
The Jalpa Spyder project was set aside, the management at that time didn't
think they should actually offer the Jalpa Spyder in this configuration,
it didn't look exotic enough to be a Lamborghini, although I personally
think it would still sell, after all it was an open top Lamborghini, the
only official 'new' convertible Lamborghini at that time.
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Their have been 2 prototype chassis one was ready and drivable to
other was just an unpainted chassis. They were later forgotten at the
factory, they latest information of Stefano Pasini is, that the two
cars have been sold to Tonino Lamborghini. The image shows the drivable
car somewhere on the factory grounds in Sant'Agata. But it is somewhat
hidden from view, it was in a very poor state at this time, rear flat
tire, a dent in the door and the front spoiler now probably is mounted
on another Jalpa.
Eric Thomassey found 2 Pictures showing the 2 Prototypes at the Factory in 1986:
We can see that one car is based on an early jalpa because the mirror is on the front wing, for the other car it is a 1986 body, I can see difference in the inside of the body that was common to the late Jalpa, different steering rack and different wiring that need different hole than on the early cars
In September 2001 during the presentation of the Diablo sucessor Murciélago,
the drivable Jalpa Spyder was present in Toninos Museum at Dosso. It was
restored in a very questionary way. The front spoiler looks like stolen
from a Ferrari 348. I suppose they tried to restore the car with the remaining
parts they found at the factory or bought a crashed Jalpa to take parts
of it. There are no longer front spoilers existing as spare parts, therefore
they made an own designed one, the look doesn't convince really, imo it
would have been better to copy an original one.
On the rear end you can see that they used a American Exhaust designed
for catalysts, the lights are again like Ferrari and sure not Lamborghini
or Jalpa originals. The spare parts situation could be bad but with the
original Urraco/Silhouette/Jarama Lights used in 1982 the car would make
a better appearance for sure.
The Interior looks also very strange compared to the Prototype based on
the silhouette chassis, but Lamborghini had allways a lack of money and
parts. I'm sure the car Tonino bought from the factory had no interior
at all, because it was used for other cars. On the windscreen surrounding
you can see it's a very early chassis, the mechanism of the roof lock
is identically to the Black Jalpa featured in the car magazines in 1982
with Chassis-Nr. CLA12002.
On this three quarter view the lines of the car don't look so bad.
I think this car could have been restored much better to original Condition
how it was in 1982. Perhaps it would have been better a Lamborghini
or Jalpa Fan could be the Restorer of this unique car. I'm sure the
car would look like a normal Jalpa all around except the cut off roof.
Overall I suspect this Jalpa is Chassis #1, it was built in 1982, has
the same roof mechanism as Chassis #CLA12002 and was another Prototype
at the side of the shown Prototype based on the Silhouette.
And in 2014 we were finally able to find the prove in the engine bay at Feruccio Lamborghini Musuem:
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