Lamborghini Islero Information Exchange

Vol. #14 ----------------------------------------------------------------------Fall/2007

(Last Updated 11/11/2007)

After nearly 40 years, nearly 100 of the 226 Lamborghini Isleros made are still in good running condition and being enjoyed by their owners. At least another 50 exist and exist in various conditions, or stages of restoration.

Contents:
(click on item to skip to that section)

Introduction to Issue #14
Islero News and Pictures
Islero Spotter's Guide for Pocono 2008
Listing of Known Isleros
Some Interesting Links

 

Introduction to Issue #14-----------------------------------------------------------------------Louis A. Herrin, DVM

 

Welcome to our 14th edition of the Islero newsletter. These are great times to be an Islero owner. The Internet information highway just becomes better and better. This means that available cars are being found and sold, owners can find answers to technical problems and wider international opportunities for finding rare parts are possible.

Isleros at the Le Belle Macchina d' Italia

June 20-23, 2008

As at past Italian car events involving Lamborghinis, there will be a good opportunity to meet and interact with many interesting and enthusiastic people. Here, in the white shirt, factory test driver, Valentino Balboni visits with an Islero owner about his ownership experiences, and shares his own experiences from the factory.

Big news, as hinted at above, is that the long standing Italian car event, Le Belle Macchina d' Italia, which occurs every year at the Pocono mountain retreat, Skytop Inn, will feature the Islero as their honored Lamborghini model in 2008, on the occasion of the Islero's 40th anniversary. Jim Kaminski, president of the Lamborghini Owner's Club and also an Islero owner, has challenged us to get 5 Isleros to attend. We can do this, I'm sure, and if we get 6 we would hold the world's record for the number of Isleros in one spot since they last left the factory in the '60s. There are at least a dozen and a half that could make the trip that I know of -- lets try for more than 6. I can attest to the fact that it is a great show and a great time. At the last event in 2005, Valentino Balboni, the factory test driver, was there giving rides around the Pocono track in a Murcialago and mixing with us owners. Joe Corbaccio organizes the event (also an Islero owner) -- see his web site for further details the web site .

Here are two YouTube links that capture some of the Italian car event spirit, (and include Isleros):
This video was shot at the 2005 Pocono event with comments by Valentino Balboni.
This video was shot by my son, David, of our trip to the Italian Gathering, in Columbus, Ohio.

Ownership of an Islero is a real adventure. But it doesn't stop with restoration and driving pleasure. It is a great open door to a whole culture of Italian machinery, organized events, camaraderie, and challenge. Get involved in your hobby -- join a Yahoo Group such as the Vintage Lamborghini Garage, participate in some events such as the excellent ones put on by the Lamborghini Owners Club, the Lamborghini Club America, Le Belle Macchina d' Italia, the Italian Gathering in Columbus, the Concorso d' Italia in Detroit, or the Meadowbrook/Italian Happening. Two organizations that are absolutely essential to join are the Vintage Lamborghini Garage and the Lamborghini Owners Club.

Note that the Islero History List of cars is growing and now is in a slightly different format to reflect more useable information. As always, I need input and if you can update me on any Islero listed (or not listed) please let me know. Some of you may own the cars for which we need current information. Please come forward. My e-mail.

I continue with enjoying my own Islero (#6096 pictured above) and with collecting Islero information. This information is used for helping other Islero owners, such as yourselves, with enjoying your hobby. If you have historical questions about your car, please e-mail me, as I will try to help. As I am a busy veterinarian, I am not lightning speedy at reply, but be patient as I am truly interested.

Ciao,

Lou Herrin

PS.-- To send pictures or information by regular mail, please send them to me at:

Louis A. Herrin, DVM
Herrin Animal Hospital
2712 E. Lincoln
Bloomington, Illinois 61704
USA

 

 

Note: Past issues of this web site are available for viewing on David Hanley's excellent site at:

http://www.lp112.com/Lambo/Islero Web/IsleroIndex.html

Note: The Lamborghini Owner's Club is a great source of information and news. Subscribing to Jim Kaminski's newsletter will certainly increase your enjoyment of your Islero experience. This is a great source for manuals, wiring diagrams, and other Isleromobilia. Jim also has original sales brochures for the Islero and Islero S.

Jim Kaminski/Lamborghini Owner's Club
P.O. Box 7214
St .Petersburg, Florida 33734 USA
Fax (727) 392-3474

www.LamborghiniOwnersClub.com

Click to go to top of Issue #14

Islero News

 

Here is Islero #6606, owned by Julian Ormandy, which is being rebuilt in Germany. In the picture above, #6606 is getting many new sheet metal pieces. The previous owner had collected a parts car and many miscellaneous parts and pieces from other Isleros over the years, so that a full restoration would be possible. It has turned into quite an involved project. Jack Riddell has a web site that contains detailed pictures of their progress. Please check this out from time to time to see it come together.

The beautiful dark blue #6489, has a new home in California. This car was featured at the World Car Exhibit in Brussels, Belgium, a few years ago and is stunning with the wire wheels.

In Europe, as in the USA, Isleros are being fully enjoyed. Here the prototype Islero, #6000, has a fling at a German car event. The first Islero had several unique features including a taller front radiator intake, stainless steel brightwork panel covering the rocker panels, and a different interior upholstery design with seat headrests. It originally had wire wheels but has been seen with the Miura style electron wheels in recent years.

#6135 gets an entirely new finish. The Islero sat for sale in Germany for many years, but now is being completely restored by its owner in Denmark. It was a white car for many years, but should look truly awesome in the dark color. After 40 years, it seems that most or these cars have changed colors several times. When sold as new in Germany in the summer of 1968, #6135 was red with a black interior.

#6643 has a unique white leather interior and is the only Islero so clad. The green color, however, was one of the common color options in 1969. It was listed by the factory as Caribbean Green (Verde Carib). I remember the same color being popular on American cars of the same vintage. The picture here is of #6643 at an Italian Car show in San Diego. Note also the wheel nuts which were required for licensing in Germany rather than the 3-eared knock off nuts.

 

Click to go to top of Issue #14

Pocono 2008 Spotters Guide

Here are some of the cars that are within driving distance of Pocono and we hope to see in the flesh. If you know any of these Isleros, nudge the owners to commit to coming. It should be a great event.


















 

Click to go to the top of Issue #14

Islero Survivors: Ongoing research since December, 1987, has turned up the following Isleros. Since I have been locating Isleros and updating the history on them, we've found at least some information on 147 cars of the 226 built, through phone calls, e-mail, letters, advertisements, dealer records, and interviews. plus about 10 more that I know exist, but need serial number identification to be included on the chart here. Please contact me with corrections and additions. Feel free to e-mail me anytime.

Chart Last Updated --- 11/11/2007

#6000 -- Germany

Light Blue with Brown, Air, Wires

 as of 2006 - prototype
#6006 -- France Dark Blue with Mustard Leather as of 2006
#6015 -- Spain   Green with Mustard Leather as of 2007 - two part front bumper
#6021 -- Idaho/USA  White with Black Leather as of 2007
#6024 -- France Black with Black Leather as of 2002
#6027 -- Holland Dark Green with Mustard, Air, Wires as of 2004
#6036 -- England  Metallic Blue with Black Leather as of 2004 - likely gift to Bridget Bardot
#6039 -- California/USA  Black with Black Leather, Air as of 2007 - was crashed and stored
#6042 -- Ohio/USA  Red with Peach Interior as of 2007
#6045 -- Germany Dark Gray with Mustard Leather as of 2007
#6051 -- Pennsylvania/USA  Red with Black Leather, Air

as of 2007
#6057 -- California/USA  Black with Black Leather as of 2002
#6066 -- Missouri/USA  Light Blue with Mustard Leather, Air as of 2000 
#6069 -- Italy  Silver with Mustard leather as of 1999 
#6075 -- Germany  Dark Blue with Red Leather as of 1998
#6078 -- Canada  Maroon with Black Leather as of 2005
#6084 -- Denmark  Blue with Mustard Leather as of 2002
#6090 -- France  Red with Mustard Leather as of 2002 - French calendar car
#6096 -- Illinois/USA  Red with Tobacco Leather, Air as of 2007 
#6099 -- France Gray with Tobacco Leather as of 2006 
#6102 -- Illinois/USA  Green with Tan Leather` as of 1985 - was crashed and destroyed
#6105 -- Germany Midnight Blue with Black Leather, Air as of 1992 - need current information
#6108 -- England  Black with Biscuit Leather  as of 1999
#6111 -- France Red with Pigskin Interior  as of 2005
#6117 -- Sweden Black with Brown Leather as of 2001 
#6126 -- Holland  Metallic Blue with Black Leather  as of 2005
#6129 -- Wisconsin/USA  Blue with Black Interior as of 2007
#6135 -- Denmark  White with Black Leather as of 2007
#6138 -- France Light Green with Tobacco Leather, Air as of 2006
#6150 -- Germany Silver Green with Gotti Wheels as of 2007
#6156 -- Australia  AquaBlue with Tobacco Leather as of 2005
#6159 -- California/USA  Black Primer with Mustard Interior as of 2001
#6165 -- Denmark Light Blue with Black Interior  as of 2007
#6171 -- Italy Light Blue with Black Interior as of 2007
#6174 -- Sweden Black as of 2003
#6177 -- England  Dark Green with Bordeaux Interior as of 2005
#6180 -- Arizona/USA Dark Blue with Tan Leather, Air as of 2007 
#6183 -- Florida/USA Light Green with Black Leather, Wires as of 1993 - need current information
#6186 -- Virginia/USA   Red with Black Interior, Wires  as of 1990 - need current information
#6189-S -- Australia  Metallic Blue with Bordeaux Interior  as of 1998 - right hand drive
#6192 -- Canada  Red with Black Interior, Wires as of 2002 - in movie "Bird on a Wire"
#6195 -- California/USA Dark Gray with Tan Leather as of 2006
#6198 -- Arizona/USA Yellow with Tan Interior, Air as of 2007 - has side vents 
#6201 -- Texas/USA Light Blue with Tan Leather as of 2004 - Ferruccio's personal car
#6204 -- Wisconsin/USA Black with Cream Interior as of 2005
#6207 -- New Mexico/USA Black with Black Interior, Air  as of 1989 - need current information
#6210 -- Florida/USA Blue Green with Tan Leather  as of 2007 - rebuilt at factory
#6213 -- Italy Light Blue with Tobacco as of 1968 - crash tested by factory
#6222 -- Belgium Red with Black Leather, Wires as of 2006
#6225 -- Switzerland Red with Mustard Leather as of 1968 - destroyed except engine
#6228 -- Belgium Bronze with Black Interior as of 2007
#6231 -- Belgium Red with Mustard Leather, Air as of 2007
#6234 -- Germany Red with Black Interior, Air as of 2002
#6240 -- Sweden Red with Black Interior as of 2001
#6243 -- Pennsylvania/USA Dark Brown with Tan Interior, Air as of 2007 - using engine from 6225
#6246 -- England Yellow with Biscuit Leather as of 2007 - crashed and stored
#6249 -- Denmark Metallic Red with Tan Leather as of 2007
#6252 -- Switzerland Light Gray/Beige Interior as of 2007
#6261 -- Spain Blue with Mustard Leather as of 1971 - burned up and lost
#6264 -- Portugal Dark Blue with Cream Interior as of 2007
#6267 -- Connecticut/USA Dark Blue with Tobacco Leather, Air as of 2007
#6270 -- California/USA Black with Burgundy Interior, Air as of 2004 - factory sun roof
#6273 -- California/USA Orange with Tan Interior, Air, Clock as of 2007
#6279 -- California/USA Black with Cream Interior, SV Wheels as of 2007 - spider conversion
#6282 -- North Carolina/USA Dark Blue with Tobacco Leather as of 1999
#6288 -- Washington/USA Red with Camel Interior, Air as of 2007
#6300 -- Belgium Green with Beige Interior as of 2002
#6303 -- Canada Silver Gray with Tan Interior as of 2007 - used in a French movie
#6312 -- Wisconsin/USA Red with Tan Cowhide as of 2005
#6315 -- Texas/USA Silver Blue with Tobacco Leather, Air, Wires as of 2006
#6318 -- Wisconsin/USA Red with Tan Leather as of 2007
#6327 -- Louisiana/USA Yellow with Tan Leather as of 2005 - need current information
#6330 -- Italy Ruby with Biscuit Interior as of 2004 - in Lamborghini Museum
#6336 -- Switzerland Black with Beige Interior as of 2001
#6342 -- California/USA Black with Mustard Leather as of 2004
#6348 -- Holland Red-Orange with Black Interior as of 2007
#6351 -- Belgium In Red Primer as of 2006
#6354 -- Holland Brown with Mustard Leather as of 2007
#6357 -- France Black with Dark Red Interior, SV Wheels as of 2007
#6360 -- California/USA Brown with Mustard Leather as of 2007
#6366 -- Maryland/USA Azure Blue with Black Leather as of 2007
#6369 -- California/USA Red with Black Interior, BBS Wheels as of 1993 - need current information
#6378 -- Japan Blue with Mustard Interior as of 2007
#6381-S -- Lebanon Light Blue with Mustard as of 2005 - only engine exists
#6387-S -- France Red with Biscuit Interior, Air as of 1999 - need current information
#6393-S -- Sweden Red with Bordeaux Interior as of 2006
#6399-S -- Denmark Blue with Mustard Interior as of 2007
#6402-S -- Holland Light Green , Wires as of 2005
#6408-S -- Canada Gold with Tobacco Interior as of 1989 - need current information
#6411-S -- New York/USA Red with Tan Interior, Air as of 1991 - need current information
#6417-S -- England Blue with Tan Interior as of 2007 - using engine from #6603
#6429-S -- Holland Primer, Air as of 2007 - using engine from #6510
#6432-S -- England Silver with Burgundy Interior, Air as of 2007 - right hand drive - movie car
#6435-S -- England Yellow with Black Leather, Air as of 2006 - right hand drive
#6438-S -- Australia Dark Blue with Black Interior as of 2001 - right hand drive
#6441-S -- Australia Blue with Mustard Interior, Air as of 1975 - right hand drive - wrecked
#6444-S -- Italy Dark Bronze with Mustard Interior as of 1969 - crash tested by factory
#6447-S -- Indiana/USA Gold with Tan Interior, Air as of 2007
#6453-S -- France Red with Tobacco Interior as of 2001
#6462-S -- Spain VerdeAqua with Tan Interior as of 2006
#6471-S -- Denmark Red-Orange as of 2007 - wrecked , parts being used
#6477-S -- New Mexico/USA Bronze with Tobacco Interior, Air as of 2004
#6480-S -- Germany Blue with Light Cream Interior as of 2004
#6483-S -- Japan Anthracite with Red Leather as of 2007
#6486-S -- France Dark Blue with Black Interior as of 2005
#6489-S -- California/USA Dark Blue with Tan Interior, Wires, Air as of 2007
#6495-S -- Holland Dark Blue with Blue & White Interior as of 2001
#6498-S -- Italy White with Black Interior as of 1988 - need current information
#6507-S -- Belgium Dark Bronze with Mustard Interior, Air as of 2007
#6510-S -- Germany Brown with Mustard Interior as of 2007 - only the engine survives
#6522-S -- France Black with Cream Interior as of 2007 - need current information
#6525-S -- Japan Red with Tobacco Interior as of 2007 - need current information
#6531-S -- California/USA Red with Brown Interior, Air as of 2005
#6537-S -- Switzerland Blue with Tan Interior as of 2000
#6543-S -- Switzerland Red with Mustard Interior as of 2000
#6546-S -- Virginia/USA Dk Bronze with Tobacco Interior, SV Wheels as of 1999 - only chassis and engine
#6552-S -- France Gold with Tan Interior as of 1990 - need current information
#6555-S -- Sweden Red with Black Interior as of 2001
#6558-S -- Arabia Dark Green with Black Interior, Wires as of 2007
#6561-S -- Switzerland Brown with Mustard Interior as of 2001
#6564-S -- England Black with Red Interior as of 1999
#6573-S -- Italy Dark Blue with Tan Interior as of 1993 - need current information
#6576-S -- Canada Metallic Brown with Brown Interior

as of 2007
#6579-S "a" -- Italy Bronze with Black Interior as of 2005 - Tonino Lamborghini Museo
#6579-S "b" -- France Dark Gray with Tan Interior as of 1999
#6582-S -- Denmark Dark Blue as of 2007
#6585-S -- Switzerland Brown with Black Interior as of 2001
#6588-S -- North Carolina/USA Light Green with Black Interior as of 2006
#6594-S -- Switzerland Silver with Medium Brown Interior as of 2000
#6597-S -- Japan Red with Black Interior as of 2007
#6603-S -- England Red with Black Interior, Air as of 2007 - destroyed, engine in #6417
#6606-S -- Holland Primer

as of 2007 - only body exists
#6612-S -- England Dark Blue with Tan Interior as of 2007
#6618-S -- Switzerland Dark Brown with Light Brown Interior, Air as of 1992 - need current information
#6621-S -- California/USA Red with Black Interior as of 2007
#6628-S -- Switzerland Green with Black & Green Interior as of 2001
#6634-S -- Belgium Red with Mustard Interior as of 2007
#6637-S -- Holland Blue with Tobacco Interior as of 2006
#6643-S -- California/USA Light Green with White Interior as of 2007
#6646-S -- Belgium Black with Beige Interior as of 1971 - need current information
#6652-S -- California/USA Light Blue with Black Interior as of 1970 - need current information
#6655-S -- Denmark Wine Red as of 2007 - crashed, parts being used
#6659-S -- Switzerland Gold with Black Interior as of 2004
#6665-S -- Germany Silver with Burgundy Interior as of 2007
#6668-S -- Holland Light Green with Tan Interior as of 2005
#6674-S -- Austria Bronze with Mustard Interior as of 1995 - need current information
#6677-S -- Holland Silver with Black/Gray Interior as of 2007
     

Copyright © Louis A. Herrin, DVM. -- Copys of this chart or research information not permitted without written permission.

Following is a partial list of other Isleros thought to exist as cars or as parts. I would love to hear any news of them.

Click to go to the top of Issue #14

A Few Interesting Links:

Click to go to the top of Issue #14

 

This web site was authored and produced by Louis A. Herrin, DVM. Reproduction of any pictures, articles, or charts is prohibited without written permission of the author. Contact me at LuigiDVM@aol.com.

Copyright © Louis A. Herrin,DVM
11/01/2007--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated 11/11/2007