1972 Espada S3
Chassis #8696
Engine #40801
Production #648
Built 14 April 1972

This Espada S-III is currently (Dec 2000) undergoing serious restoration and updating works.

First results of painstaking (and costly) works to restore the carbody. Totally dismantled, sandblasted, 6 months nonstop steelworks, and lots of mod's. The car was totally dismantled down to smallest impossible parts,Êall parts rebuildt, re-newed, modified, updated. There is not a single wear-part that has not been renewed. Only stainless steel fasteners are used.

The intention was not to restore to original condition, but to create a fully updated Espada, the missing SV if you like, with modern electronics and components, bonded glass, lightweight insulation etc. The carbody is currently beeing outfitted again, with fully new leather trim and wiring.

The car body has been updated as follows:

• integrated front-spoilers to prevent nose-lifting at highspeed
• sideskirts/open-rear to enhance ground-effect and improve engine-bay cooling
• integrated windshield rollbar (housing the Nav/Audio System also)
• integrated central rollbar (also housing cabin and reading lights)
• reinforced front wings/adaptions for BMW new generation headlights (2x2 lights as original) Sunroof (manual)
• roof-vents (shower) closed off (instead is venting made through right "fuel-cap" grid)
• rear-end modified for bumper-less design and for 2x2 round rearlights (as fitted i.e. Chevron) Original In-cabin fitted 2x45 ltr fuel-tanks have beenÊcanceled. Instead a 90ltr.
• modern fueltank (Jeep Grand Cherokee V8) has been fitted under theÊtrunk.
• all glass to be bonded
• Alfa Romero fully adjustable steering-column (Alfa 156)
• ten zillion screw/poprivet holes closed off (by welding!)

• Distributor-less ignition
• Pre-lubing system
• Electric coolant pump and aluminium cooler
• Head studbolts changed to "real" head screws (from a NISSAN Patrol!!)
• Single high output alternator with Micro-V belt