1982 Lamborghini Jalpa Spider #

1982 Jalpa SPIDER
Chassis #
Engine #

At the 1980 Turin Motor Show Bertone unveiled the Athon Spider, a topless one-off based on the Silhouette. The car was quite a hit with the public.

With sales of the Jalpa line sagging by the end of its production Automobili Lamborghini decided to explore the possiblities of producing a convertible version of the Jalpa to hopefully extend it's life. While the Athon had no roof at all a Jalpa spider would need one.

Work bagan during 1987 on a Silver Jalpa, the second one ever built that was still at the factory. Most of the body panels remained original with the exception of the rear treatment and engine cover. The new convertible top would require modifications to the rear similar to that of the Athon though the finished product did not turn out quite as attractive as hoped. The proportions at the rear grab your eye imediatly, especialy with the top up which also isn't very attractive. With the forward possioning of the passenger compartment, the rear look very large and disproportionate. This retractible top would be more visually pleasing if it had sails extending it rearward as on the Ferrari Mondials and later 348/355.

The experiment was deemed a failure and it was dicided not to continue with further development. The car was then parked in the back yard at the factory where it sits today. As with most derilect cars left to rot in the yard, it has been stripped of some parts and is always exposed to the posibilities of further damage as the photo above shows.

Both Spyders are now with Tonino Lamborghini. We hope to have a few new photos of this car soon.

	*Jalpa*		Last updated Jan 12, 2002
	Illustration by Johan Kerstens courtesy of the Cyborg.		1982 Jalpa SPIDER Chassis # Engine # At the 1980 Turin Motor Show Bertone unveiled the Athon Spider, a topless one-off based on the Silhouette. The car was quite a hit with the public. With sales of the Jalpa line sagging by the end of its production Automobili Lamborghini decided to explore the possiblities of producing a convertible version of the Jalpa to hopefully extend it's life. While the Athon had no roof at all a Jalpa spider would need one. Work bagan during 1987 on a Silver Jalpa, the second one ever built that was still at the factory. Most of the body panels remained original with the exception of the rear treatment and engine cover. The new convertible top would require modifications to the rear similar to that of the Athon though the finished product did not turn out quite as attractive as hoped. The proportions at the rear grab your eye imediatly, especialy with the top up which also isn't very attractive. With the forward possioning of the passenger compartment, the rear look very large and disproportionate. This retractible top would be more visually pleasing if it had sails extending it rearward as on the Ferrari Mondials and later 348/355. The experiment was deemed a failure and it was dicided not to continue with further development. The car was then parked in the back yard at the factory where it sits today. As with most derilect cars left to rot in the yard, it has been stripped of some parts and is always exposed to the posibilities of further damage as the photo above shows. Both Spyders are now with Tonino Lamborghini. We hope to have a few new photos of this car soon.