The Lamborghini Espada name means “sword” in Spanish. It refers specifically to the sword carried by a torero, the bullfighter who uses it in the traditional bullfighting arena.
The name fits Lamborghini’s naming tradition, which often drew on Spanish bullfighting and famous fighting bulls. The Espada was not a mid-engine supercar like the Miura; it was a practical four-seat grand tourer, designed for high-speed travel with room for passengers and luggage. Marcello Gandini created its dramatic Bertone shape, drawing ideas from the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal and Bertone Pirana concepts.
Lamborghini produced the Espada from 1968 to 1978 in three official series: S1, S2 and S3. A frequent confusion is treating “Espada” as a reference to a shield or spear because those are also associated with bullfighting imagery. The Spanish word itself is more precise: espada means sword.