French craftsmen have built a sinister Lamborghini Espada hot rod

Hot rod culture is typically an American phenomenon, but the French have given it a go—with occasional success. France’s own Danton Arts Kustoms and Carrosserie Hervé teamed up to create this Lamborghini Espada hot rod, packing all the classic hot rod elements into a more modern package.

To begin with, the shops nailed the profile—the Espada sits low, chopped, and positively menacing.

According to Danton Arts Kustoms’ website, the project began when founder Alexandre Danton and Hervé Castagno of Carrosserie Hervé, who had just acquired a 1970 Espada, struck up a conversation. Castagno wanted to mark the car’s fiftieth anniversary (the model debuted in 1968) by doing something special. Together, the two shops let their creativity run wild.

The result is this beast. Inspired by the name “Espada”—Spanish and Portuguese for a matador’s sword—they set out to shape every sheet of metal as if a blade had delivered a precise cut. They started with sketches, translated them into a digital design, and then built it onto the car itself.

Up front sits a new Lamborghini V-12 engine, though its exact output remains unconfirmed. We also don’t know what other modifications were made or how much of the original Espada remains. But from the roar alone, its Espada heart is still beating strong.

As a final nod to the car’s heritage, the shops fitted the side panels with green, white, and red stripes. The styling echoes that of modern Lamborghini track cars—and it’s an excellent touch to honor the Italian grand tourer transformed into a hot rod.

Danton Arts Kustoms seems to have a knack for European hot rods. Their portfolio also includes a Porsche 964, a 911 Targa, and a Peugeot 201. The shop’s no stranger to American vehicles, either—a handful of Jeeps, a GMC, and a Chevrolet have all experienced the Danton Arts Kustoms touch.