For the 100th birthday of Ferruccio Lamborghini: All models

Perhaps the deal was Lamborghini Centenario the wrong gift for the 100th birthday of company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini. Ferruccio L amborghini (April 28, 1916 - February 20, 1993) founded his company in 1948 in Cento, Ferrara, and initially dedicated himself to the manufacture of tractors. Seen in this way, a tractor might have been a present that would have reminded Ferruccio of the origins of the company that today sells its sports cars so successfully all over the world.

Lamborghini Trattori

Genesis: This is the first Lamborghini. And yes, it was a tractor built in 1949.

Lamborghini versus Ferrari - this is how it all began

Business with agricultural machinery was obviously going so well that Lamborghini could afford a Ferrari brand sports car. According to legend, however, the Italian had a few criticisms of that vehicle. So he presented his optimization suggestions to the great Enzo Ferrari.

The gray eminence of Ferrari is said to have smacked Ferrucio off with the words that he only knows something about tractors, but not about sports cars. The proud Italian's ambition was aroused and led to the founding of 'Automobili Lamborghini': Ferrucio wanted to prove to Enzo Ferrari that he was very capable of building a sports car. From then on, a brand symbol of the new company operatedBull. For Ferruccio Lamborghini as a symbol of Strength.

Things took their course. 1962 Ferruccio Lamborghini 'stole' his new one Arch enemy Ferrari two young engineers: Giotto Bizzarini and Gian Paolo Dallara had previously worked in responsible positions on the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO. Now, together with designer Bertone and the third engineer, Franco Scaglione, they were to carry out Lamborghini's development contract and design a sports car.

The Lamborghini 350 GTV was the first show car

Seen in 1963 the first Lamborghini show car the light of the car world: The Lamborghini 350 GTV. He founded the brand's sports car history with the bull. For the engine, a V12 with a displacement of 3.5 liters, Bizzarini opted for a cylinder angle of 60 degrees, an aluminum crankcase, dry sump lubrication and four overhead camshafts. Six Weber twin carburettors were emblazoned on the Kurzhuber, which ran on the test bench for the first time in May 1963 and achieved 347 hp at 8,000 rpm.

The company boss was so impressed with the engine that he put it in his private car let build. But when assembling the prototype, the V12 suddenly didn't fit under the flat hood of the Lamborghini 350 GTV. Apparently there was a lack of coordination between the individual technicians. In addition, the boss should not have really approved the design with the distinctive nose and the pop-up headlights. He wanted more harmonious lines. Scaglione was fired and Bizzarini also left the company. The prototype, internally named Tipo 103, was shown at the Turin Motor Show in 1963. But immediately afterwards he disappeared into a corner of the plant.

Lamborghini 350 GT - the first production vehicle

The first production vehicle from Lamborghini, the 350 GT, went into series production a year later. The 3.5 liter V12, which in the 350 GTV still had the character of a real racing engine, was civilized. At first it mobilized 270 hp, later even 320 horsepower were available. The Lamborghini 350 GT was less an uncompromising sports car than a Gran Turismo suitable for long journeys. In contrast to the 350 GTV, wet sump lubrication was used instead of dry sump lubrication. Ferrucio Lamborghini also had the design of the 'Superleggera' body stretched over the tubular frame radically redesigned by Carozzeria Touring. Among other things, the pop-up headlights of the 350 GTV have now given way to elliptical lights.

The outer skin was made of lightweight aluminum, the total weight was only 1.3 tons. The first Lambo sprinted to 100 km /h in 6.8 seconds.A maximum of 250 km /h was possible. Lamborghini first presented the car to the public at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show. In the first year only 13 vehicles left the factory at a price of 53,850 D-Marks each. At that time, you could also buy twelve VW 1200s for the same money. 135 vehicles were built by 1966. In 1966 the 400 GT 2 + 2 with a top speed of 270 km /h followed, which was even more successful with a total of 250 units. It was powered by the 320 hp four-liter V12.

You can find out more about all other Lamborghini models on the following pages.