The Lamborghini Journal - Chapter 1

The Man Behind The Legend

Ferruccio Lamborghini
Compiled By

Technomaniac
Ferruccio Lamborghini was a self made millionaire,
millionaire who build his fortune by building tractors
from army surplus left by the Allied Forces back in 1945.

He started the tractor business from a small garage but soon demand for his very powerful
tractors rose. And soon he was left with surplus money, so started an oil burner and air
conditioning systems as well. All the businesses flourished well and he became the wealthiest
man in Italy.

He could afford just about everything he wanted, and as with most of the super rich, he
started collecting
llecting expensive cars including high speed GT cars like the Mercedes SL300
and Ferrari 250 GTS.
But when his Ferrari started giving problems with the clutch and the local workshop couldn't
fix this problem, Ferruccio decided to drive to Modena and confront Enzo Ferrari himself.
But Enzo,, who was known for his arrogance, told this 'farmer', "Lamborghini, you may be
able to drive a tractor, but you will never be able to handle a Ferrari properly". Ferruccio
was insulted and furious and decided to show Enzo how he should build GT cars.
And lo behold, Automobili Lamborghini was born!

Automobili Lamborghini SpA was founded in early 1963, Ferruccio bought a green
green-field
site of 90,000 square metres near Bologna, in SantAgata Bologna and work on his brand
new factory commenced. The building was erected in only eight months.
 The factory used a lot of open spaces and glass everywhere, a novel concept at the time
and cost him about 500,000,000 Lire, a humongous amount. The entire factory was
surrounded by a road and in front of the main office building a nice garden was made. The
large glass hall welcomed visitors and Ferruccio’s own office was located at the front of this
central building.

Now Sig. Ferruccio Lamborghini started looking for the top men in the business and was
able to recruit the very best of Ferrari engineers like Giotto Bizzarrini to design and build a
V-12 for Lamborghini. The engine was finished soon and was able to pump out about 400
bhp at 11,000 rpm, but Ferruccio wanted a GT car and not a race car, so the engine was
detuned to 'only' 280 bhp at 7,000 rpm. After the completion of the V 12, he left.

By that time two members were added to the technical team at SantAgata, Giampaolo
Dallara and Giampaolo Stanzani joined Ferruccio, and in early 1964 Ubaldo Sgarzi
started working for the new Automobili Lamborghini SpA Company. All from under
Enzo's nose. Ferruccio had a fabulous team of engineers surrounding him to make his dream
car, but a car has to be road tested. So he made an offer to Bob Wallace he couldn’t
refuse and took him in to the Lamborghini family.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was passionate about bull fighting, hence the emblem and he
specifically named all his cars after ferocious bulls from the arena.
 1963 - 1966 Lamborghini 350 GT

The Lamborghini 350 GTV prototype was the first car made by Automobilia Lamborghini
shown to the public on the Turin Auto Show of 1963, it was however not built in this new
factory, because the tooling equipment wasn't delivered yet.
In 1964 the first Ferrari Lamborghini 350 GTs were crafted in this new plant. Carrozzeria
Touring supplied the bodywork the chassis and the engines were mounted together
complete with leather interior.

The 350 GT featured a 3.5 L quad

quad-cam V12 engine, independent
ndependent rear suspension (while
Ferrari still used live rear axles) and a controversial 2+1 semi
semi-fastback
fastback body by Carrozzeria
Touring of Milan. The 350GT generally drew high praises at the time for its flexible and
high-revving
revving engine, its stable cornering,
cornering, even on rough surfaces, and its high level of finish.
120 copies were built from 1963 to 1966.
 1966 - 1968 Lamborghini 400GT

The Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 was a 2+2

2+2-seated
seated sports car from the Italian manufacturer
Lamborghini, successor to the 350GT. First presented at the 1966 Geneva Auto Show.
Compared to its predecessor the engine was enlarged to 4.0 L, increasing the power to
320 bhp. The 400GT 2+2 was actually a different body from the 350GT, with a longer
wheelbase, different roofline, and some sheetmetal changes throughout the car.

The larger body shape enabled the +2 seating to be installed in the rear, where the
350GT only had room for luggage or +1 seating.
 The bodywork was designed by Carrozzeria Touring. The 400GT 2+2 also had a
Lamborghini designed gearbox, with Porsche style synchromesh on all gears including, which
greatly improved the drivetrain.

A total of 247 units were built from 1966 to 1968, when it was replaced with the Islero.
There was a variant of the 350GT with the 4L V12 fitted to it, which was also called the
400GT. Only 23 of these smaller coupes were built.
 1968 - 1970 Lamborghini Islero & Islero S

Lamborghini Islero was produced between 1968

1968-1970
1970 and featuring the Lamborghini V12
engine. It was the replacement for the 400GT. The car debuted at the 1968 Geneva
Auto Show.

The Islero was named after a bull that killed famed matador Manuel Rodriguez "Manolete"
on August 28, 1947.

The Islero was designed by Carrozzeria Marazzi. The design was essentially a reworked
400GT, but the track was altered to allow for wider tires. The Islero had good outward
visibility, roomier interior, and much improved
improved soundproofing. All nice improvements over
previous models. It had a 325 hp, 4.0 L V12 engine, 5 speed transmission, fully independent
suspension, and disc brakes. Its top speed was rated at 155 mph. Only 125 Isleros were
built.
An updated Islero,
o, dubbed the Islero S was released in 1969 with the engine producing
350 hp. There were quite a few styling changes too - Brightwork blind slots on the front
fenders, an enlarged hood scoop, slightly flaired wheel arches, tinted windows, round side
marker lights, a fixed section in the door windows, a revamped dashboard and interior. The
top speed of the S improved to 161 mph or 260 km/h.

Only 100 examples of the Islero S were built, bringing the production total of the Islero
nameplate to 225 cars. Ferruccio
rruccio Lamborghini himself had an Islero as his daily drive car
during that era.
 1968 - 1978 Lamborghini Espada

The Lamborghini Espada is a grand tourer which was built by Lamborghini between 1968
and 1978.

Based on the Marzal show car, displayed a

att the 1967 Geneva Auto Show, in 1968
Lamborghini introduced its first four seater model, the Espada. The car was designed by
Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign. The Espada featured all-round
all round independent suspension
and disc brakes. The interior trim was very luxurious.

The 4.0 L V12 putting out 325 bhp was front mounted and drove the rear wheels, though
later SII and SIII models came with 350bhp. Access to this engine was made easy by a lift-
lift
up front which featured exposed headlamps (most supercars of this era
e had "pop-up
lamps".)
 The Espada had fully independent suspension and four wheel disc brakes. Most
transmissions were manual, and the Espada also introduced one of the first automatic
transmissions that were able to absorb the torque of a large sporti
sporting V12. It had unusual
gearing, with 3 ratios: drive, 1 and reverse.

During its 10 year production the car underwent some changes, and three different models
were produced. These were the S1 (1968
(1968-1970),
1970), the S2 (1970
(1970-1972) and the S3
(1972-1978). Each model
el featured engine power improvements, but only minor details were
changed with the exterior design.
 The interior was altered dramatically between each model. An all new dashboard and
steering wheel was installed for the S2, and the interior was again revamped for the S3. In
1970, power assisted steering was offered as an option, and in 1974 an automatic
transmission was also offered. In 1976 impact bumpers had to be installed to meet United
States safety requirements, and some people consider cars produced with them to be the
S4, but Lamborghini did not officially change the designation. Near the end of tthe
Espada's life, Bertone designed a four door prototype, which was never put into
production.

1217 cars were made, making it the most successful Lamborghini model at the
time.

Technomaniac