Lamborghini at 40 Years Old

History is full of conjecture as to exactly why Italian industrialist Ferruccio Lamborghini went into the car business. Most of it relates to his reported dissatisfaction as a Ferrari customer. Some say he made suggestions for improvement, to which Enzo Ferrari didn't take kindly. Others say Lamborghini had numerous mechanical problems with one of his own Ferraris, and had had enough. Another impetus might have been that he was already a successful constructor of mechanized goods (farm tractors among them) and felt doing cars just made sense.

No matter, he set up shop in the spring of 1963 in a suburb of Modena, Italy, named Sant'Agata Bolognese, and went at it. Lamborghini was smart enough to surround himself with bright, young engineers and designers, including Giotto Bizzarrini, Paolo Stanzani, and Giampaolo Dallara (who currently builds IRL chassis). The company's first effort, the 350GT, was well received, but it was the fabulous, mid-engined Miura that put automotive enthusiasts and the media on its ear, and Lamborghini on the map. More radical designs followed: the Espada 2+2, and, of course, the Countach, which became the exotic car poster child of the 1970s and 1980s.

While Lamborghini, both the man and the company, seldom lacked imagination, both always seemed to lack solid financial footing. Lamborghini was virtually bankrupt by 1980, and liquidators turned control of the factory over to the Mimran brothers who haled from Senegal. A raft of owners followed, including Chrysler corporation, none of which showed the marque any real love or attention. Lamborghini's original connection with Audi was made as the former sought advice on aluminum chassis construction. The relationship became a marriage in the summer of 1998, as Volkswagen recognized a solid addition to its ever-increasing stable of brands. Lamborghini now has its own management team, operating under the auspices of Audi.

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Lamborghini: then, and now: Original 350 GTV concept of 1963, which led to the first production 350 GT, meets up with today's current lineup, the Gallardo (foreground) and the flagship Murcielago. The GTV was designed by Franco Scaglione.

Ferruccio Lamborghini poses with two of the products to bear his name, a Jarama and a tractor. Though Lamborghini wasn't a farmer per se, producing farming equipment was his main industrial endeavor prior to getting into the car business.

The seminal, mid-engined Miura firmly entrenched Lamborghini as an exotic carmaker. Its transverse, midship-mounted V-12 chassis layout was revolutionary upon its introduction in 1966, and many consider it among the most beautiful exotics of all time.

Although the Gallardo is the first V-10-engined Lamborghini to make it to production, it does not represent the first time the idea has come up. The Cala concept was designed by Giugiaro and made its debut in 1995, but never went beyond the idea stage.

Racing has never been a big part of the scene at Lamborghini, but the company was an F1 engine supplier from 1989 to 1993. The 3.5-liter V-12's record was marginal at best, with its highest finish being a third place at the Japanese Grand Prix in 1990.

While Lamborghini's foray into F1 was less than stellar, the lessons learned there helped in the development of an offshore powerboat engine program. The big V-12 garnered several wins...and certainly must have sounded good doing so.

Should you be in the Modena, Italy, area, a visit to the Lamborghini's new museum is a must. There are no formal tours, and it's not officially open to the public, but a fax or email in advance might just snag you a look. Go to www.lamborghini.com.