The History Of Lamborghini

Learn about the history of the Italian supercar company maker, Lamborghini, founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963.

Lamborghini was founded o n 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini, who after serving the Italian army started his company of manufacturing tractors. Before the magnanimity of his success, he started with a car and motorcycle repair shop, after returning from the armed forces where he served as part of the mechanical corps. His tractor business grew in abundance and in 1960 he began making air conditioners and heaters for buildings. His success was commemorated in Santa Agata Bolognese, Italy, where the headquarters of Lamborghini stands ‘till present. His inspiration to build high-speed and high powered vehicle was prompted and provoked when he met Enzo Ferrari.

Ferruccio complained to Enzo about the clutch of his Ferrari car. His complain was replied by telling him that "the problem is not with the car but with driver"... and was advised to look after his tractors instead. Disappointed and resentful, he dismounted the transmission of his Ferrari car and found out that transmission used were the same transmission being used in his tractors. Then encouraged Ferruccio Lamborghini combined the talents of Giotto Bizzarini, Franco Scaglione, and Gian Paolo Dallara, who previously worked with Enzo Ferrari. Upon his invitation they have created the rival of the Ferrari, the Automobili Lamborghini. Quite a very interesting Lamborghini history; the very first Lamborghini was the prototype GTV and the very first car production was the Lamborghini 350GT. It contained all functions and parts that a Ferrari was inferior of.

You might notice that a Lamborghini supercar is less popular compared to other sports car in the race track, this is because of the "no racing" policy of the founder itself that is in contrast to his rival’s reason where the main purpose of the Ferraris production was to generate revenue to sustain motor racing participation and events. This resulted to the development of Lamborghini model, Muira; a car with a mid engine that has the potential for racing, which was designed and engineered by his ex-Ferrari colleagues who are race-enthusiasts and are against the "no racing" policy of Ferruccio.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on 28th April 1916, under the Taurus Zodiac sign, thus the crest of the company was taken after. Almost all Lamborghini models, past and present were named in relation to bull fighting or the famously bred bull in Italy. Muira, after Don Eduardo Muira, who was a bullfighting breeder; Islero, was after a bull that killed famous matador, Manolete; Espada, which means sword, a weapon of a matador; Jarama of Lamborghini Jarama, was either taken from the popular area for bullfighting and or the racing circuit; however, the Countach, which means "wolf whistle" in Italian was the first Lamborghini to break the traditional relation of names in the Lamborghini line. Again, after which, the tradition was rectified with Diablo, which was a famous fighting bull; Murcielago, which was one of the bulls of the Muira breed; Gallardo, another famous bull in the Muira breed; and the Reventon, the name of the famous bull that killed matador Felix Guzman.

By Joe Hayes