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Lamborghini History from the Miura to the Revento, Aventador and Centenario

 

1960 : A tractor manufacturer in the early 1960's, Ferruccio Lamborghini with an interest in great sports cars, decided to start developing a range 
 
super cars. The love came from his past Osca's, Maserati's and Ferrari's, however these cars never completely satisfied him.
 
As the story goes there are various versions of what drove Ferrucio to launch his own super car company, The most accurate reason is due to a conflict 
 
between Enzo Ferrari & Ferruccio Lamborgini, driving the Italian tractor manufacturer to set up his own company to compete directly with his Enzo, this originates from Lamborghini's son:-
 
'Ferruccio Lamborghini went to discuss some problems regarding his 250 GT.
 
There he found Enzo at his factory and complained about his poor quality clutch. Ferrari reacted by saying " Go away and drive your tractors you obviously don't know how to drive cars". This comment made him return to his 
 
factory somewhat irate, and he asked one of his engineers to dismantle his Ferrari 250 GT car. when they saw the clutch they realised it was by the same 
 
manufacturers of his tractors. The engineers and Ferrucio searched for a spare part, which would deem itself suitable for the repair, they found a 
 
suitable tractor part and fixed the problem, this gave Ferruccio the drive to start manufacturing Lamborghini sports cars'.
 
The main concern in competing was having a big engine, a V12 engine, former Ferrari engineer Giotto Bizzarrini was appointed due to his knowledge on the 
 
V12 engine. The V12 had 4 camshafts, short stroke and 4 bigger valves per cylinder, the engine created an unexpected 350 bhp it also had an aluminium 
 
engine block & crankshaft & 7 main bearings, aluminium forged pistons.

The 350 GT

 
The 350 GT prototype was released and made its 1st public appearance in 1963 at the Turin Car Show. The car was a success the following year, over 130 
 
GT Lamborghini cars were sold. Ferruccio needed a badge for his new super cars, he decided on his star sign of taurus, therefore he adopted the sign of 
 
a Bull.
 
The 400GT soon followed. Lambo sales soared and its earlier incarnation the 350 GT allowed the company to fund its latest project, A prototype 
 
Lamborghini supercar - The Miura, this car was also premiered at the Turin Auto Show by in November 1965. The styling was derived from and engineered 
 
into the Miura in less than a year by Marcello Gandini.

The Miura

 
The completed car was on display at the Geneva Auto Show by March 1966. The Lamborghini Miura cars name was derived from the famed fighting-bull 
 
trainer, Don Eduardo Miura. As projected the car shot to success, 111 cars were sold in 1967, this was the launch that Ferrucio needed to enter the 
 
global market of the hundred-million-dollar supercar manufacturers.
 
The famed Lamborghini shock factor came to light in 1971 with the intro of the LP500 Countach, this cars name was derived from the Italian slang for ' 
 
shock and surprise uttered under a persons breath, This comment was the first thing uttered by the first person to view the Car. The prototype was the 
 
first ever car to be fitted with Lamborghini's now trademark Gull Wing doors or Scissor doors.

The Countach

 
The year after wasn't as successful though. A large tractor consignment for a country in South American was cancelled, the problem was Ferrucio had already upgraded his factories to cope with the demand. To get out of a financial crisis he had to sell part of his share in the tractor factory, Fiat saw this as a great opportunity.
 
The 70's, were saved by sales of the Lamborghini Countach. Soon after this hard time the company started profitting, the car division became self-sufficient and profitable. Ferrucio, however decided to sell all his stock to a Swiss investor. Soon after in the February Ferrucio aged 76 died.
 
The High performance cars of the day, and Lamborghini suffered budget and parts supply problems during the oil crisis of the 1970's; all the companies cars were sold with at least two-year back orders, many loyal Lambo customers became progressively annoyed waiting for their new Super cars. Then in 
 
1978, disaster struck and The Lamborghini Comapny declared bankruptcy. The Italian courts were appointed to find a new buyer and owner, Swiss-based Mimran brothers stepped forward and took over. The 1980s saw things dramatically improve for Lamborghini under the Mimran Brothers.
 
The Chrysler Corporation bought out the company lock, stock and barrel as a surprise move. The Diablo concept was being developed at this time. The Diablo received the same response of the Countach, this allowed Lamborghini to climb to the top of its game.
 
However in 1994, Chrysler had to sell Lamborghini to an Indonesian investment due to financial circumstances, this economic trouble hit the Indonesian 
 
company, VAG saw this and had started to take an interest. In 1998 VAG bought and was solely the owner of Automobili Lamborghini.
 
Audi's latest incarnation the Lamborghini Murcielago an ultimate show stopper yet again, Audi's technical knowledge and enabled the company to build greatest two-seater supercar to date.
 
STOP PRESS - Lambo in September at Frankfurt unveiled their latest VAG owned Lambo, the Reventon, this car was limited to 25 models.
 
 
Engineers and companies over the years - Franco Scaglione, Touring of Milan, Zagato, Mario Marazzi, Bertone, ItalDesign, Marcello Gandini.
 

Lamborghini

Year

Engine

CC

Max KMH

350GTV

1963

V12

N/A

280km/h

350GT

1964-1968

V12

3464 cc

240km/h

400GT 2+2

1966-1968

V12

3929 cc

250km/h

Miura

1966-1973

V12

3929 cc

280km/h

Espada

1968-1978

V12

3929 cc

245km/h

Islero

1968-1970

V12

3929 cc

Unknown

Jarama

1970-1978

V12

3929 cc

240km/h

Urraco

1970-1979

V8

2463 cc

Unknown

Urraco

1970-1979

V8

2996 cc

Unknown

Urraco

1970-1979

V8

1994 cc

Unknown

Countach V12

1974-1989

V12

3929 cc

295km/h

Countach

1974-1989

V12

4754 cc

295km/h

Countach

1974-1989

V12

5167 cc

295km/h

Silhouette

1976-1977

V8

2996 cc

260km/h

Jalpa

1982-1989

V8

3485 cc

239.9km/h

LM002

1986-1992

V12

5167 cc

210km/h

Diablo

1990-2001

V12

5707/5992 cc

338km/h

Murciélago

2001-Present

V12

6192/6496 cc

330+km/h

Murciélago Race Car

2001-Present

V12

N/A

Unknown

Gallardo

2003-Present

V10

4961 cc

309km/h

Gallardo Spyder

2005-Present

V10

4961 cc

314km/h

Murciélago Roadster

2005-Present

V12

6192/6496 cc

320+km/h

Gallardo SE

2006-Present

V10

4961 cc

Unknown

Murciélago LP640

2006-Present

V12

6192/6496 cc

340km/h(est)

 

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