Lamborghini 350 GT: The Beginning

Ferruccio Lamborghini was a tractor manufacturer. He owned a Ferrari 250 GT, but the clutch kept breaking. He went to Maranello to complain to Enzo Ferrari. Enzo famously told him: “You stick to driving tractors, I’ll stick to driving cars.” Ferruccio was insulted. He decided to build his own car, just to spite Enzo.

The 350 GT was that car.

Engineering: Better than Ferrari?

Ferruccio hired Giotto Bizzarrini (who had just been fired by Ferrari) to design the V12 engine.

• The Engine: 3.5-liter V12 with quad cams (Ferrari only had single cams). It was smoother, more powerful, and more reliable than the Ferrari engine.
• Chassis: Independent suspension all around (Ferrari still used live rear axles/leaf springs on some cars).

Design: Touring

The body was designed by Carrozzeria Touring using their “Superleggera” (Superlight) method—aluminum panels over a thin steel tube frame.

• The Lights: It features distinctive oval headlights.
• The Cabin: It was luxurious, quiet, and comfortable. Ferruccio wanted a GT car, not a race car.

Success

The 350 GT proved that Lamborghini was serious. It laid the foundation for the 400 GT, the Miura, and everything that followed. It is the grandfather of the brand.