Lamborghini

Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. is an Italian supercar manufacturer headquartered in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Owned by Audi AG.

The founder of the company, Ferruccio Lamborghini, like many founders of automotive companies, was passionately fond of mechanisms from childhood. He graduated from an engineering school in Bologna, then worked as a mechanic in the Italian army. After the end of World War II, Lamborghini converted military vehicles into agricultural ones. He already then used the image of a bull as an emblem for his products, since according to the horoscope he was a calf.

In the late 40s, Ferruccio Lamborghini produced a tractor of his own design. Then his company manufactured heating equipment and air conditioning systems. Lamborghini became wealthy enough to buy expensive cars that included a Mercedes 300SL, a Maserati 3500GT, a Jaguar E-type, and a few Ferrari 250 GTs. None of them satisfied him completely.

The decision to produce cars Lamborghini made quickly. Many considered him extravagant, because the ambitious Ferruccio wanted to create supercars. It was possible to lower the whole fortune for their development and production. There are several versions of what exactly the reason prompted Lamborghini to start assembling supercars. The son of the founder of the brand said that a quarrel with Enzo Ferrari, who was known as a quick-tempered and sharp person, played a decisive role. One day, Lamborghini arrived at the Ferrari factory and complained to Enzo about a bad clutch in a Ferrari 250 GT. Enzo did not even listen to him, saying that he did not understand anything about racing cars, and sent him to continue to deal with tractors. Then Lamborghini decided to build a car that would be superior to the Ferrari models.

Returning to his room, he dismantled the transmission and saw that he uses many of its parts for his tractors. Having reassembled it again, Ferruccio Lamborghini solved the problem and focused on the realization of his old dream – the manufacture of cars.

Shortly after the quarrel between Lamborghini and Ferrari, the latter quarreled with his talented specialists – Gian Paolo Dallar, Giotto Bisarini and Bob Wallace. They immediately got a contract from Lamborghini. Just 15 km from the Ferrari factory in Maranello, work was in full swing on the creation of new supercars. Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SpA was incorporated in 1963.

The first prototype was presented at the Turin Motor Show in October 1963. It was a Lamborghini 350 GTV, a two-seat coupe with a 3.5-liter V12 engine producing 347 hp. The maximum speed was 280 km / h, and the car accelerated to “hundreds” in 6.7 seconds. The serial version of the car debuted at the Geneva Motor Show six months later.

In 1966, the Lamborghini 400 GT model appeared, which differed from the first car of the brand in some body changes. Successful sales allowed the company to raise money to develop the legendary Miura, which debuted in March 1966. This car has glorified the brand all over the world. Its “chip” was flush with the hood of the headlights, which rotated to a vertical position when turned on.

Under the hood fit a transversely mounted V12 engine with a volume of 3.9 liters and a power of 350 hp. The body was made of aluminium. In 1968, a modification of the Lamborghini Miura P400S was introduced with electric windows, chrome trim around the windows, an updated dashboard and a more powerful (20 hp) engine.

In 1968, the Islero 400 GT debuted, which was named after the bull that killed the famous matador Manuel Rodriguez in 1947. In the same year, the famous Espada (“matador blade”) model was introduced. She became the first four-seater car of the brand, which was positioned as a “family supercar”.

In 1970, the small Lamborghini Urraco P250 was released, designed by Marcello Gandini. The car was equipped with an eight-cylinder 2.5-liter engine with a central location. In addition, the Jarama 400 GT model with a 4.0-liter V12 engine appeared this year.

In 1971, the Lamborghini Countach prototype made a splash. He received vertically opening doors, a four-liter power unit and rear air intakes. With a 365-horsepower engine, the car accelerated to 300 km / h. The serial version of the machine was introduced in 1974. He received a less futuristic appearance, but still distinguished by a catchy and original exterior.

In the early 70s, the company began to pursue financial failures. Ferruccio Lamborghini sells his share of tractor production to Fiat, as he is short of funds from a broken contract for the supply of a large batch to South America. Despite the fact that car sales allowed the brand to stay afloat, Ferruccio sells it to Swiss investors Georges-Henri Rosetti and Rene Leimer. One of the reasons for this decision was his son’s low interest in running an automobile company. However, the new owners also paid little attention to the development of the brand.

The unenviable situation was worsened by the outbreak of the global fuel crisis, which reduced the interest of buyers in sports cars. The remaining customers were quite disappointed with the need to wait for ordered cars for two years. This difficulty arose due to a disruption in the supply of spare parts.

To stay afloat, Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW, according to which it carried out the production and fine-tuning of a sports car that entered the market under the name M1. To fulfill the contract, the company took out a large loan from the Italian government. At the same time, a contract was signed with the American Mobility Technology International to design a high-speed army SUV using a Chrysler engine. The model was called Cheetah (“cheetah”) and presented in 1977 during the Geneva Motor Show. She aroused incredible interest from the public, who could not expect anything like this from Lamborghini.

Work on the contract with BMW was delayed in time, as the company spent most of the money on the Cheetah. The German automaker ran out of patience, and the agreement was terminated. Then it was rumored that the Bavarian brand still got what it wanted from Lamborghini, which designed and fully implemented the fine-tuning of the car.

In 1978, the company was forced to declare itself bankrupt and came under the control of the state administration. To reduce costs, the Silhouette, Urraco and Espada models were removed from the assembly line. In 1980, the brand came under the control of the Mimran Group. Under the leadership of Patrick Mimran, who became president of the company, the Jalpa sports car with a targa body and the LM001 SUV, based on the Cheetah, are also released. The LM001 was equipped with a 3.6-liter V8 or 4.7-liter V12. A year later, its improved version LM002 comes out with a 455-horsepower V12 engine, the volume of which was 5.2 liters. It was moved forward and the suspension was slightly upgraded.