Lamborghini 350 GT
The Lamborghini 350 GT is where the legend began. Ferruccio Lamborghini, a wealthy tractor and air conditioning manufacturer from Emilia-Romagna, was famously dissatisfied with his Ferrari 250 GT's clutch and Enzo Ferrari's dismissive response to his complaint. Rather than accept this slight, Lamborghini resolved to build a better grand touring car himself. The result was the 350 GT, the first production Lamborghini and the car that launched one of the most iconic automotive brands in history.
The engine was designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, who had previously worked for Ferrari on the legendary 250 GTO project. The Tipo V12 was an all-aluminum, dual-overhead-cam unit displacing 3,464 cc with four valves per cylinder (later changed to two). Fed by six Weber 40 DCOE side-draft carburetors, the production version produced 280 horsepower at 6,500 rpm. The prototype 350 GTV had featured the engine in a more extreme specification, but the production car was detuned for better driveability at the insistence of Lamborghini's chief engineer, Gianpaolo Dallara.
The bodywork was designed by Touring of Milan and constructed using their patented Superleggera method — thin aluminum panels over a tubular steel framework. The design was elegant and restrained, more classical GT than aggressive sports car. The long hood, greenhouse set well back, and clean lines gave the 350 GT a sense of proportion and purpose that contrasted with the more flamboyant Ferraris of the era. Some early cars had slightly different front-end treatments as Touring refined the design.
The chassis was a platform of square-section steel tubes designed by Dallara, who at just 28 years old was already showing the engineering brilliance that would later make him one of the most respected chassis designers in motorsport. Fully independent suspension on all four corners — double wishbones with coil springs and anti-roll bars — was notably more advanced than contemporary Ferraris, which still used live rear axles. Girling disc brakes at all four corners provided excellent stopping power.
The interior was luxurious, with leather upholstery, deep carpeting, and comprehensive instrumentation. Ferruccio Lamborghini insisted on a level of comfort and refinement that exceeded the typical sports car of the era — the 350 GT was a grand tourer in the truest sense, designed for comfortable high-speed travel rather than competition.
The ZF five-speed manual gearbox was smooth and precise, and the overall driving experience combined remarkable refinement with genuine V12 performance. The 350 GT could reach 155 mph and dispatch 0-60 mph in under 7 seconds — competitive with any Ferrari of the era.
Approximately 120 examples of the 350 GT were produced between 1964 and 1966 before it was succeeded by the larger-engined 400 GT 2+2. Today, the 350 GT is recognized as the genesis car of Lamborghini — the car that proved Ferruccio's audacious bet could succeed. Values have risen substantially, with excellent examples commanding $500,000 to $800,000, reflecting the car's historical significance and low production numbers.
The 350 GT is the rarest and most historically significant production Lamborghini. Only 120 were built, and survival rate is estimated at 80-85%. The Bizzarrini-designed V12 is fundamentally sound but requires specialist knowledge — few mechanics outside Italy have experience with these engines. The six Weber carburetors need expert tuning. The Touring Superleggera body construction is fragile — the aluminum panels over steel tubes can develop electrolytic corrosion at the junctions. Chassis condition is critical — inspect for rust in the platform tubes. Matching numbers are important — verify engine and chassis number consistency. The ZF gearbox is robust but rebuilds are expensive. Budget for specialist maintenance — this is not a car for a generic mechanic. Lamborghini Polo Storico can provide heritage documentation.
Approximately 120 units produced between 1964 and 1966. The prototype 350 GTV (1963) featured a more powerful engine specification and different bodywork — only one was built. The production 350 GT was detuned for better road manners. Touring of Milan built the bodies using their Superleggera construction method. Some early cars had minor design differences in the front end. The 350 GT was succeeded by the 400 GT 2+2 (1966-1968), which shared the engine but offered rear seats.