Lamborghini Sports Cars - Automotive Legends Both in Styling and Vehicle Performance

he legendary Lamborghini sports car stable ofautomobile. Its first year of manufacture was the
fantastic ultra high performance and styled vehicles it1966 model year. The basic layout and design of the
all started with ordinary Fiat automobiles and tractors.Miura T 400 was a mid-engined coupe with a slightly
Mr. Lamborghini – fully named – Mr.larger version of the overhead cam engine –
Ferruccio Lamborghini got his start with Fiats andthe classic V-12 laid out transversely behind the two
then went on to a large successful manufacturingseats of the car. The rear wheels were then driven
concern that grew from a small manufacturing shopby this engine through” spurs gears”.
into a major producer of tractors. However at aInterestingly the gear boxes and rear axles were
certain point in every person’s life theyLamborghini products all by themselves –so
search out to complete what their real passion is. Inthey shared a lineage that was unique and not the
the case of Lamborghini was finely styled andsame as any other of the competitor’s
crafted motor cars. At 60 years of age, anmodels.
established manufacturer of agricultural tractorsWhat was performance of this little cat? The V-12
– Mr. Lamborghini – decided that heengine could pour out a total of 385 barrel
could a better job of building a high end, beautifullyhorsepower. Top speed of this little coupe was over
styled, performance racing automobiles than either of180 miles per hour. It could more than carry its
the two dominant Italian auto firms of that autoweight with the local Italian contenders – even
industry sector - Ferrari and Maserati.the famed Ferraris.
The first product out of the door had a chassis thatIf the was one complaint from drivers or riders it
was multi-tubular; the engine was front mountedwas of noise levels in the car’s cockpit. It can
sporting a 3.5 liter 12 cylinder V-12 engine. The V-12be said that this was the price to be paid for success
engine itself was fitted with six Weber carburetorsor in this case speed and performance. If you cannot
and ran four overhead camshafts. It all clocked atstand the heat don’t stay in the kitchen.
360 ultra smooth horsepower with the transmissionCertainly the buyers of Lamborghini fine motor cars
drive being through five speed stick shift. Suspensionwho bought the product and established the revered
involved a coil and wishbone independent suspensionname for its performance and advanced styling and
set up. In one word it was wow – both inforgo this small shortcoming or foible as the car as an
terms of performance of the hop as well as theassumed fact – even a luxury.
automotive styling.The next model in the Lamborghini stable was
Although the styling of those early Lamborghiniintroduced approximately two years later. The entire
models may be considered standard Italian sports carlife of the production run of the popular Miura model
design - designs which have worked their way intowas nine years – with two cars being
the so called standard “sport scar designsproduced a week ( a production figure of only 100 or
“and “sport scar flair”, at theso cars a year). The name of this vehicle was the
time it was new and innovative and for the mostEspada. For the new Lamborghini model, the Espada,
part if was twenty five years ahead of anythingLamborghini went back to a more standard front
produced in the good old U.S.A.. The one Americanengine layout. Perhaps this was in response to
sports car which might be considered an exception toconcerns over noise levels in the cockpit of the Miura
that point was the Chevrolet Corvette. For years toand the need to produce a more
come nothing else really matched or was similar to“standard” or “civilized
the clean aerodynamic lines and styling of the early“vehicle product. No one really knows what
Lamborghini classic autos.went on in the mind of the genius Ferruccio
Even then Lamborghini had such innovative productsLamborghini. However what was retained for sure
the establishment and reputation of the Lamborghiniwere the Lamborghini basics - the four liter V-12
product line was no easy road to hoe. Although themassive highly tuned engine with whizzy overhead
first cars were produced in 1963 it was not for twocams and multiple choke carburetors all putting out
years later – at the Turin Motor Show thatmassive automotive performance and handling.
the car began to attract solid interest and for theIn the end it can be said that the Lamborghini
reputation of the car and its studio to grow andautomotive and automotive styling and performance
begin to become accepted for what it should be.legends are more than unique and reek of power,
The first real product of record for Lamborghini wasthrust and acceleration.
what was marketed as Miura T 400 model