What Was Lamborghini’s First Car?

Lamborghini’s first car—the 350 GTV—was a powerful V12 coupe with leather seats, hidden headlights, and a beautiful, pale-blue exterior.
Written by Samuel Todd
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
In 1963, Ferruccio Lamborghini dazzled the Turin Auto Show with his first car design: the Lamborghini 350 GTV. With a roaring V12 engine and gleaming blue exterior, the 350 GTV laid the foundation for decades of international success.
Today, drivers around the world praise Lamborghinis for their spectacular performance and luxurious features. What few people know, though, is the fascinating history behind the Lamborghini brand. We won’t give it all away here—but the story begins with a frustrated Italian tractor builder and his broken-down Ferrari.
We're here to walk you through Lamborghini’s rich backstory. From its fabulous first model to its fleet of modern supercars, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the renowned Italian automaker.
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What was Lamborghini’s first car?

Lamborghini’s first car, the 350 GTV, was a streamlined two-seater coupe with a deluxe interior. The “V” in the vehicle’s title comes from the Italian word “Veloce”, meaning “fast”—and, boy, did the Lamborghini live up to its name!
Beneath its aerodynamic hood, the 350 GTV boasted a 3.5 L V12 engine that generated 347 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers might not seem too high compared to the fastest cars in the world today, but in 1963, the 350 GTV packed a serious punch.
When Ferruccio Lamborghini envisioned his first car, performance wasn’t all he had in mind. He wanted a vehicle that was as classy as it was commanding. To bring his dream to life, Lamborghini added unique details like leather seats, six exhaust tailpipes, and hidden headlights to the 350 GTV, rounding out its sleek frame in style.
It would be a crime to give all the credit for the Lamborghini to one man (even if his name is on the car!), so, before we move on, let’s give some kudos to his design team:
  • Early designer: Giotto Bizzarrini
  • Designer: Giorgio Prevedi, under supervision of Franco Scaglione
  • Director of design and development: Gian Paolo Dallara and assistant Paolo Stanzani
  • Test driver: Bob Wallace

What is the history of Lamborghini?

Though officially founded in May of 1963, the story of the Lamborghini brand started months earlier, with these words: “Let me make cars. You stick to making tractors.”
So, who spoke them—and how are they related to the legendary Italian automaker? Let’s find out.

Early years (1963–1970): From tractor parts to supercars

By the early 1960s, Ferruccio Lamborghini had amassed a fortune by manufacturing tractors. With his spoils, he bought a fleet of sports cars, including an ultra-fast Ferrari 250GT. When he started experiencing problems with his beloved Ferrari’s clutch, he did what any sensible customer would do—drove to the home of Enzo Ferrari and told him how to fix it.
Needless to say, the criticism didn’t go over well. Ferrari told Lamborghini to stick to what he knows best—building tractors—and leave the important business of designing cars to Ferrari.
We’re sure you can see where this is going. In just four months, Ferruccio Lamborghini put together the legendary 350 GTV, a vehicle with tons of speed, plenty of style, and—you guessed it—no problems with the clutch.
Fortunately for all of us, Lamborghini didn’t stop there. After the successful debut of his first production car, the Lamborghini 350 GT, the automaker moved on to another project—the Lamborghini Miura. Often recognized as the first supercar in history, the Miura was a critical and commercial triumph for Lamborghini.
Within years, the streets of Northern Italy were bustling with Lamborghini’s supercars, and a heated rivalry was afoot—all because of a
10-lira tractor clutch
and a broken-down Ferrari.
Did you know? Lamborghini 350 GTs are worth over $600,000 today. The company’s
very first supercar, the Lamborghini Miura
, is often valued at between $1.5 million and $3 million.

Middle years (1970–2001): Bullfighting and fine-tuning

In the early ‘70s, the designers at Lamborghini tested the waters with various models as they awaited their next breakthrough. Inspired by their founder’s love for bullfighting (and his zodiac sign,
Taurus
), Lamborghini’s team released a series of cars named after bullfighting breeds, including the Espada, Islero, Jarama, and Urraco. 
None of the bull-fighting models were a disappointment, but the question remained—had Lamborghini exhausted the creative fire from its early days?
Enter the Lamborghini Countach. In 1974, Lamborghini astonished automakers and car enthusiasts alike with a revolutionary new design. Beneath the angular frame of the Countach, a 375-horsepower V12 engine was prepared to launch the car into action.
On top of that, the Countach was the first Lamborghini to feature the brand’s now-famous scissor doors, which pivot gracefully into the sky instead of swinging awkwardly to the side. Today, a top-notch Countach is worth over a million dollars—well worth it, if you ask us, for a taste of supercar history.
MORE: Everything you ever wanted to know about the Lamborghini Countach

Recent years (2001–present): Lightning-fast luxury

With the turn of the century, Lamborghini redoubled their efforts to become the world’s top producer of high-performance supercars. Over the years, Lamborghini engineers refined the car’s engine, upgrading it from speedy to near-supersonic:
  • Lamborghini Diablo (1990 to 2001): 550 horsepower
  • Lamborghini Murciélago (2001 to 2010): 661 horsepower
  • Lamborghini Gallardo (2004 to 2013): 562 horsepower
  • Lamborghini Huracán (2014 to present): 631 horsepower
  • Lamborghini Aventador (2011 to present): 769 horsepower
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What is Lamborghini known for today?

Today, some 60 years after Ferrari’s infamous insult, Lamborghini’s name is synonymous with power and luxury. And, given that Lamborghini sold a record-breaking 8,405 vehicles in 2021, it’s clear that they’re here to stay.
So, what
Lamborghini models
can you get your hands on today? Lambo has three main production staples:
  • 2022 Lamborghini Urus ($225,000)
  • 2022 Lamborghini Aventador ($501,900)
  • 2022 Lamborghini Huracán ($242,000)
Last (but definitely not least), Lamborghini has two special models that are available in 2022. 
  • The hyper-modern Sián FKP 37, an 807-horsepower beast with a hybrid engine, will set you back a cool $3 million.
  • If you’re feeling nostalgic, the revitalized
    2022 Lamborghini Countach
    is a $2.64 million, 800-horsepower supercar that brings futuristic performance to a throwback chassis.

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FAQs

With an insane top speed of 221 miles per hour, the Lamborghini Veneno is the fastest Lamborghini ever built.
The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster’s $4.5 million price tag makes it the most expensive Lamborghini—recently, though, it has been valued at over $9 million!
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