Lamborghini. Just saying the word conjures up images of supercars and the life of luxury as only Italy can supply it. But how did Lamborghini, the Italian car company founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, turn into “Lamborghini,” the brand name known across the globe?
Benjamin Zhang attempts to answer the question for Business Insider. He finds that farm equipment manufacturer Ferruccio may have started the company for practical reasons. (He thought there was money to be made in sports cars.) Or, possibly, it was a little more personal. (Enzo Ferrari insulted him after Ferruccio complained about how often he needed to repair his Ferrari—Ferruccio himself told this version over the years, as seen in the video below.)
Whatever the reason, Ferruccio came to play. He soon teamed up with the Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera coach building company, famed for working with Aston Martin, Maserati, and, yes, Ferrari. He also enlisted Ferrari’s former chief of development Giotto Bizzarrini to design and build an engine from scratch. Together, they created one of the world’s first supercars and doubtlessly left Enzo Ferrari wishing he’d been a little nicer to his fellow auto enthusiast.
To discover the full history of (the company) Lamborghini’s rise and explore some milestones from its rich history, click here. (It’s a useful demonstration of how iconic brands manage to evolve while still remaining true to themselves.) Of course, we’ve covered Lamborghini many times before. This seems the perfect moment to learn more about the Centenario Roadster, revisit the once mocked and now coveted LM002 Lamborghini SUV, and discover the hotel offering guests a Lamborghini experience. And if you just feel a basic need for speed, watch the video below.
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