Lamborghini 350GT
Encyclopedia
The Lamborghini 350 GT was the first production vehicle
produced by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Production started in May 1964, after its well-received debut at the March 1964 Geneva auto show. Its success ensured the company's survival, establishing it as a viable competitor with sports car maker Ferrari S.p.A.
After the testing of his prototype Lamborghini engine in May 1963, Giotto Bizzarrini
left the company, and the following month Ferruccio Lamborghini
assigned Gian Paolo Dallara
with the assistance of Paolo Stanzani and Bob Wallacethe task of developing a production version of the grand tourer.
Dallara and Stanzani quickly realized that the Lamborghini 350GTV
was not properly designed for mass production, so they proceeded along parallel lines:
The original Bizzarrini-designed 3.5 liter V12 was essentially a race motor, potentially developing 400 hp at 11,000rpm. In order to fit his grand touring car with a smoother, more pleasant, longer-lasting engine, that was "good for 40,000 hard miles between services" Ferruccio had Dallara and Wallace detune a version of this prototype "GTV" motor for street use. This included:
This first "detuned" L350 engine was tested on October 3, 1963. The resultlater fit in the 350 GTwas a very capable 270 bhp power plant that could reach 254 kilometres per hour (158 mph) in top form.
While this 350 GT design work continued, the GTV prototype was rushed to completion for the upcoming October 26 press meeting and the subsequent inauguration of the Turin Auto Show on the 30th. The GTV was shown at the Turin Auto Show with the original Bizzarrini "racing" V-12 enginewith its downdraft webers, rear distributors, etc.displayed alongside as it was not "adapted to the chassis." The car was a "non-runner" with the suspension arms simply tack-welded in place and the engine not installed. Lukewarm reaction to the car caused Ferruccio to postpone plans for immediate production and move on to the new 350 GT design.
The 350 GT shared a number of features with the 350 GTV prototype, including a four-wheel independent suspension
, quad-cam V12
, and an aluminium
body. A number of revisions and refinements were made due to the suggestions of the Neri & Bonacini racing development shop, and test driver Bob Wallace. Fixed headlights replaced the prototype's pop-up variety, and twin-barrel side-draught Weber
40 DCOE 2 carburettors
reduced the height of the engine, thereby negating the clearance problems of the GTV prototype, and giving the car the exceptionally low hood line Ferruccio desired.
As was the case with the motor, Bizzarrini's GTV "racing" chassis design was the basis of Dallara’s 350 GT "street" chassis. Using far heavier materials, Dallara created an extremely strong chassis from square-section tubing which provided easy entry and exit through the doors, aided in the quietness of the car, and provided a solid platform on which to mount the body, much like the Aston Martin DB4.
The suspension was fully independent, with unequal-length wishbones and concentric coil-spring-damper units. The rear suspension wishbones were offset towards the spring mountings to resist driving and braking torque, which provided superior handling.
In March 1964, only 5 months after the debut of the GTV in Turin, the "redesigned GTV"now called the 350 GTwas debuted at the Geneva Auto Show. It was greeted with sufficient enthusiasm that Ferruccio decided to proceed with production at Sant'Agata in May 1964.
Quality control of the early 3.5 liter engines was very high. Each one underwent tests for 24 hours on a Schenk Walge dynamometer, being run for the first 12 hours under electric power, and then with petrol at increasing speeds. A detailed analysis was made of its behavior before installation in the car for at least 500 kilometres of mixed-test running by Wallace.
The manufacture of the bodies was entrusted to Touring
of Milan, who used their patented Superleggera
method of construction to fix aluminium alloy
panels directly to a tubular structure. The first 350 GT frame was fabricated by Neri and Bonacini, who continued to act as Lamborghini's chassis supplier until production of the 350 GT was underway, when the job was turned over to Marchesi. Chassis and bodies were mated at Touring, which then delivered the complete assemblieswith even the bumpers in placeto the Lamborghini factory. The cars could be ordered in these colors.
The first 350 GT chassis/body delivered to the Lamborghini factory was #101 (Touring #17001) on March 9, 1964. That same month the first 350 GT (#101) debuted at the Geneva show. The first customer delivery (consegnato) of a 350 GT was #104 (Touring #17004) on July 31, 1964.
Lamborghini produced 135 350 GTs before replacing it with the larger-engined Lamborghini 400GT
in 1966. Many 350 GTs were subsequently fit with the larger 4-liter engine.
The Lamborghini 350 GT retailed for US$15,600 ($ today).
V12 engine mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission
. It had an aluminium body (some had steel bodies), a Salisbury differential, four-wheel independent suspension, and vacuum servo
-assisted Girling disc brake
s all round.
It had a wheelbase of 2550 millimetres (100.4 in), with a front and rear axle track
of 1380 millimetres (54.3 in). It measured 4640 millimetres (182.7 in) long by 1730 millimetres (68.1 in) wide and was by 1220 millimetres (48 in) high. With its kerb weight
of 1450 kilograms (3,197 lb), the 350 GT could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.1 ) in 6.8 seconds, and from 0 to 100 mph (0 to 44.7 ) in 16.3 seconds, and go on to reach a top speed of 254 kilometres per hour (158 mph).
Production vehicle
A production vehicle is one that is put into mass production, as a model produced in large numbers and offered for sale to the public. It is the vehicle you can actually go out and buy ....
produced by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
Production started in May 1964, after its well-received debut at the March 1964 Geneva auto show. Its success ensured the company's survival, establishing it as a viable competitor with sports car maker Ferrari S.p.A.
After the testing of his prototype Lamborghini engine in May 1963, Giotto Bizzarrini
Giotto Bizzarrini
Giotto Bizzarrini is an Italian automobile engineer active from the 1950s through 1970s....
left the company, and the following month Ferruccio Lamborghini
Ferruccio Lamborghini
Ferruccio Elio Arturo Lamborghini was an Italian industrialist. Born to grape farmers from the comune of Renazzo di Cento in the Emilia-Romagna region, his mechanical know-how led him to enter the business of tractor manufacturing in 1948, when he founded Lamborghini Trattori, which quickly became...
assigned Gian Paolo Dallara
Gian Paolo Dallara
Gianpaolo Dallara is an Italian businessman and motorsports engineer. He is owner of Dallara Motorsports, a company that develops racing cars.-Biography:Dallara was born in Parma....
with the assistance of Paolo Stanzani and Bob Wallacethe task of developing a production version of the grand tourer.
Dallara and Stanzani quickly realized that the Lamborghini 350GTV
Lamborghini 350GTV
The Lamborghini 350 GTV was the prototype and forerunner of the later 350 GT - Lamborghini's first production model. The car was presented to the public on the 1963 Turin Auto Show.-Rejection for production and preparation for show:...
was not properly designed for mass production, so they proceeded along parallel lines:
- Detuning the original Bizzarrini engine and redesigning the original Bizzarrini chassis for street use, eventually in the 350 GT, and
- Readying the GTV for its late-October 1963 Turin Auto Show debut.
The original Bizzarrini-designed 3.5 liter V12 was essentially a race motor, potentially developing 400 hp at 11,000rpm. In order to fit his grand touring car with a smoother, more pleasant, longer-lasting engine, that was "good for 40,000 hard miles between services" Ferruccio had Dallara and Wallace detune a version of this prototype "GTV" motor for street use. This included:
- replacing the elaborate and costly racing type dry sump oiling system with a conventional wet sump oil pan
- reducing the compression from 11.0:1 or above to 9.4:1
- cutting back on the exotic materials specified for the crankshaft and other components to reduce cost
- relocating the distributors to more accessible positions on the fronts of the exhaust camshafts
- adoption of a single, very tall Lamborghini-made oil filter
- replacing the expensive 36 mm vertical racing Webers with conventional sidedraft 40 DCOE Webers
- softening the cam profiles
This first "detuned" L350 engine was tested on October 3, 1963. The resultlater fit in the 350 GTwas a very capable 270 bhp power plant that could reach 254 kilometres per hour (158 mph) in top form.
While this 350 GT design work continued, the GTV prototype was rushed to completion for the upcoming October 26 press meeting and the subsequent inauguration of the Turin Auto Show on the 30th. The GTV was shown at the Turin Auto Show with the original Bizzarrini "racing" V-12 enginewith its downdraft webers, rear distributors, etc.displayed alongside as it was not "adapted to the chassis." The car was a "non-runner" with the suspension arms simply tack-welded in place and the engine not installed. Lukewarm reaction to the car caused Ferruccio to postpone plans for immediate production and move on to the new 350 GT design.
The 350 GT shared a number of features with the 350 GTV prototype, including a four-wheel independent suspension
Independent suspension
Independent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects...
, quad-cam V12
Lamborghini V12
The Lamborghini V12 is a sixty degree V12 petrol engine designed by Lamborghini, and was the first internal combustion engine ever produced by the firm....
, and an aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
body. A number of revisions and refinements were made due to the suggestions of the Neri & Bonacini racing development shop, and test driver Bob Wallace. Fixed headlights replaced the prototype's pop-up variety, and twin-barrel side-draught Weber
Weber carburetor
Weber is an Italian company producing carburetors, currently owned by Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A., in turn part of the Fiat Group.The company was established as...
40 DCOE 2 carburettors
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
reduced the height of the engine, thereby negating the clearance problems of the GTV prototype, and giving the car the exceptionally low hood line Ferruccio desired.
As was the case with the motor, Bizzarrini's GTV "racing" chassis design was the basis of Dallara’s 350 GT "street" chassis. Using far heavier materials, Dallara created an extremely strong chassis from square-section tubing which provided easy entry and exit through the doors, aided in the quietness of the car, and provided a solid platform on which to mount the body, much like the Aston Martin DB4.
The suspension was fully independent, with unequal-length wishbones and concentric coil-spring-damper units. The rear suspension wishbones were offset towards the spring mountings to resist driving and braking torque, which provided superior handling.
In March 1964, only 5 months after the debut of the GTV in Turin, the "redesigned GTV"now called the 350 GTwas debuted at the Geneva Auto Show. It was greeted with sufficient enthusiasm that Ferruccio decided to proceed with production at Sant'Agata in May 1964.
Quality control of the early 3.5 liter engines was very high. Each one underwent tests for 24 hours on a Schenk Walge dynamometer, being run for the first 12 hours under electric power, and then with petrol at increasing speeds. A detailed analysis was made of its behavior before installation in the car for at least 500 kilometres of mixed-test running by Wallace.
The manufacture of the bodies was entrusted to Touring
Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring is an automobile coachbuilder established on March 25, 1926 in Milan, Italy by Felice Bianchi Anderloni and Gaetano Ponzoni...
of Milan, who used their patented Superleggera
Superleggera
Superleggera is an automobile chassis construction technology developed by Felice Bianchi Anderloni of Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring. The company was located just north of Milan, near Alfa Romeo, Italian Citroen, and the former Isotta-Fraschini plant...
method of construction to fix aluminium alloy
Aluminium alloy
Aluminium alloys are alloys in which aluminium is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon and zinc. There are two principal classifications, namely casting alloys and wrought alloys, both of which are further subdivided into the categories...
panels directly to a tubular structure. The first 350 GT frame was fabricated by Neri and Bonacini, who continued to act as Lamborghini's chassis supplier until production of the 350 GT was underway, when the job was turned over to Marchesi. Chassis and bodies were mated at Touring, which then delivered the complete assemblieswith even the bumpers in placeto the Lamborghini factory. The cars could be ordered in these colors.
The first 350 GT chassis/body delivered to the Lamborghini factory was #101 (Touring #17001) on March 9, 1964. That same month the first 350 GT (#101) debuted at the Geneva show. The first customer delivery (consegnato) of a 350 GT was #104 (Touring #17004) on July 31, 1964.
Lamborghini produced 135 350 GTs before replacing it with the larger-engined Lamborghini 400GT
Lamborghini 400GT
Lamborghini 400GT is the name given to two gran tourismos produced by Italian manufacturer Lamborghini.The first 400GT, commonly referred to as simply the 400GT or 400GT Interim, was essentially the older 350GT featuring an enlarged, 3929 cc V12 engine, with a power output of...
in 1966. Many 350 GTs were subsequently fit with the larger 4-liter engine.
The Lamborghini 350 GT retailed for US$15,600 ($ today).
Specifications
The 350 GT had an all-aluminium alloyAluminium alloy
Aluminium alloys are alloys in which aluminium is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon and zinc. There are two principal classifications, namely casting alloys and wrought alloys, both of which are further subdivided into the categories...
V12 engine mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. It had an aluminium body (some had steel bodies), a Salisbury differential, four-wheel independent suspension, and vacuum servo
Vacuum servo
A vacuum servo is a component used on motor vehicles in their braking system, to provide assistance to the driver by decreasing the braking effort. In the USA it is commonly called a brake booster.-Background:...
-assisted Girling disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s all round.
It had a wheelbase of 2550 millimetres (100.4 in), with a front and rear axle track
Axle track
The axle track in automobiles and other wheeled vehicles which have two or more wheels on an axle, is the distance between the centreline of two roadwheels on the same axle, each on the other side of the vehicle...
of 1380 millimetres (54.3 in). It measured 4640 millimetres (182.7 in) long by 1730 millimetres (68.1 in) wide and was by 1220 millimetres (48 in) high. With its kerb weight
Curb weight
Curb weight or kerb weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables , a full tank of fuel, while not loaded with either passengers or cargo.This definition may differ from definitions used by governmental regulatory agencies or other...
of 1450 kilograms (3,197 lb), the 350 GT could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.1 ) in 6.8 seconds, and from 0 to 100 mph (0 to 44.7 ) in 16.3 seconds, and go on to reach a top speed of 254 kilometres per hour (158 mph).