Vita Gazette

News from Italy

Dreams perseverance and Lamborghini

 by Alessandro Romano

They say, “It is the strong determination that makes people reach their goals”. One of the best indicators of this saying is Ferruccio Lamborghini. The one who ignited the wick of perseverance was Enzo Ferrari, whom he would later become his rival. After two struggling and determined leaders challenged each other, Lamborghini had two options: Either he would remain silent and continue on his own path… Or he would win by exchange… He chose the latter. He reached his goal with the struggle and patience like the “taurus” in his emblem, which reflects his zodiac sign…

With his determination, Lamborghini soon became a manufacturer of epic cars. He created legends with his designs and powerful engines. And in the end, it became the first brand that comes to mind when the word “super sports car” is mentioned. It started to decorate dreams like Ferrari.

The success story of Lamborghini, where dreams and passions come together and the design is reflected down to the smallest details, is just as perfect! Here is the story of the birth of a giant brand that should be taken as an example…

Italy, the country of optimistic people who believe in designs, passions, work and dreams come true, had entered a period of post-war economic boom. Consumption was increasing, the country was being rebuilt, the race to gain social status was beginning. Enzo Ferrari was one of the stars of this boom. Owning a Ferrari meant “success and status”. Red supercars were dreaming up, nobles, aristocrats and all industrialists lined up in Maranello to buy a Ferrari.

Ferrari- Lamborghini square

Enzo Ferrari was one of the most well-known businessmen in the world, but there was someone else close to Maranello: Ferruccio Lamborghini, who produced domestic heating, hydraulics and farm tractors. Born in Emilia on April 28, 1916, Lamborghini was the son of a farmer but passionate about mechanics. He was studying industrial technologies at the Fratelli Taddia Institute near Bologna, while gaining experience in a workshop repairing military vehicles. Lamborghini, who joined the Italian air force during the Second World War, was captured by the British in 1944. His technical knowledge turned into an advantage, and the British were sending Lamborghini to work in the engine department. Here he was gaining experience in cars and engines. He also learned how to repair broken vehicles and how to manufacture vehicles from different parts during the years he spent here.

He started using his post-war entrepreneurial identity. The young entrepreneur, who started to create solutions to help farmers’ problems by using war pieces in his village in Italy, bought land in Cento in the province of Ferrara. Over time, he started to produce tractors, which are known by the brand he gave his surname. Lamborghini, which has made a fortune thanks to its tractor production, has also invested in air conditioning and central heating systems. The famous entrepreneur, who also achieved great success in these sectors, began to be mentioned among the riches of Italy. Son of a farmer, Lamborghini’s determined and steady progress eventually became a successful and wealthy industrialist. He now had a lot of money. His fondness for engines made him a car collector. Famous brands from Fiat to Alfa Romeo, from Lancia Aurelia to Mercedes, from Jaguar to Ferrari were lined up in his garage. His passion for cars even went as far as participating in races.

The grandfather of the vehicle, known as the Fiat 500, modified the Topolino model from 500cc to 750cc and participated in the races. However, when he crashed, he said goodbye to the tracks early. But he always pushed the Ferraris to their limits and soon realized that the reds had mechanical problems with their clutches that were not dependent on the engine’s power.

“Ferrari Lamborghini fever!”

Ferruccio Lamborghini was brave, outspoken and sociable, who visited Ferrari and said that the clutches of the cars were defective. Enzo Ferrari, one of the most powerful names in the world, was very angry at this accusation. And with the self-confidence of being the founder of the brand that produces the fastest vehicles in the world, “You are a tractor manufacturer Ferruccio and a tractor manufacturer can never criticize Ferrari. Mind your own business.”

And so began the fire that started the fight between the tractor manufacturer and the racing wizard. Lamborghini, who understands mechanics, is determined, hardworking and self-confident, took action to build a super car.

He started with Ferrari cars in his garage, which he thought had a clutch problem. In this process, he realized that the clutch system used in Ferraris was the same as the clutch system used in tractors produced in his own factory. By improving the clutch system, he solved the problem. Then Ferruccio, who was humiliated by Enzo Ferrari as “Tractor Ferruccio”, sets his sights on Ferrari’s place in sports cars, that is, he will go to the top. The aim of Ferruccio Lamborghini, who aims to make faster, more robust and more reliable vehicles than Ferrari, was to destroy the perception that the best sports cars can only be made by Ferrari. Ferruccio Lamborghini, who set out with this idea, first established the Automobili Lamborghini company.

Aimed at the “world of great cars”

Ferruccio Lamborghini wasn’t just targeting Ferrari, he wanted to enter the world of “great cars”, including brands like Maserati, Jaguar and Aston Martin. In May 1963 he founded the company “Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini”. Lamborghini, which bought a land in Sant’Agata Bolognese, showed off the 350 GT designed by Franco Scaglione just six months later. Many people were skeptical at first. But Lamborghini surprised everyone. And these attempts at diversion would continue. After making the 400 GT, he came up with a revolutionary car idea, a supercar with a 4-liter V-12 engine placed transversely behind the cockpit.

Miura: the fighting bull that conquered the world

The new model was a true work of art, suddenly aging all other GT cars. Ferruccio considered his zodiac sign for his emblem. It must have been a bull. He would fight the roads like a bull. His name was Miura—inspired by a fighting bull breeder, Don Eduardo Miura- Making its debut in 1966, it was the milestone of the Lamborghini miracle. Royals, industrialists, celebrities from all over the world were crazy about owning this car.

From Dean Martin to Elton John, from Paul McCartney to the Shah of Iran, from the Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly to the Italian stars of the time, a Lamborghini adorned the dreams of all celebrities.

Frank Sinatra, who is passionate about all cars and is both owner and fan of the Sant’Agata supercar, said, “When you want to be someone, you buy a Ferrari. When you become one, you buy a Lamborghini.” He was showing his passion.

Just four years after its creation, Lamborghini has grown into an ever-expanding industry. Its name was popularly known as “Lambo”. The rain of orders to Miura had brought a lot of money to the company. But most of all, it caused the winds of promotion all over the world. Following the success of the Miura came the evolution of the Islero, the 400 GT and the Espada, the first Lamborghini with 4 seats, and two years later the Jarama and the evolution of the small Urraco with the 2,500-V8 engine. Car models were named after bulls with different stories.

However, the oil crisis, union struggles, taxes on luxury goods also caused a significant contraction in the supercar market. Ferruccio Lamborghini was also affected by this process. His son Tonino was not interested in cars. He didn’t have the passion to make a dream come true like his father did. It was time to make a new change. Lamborghini sold his company to Swiss industrialist Georges-Henri Rossetti. From hand to hand until the current ownership of the Audi-Volkswagen group, around 70% of Lamborghini’s parts are handmade.

Despite the difficulties at Sant’Agata, the icons of the 70s and 80s continued to produce dream cars such as the Countach, Diablo, its heir, Murcielago, Aventador, Reventon the Gallardo and the last Veneno. But they all came to life under the sign of the fighting bulls. Years and models vary, but these cars left to be desired. The giant Italian brand today produces not only luxury cars, but also engines for speedboats that are worth a fortune.

Visionary Ferruccio Lamborghini had made his dream come true. He retired after selling his assets. At his estate in Umbria, he began to realize another of his passions. He devoted himself to wine production and golf.

This time, on the shores of Lake Trasimeno, a special red type of wine, “Sangue di Miura” was born. Ferruccio Lamborghini passed away on February 20, 1993, after a wonderful life where he could realize his dreams. Not only did he leave behind a brand that adorned the dreams of millions, he also wrote an incredible success story that everyone should learn from.

His body was transported to an old farm wagon pulled by his tractor in Renazzo, and the most beautiful and chariots lined up outside the church to greet him. His tombstone reads: “Good works in God’s new house”.

Il suo corpo fu trasportato su un vecchio carro agricolo trainato dal suo trattore a Renazzo, e i più belli e i carri si misero in fila fuori dalla chiesa per salutarlo. Sulla sua lapide si legge: “Buone opere nella nuova casa di Dio”.

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