Which Italian entrepreneur founded Automobili Lamborghini in 1963?

Ferruccio Lamborghini founded Automobili Lamborghini in 1963. The Italian industrialist created the company to build refined grand-touring cars capable of challenging established makers such as Ferrari.

Before entering the sports-car business, Lamborghini had already made his fortune with Lamborghini Trattori, a tractor company he founded in 1948. He also produced heating and air-conditioning equipment. That engineering and manufacturing experience gave him the resources to establish a new automobile factory at Sant’Agata Bolognese in northern Italy.

Lamborghini assembled a talented technical team for the project. Giotto Bizzarrini designed the original V12 engine, while Giampaolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani worked on the chassis. The first prototype, the 350 GTV, was shown at the 1963 Turin Motor Show. Its production successor, the 350 GT, debuted in 1964 and became Lamborghini’s first series-produced car.

A common mistake is to credit Enzo Ferrari because Lamborghini’s sports-car venture is often told through their famous rivalry. Ferrari did not found Lamborghini. Ferruccio reportedly turned his criticism of Ferrari road cars into motivation for building his own grand tourer, although the exact details of their confrontation are often embellished.