In October 1963, Ferruccio Lamborghini quoted the specialized press for the launch of the 350 GTV prototype, the first car with his last name as a brand. It was equipped with a 3.5-liter V12 engine with around 350 hp designed by the prestigious engineer Giotto Bizzarrini. It was an almost Formula One engine, closer to competition, too high performance for a type of car with a luxurious design and not very suitable for use on the road.
For the final production version of the first Gran Turismo from the newly born Automobili Lamborghini company, a “softened” version of the same V12 block was finally chosen, but which was more “respectable” and pleasant to drive at low and medium revs, although still with a high performance: 280 CV at 6,500 rpm and capable of reaching a maximum speed of 250 km/h.
In 1964 the 350 GT became the first production Lamborghini keeping the lines of the prototype and becoming a symbol of the traditional Italian design style. The objective of its launch –and of the very birth of the company created by Ferruccio– is well known: to rival Ferrari and create the best GT in the world.
That first Gran Turismo, of which 135 units were produced and which laid the foundations for the renowned fame that the firm from Sant’Agata Bolognese soon acquired, evolved in 1966 into a 400 GT 2 2. Presented at the Geneva Motor Show, it came to have two additional rear seats and more luggage space thanks to a 6.5 cm higher roof, mounting a V12 engine increased to 4 liters with 320 hp and having quadruple round headlights instead of double oval optics.
Sitting behind the wheel of the 400 GT 2 2 is like entering a time capsule that allows you to relive the sensations that the lucky owners of that luxurious interpretation of comfort and sportiness must have had 60 years ago. The interior evokes the exclusive atmosphere of a 1960s social club, such as a smoking lounge, a banker’s office or the premises of a prestigious hotel.
The tobacco-colored leather of the upholstery and carpet elegantly complements the Saint Vincent gray color of the exterior, while the wooden steering wheel and the chrome details of the ashtrays, controls, and other functional and ornamental elements of the cabin end up giving it that stately image. , masculine and sober that shows off both the cabin and its sophisticated 2 2 coupe-style bodywork.
Once under way, the first thing that surprises you is the distinguished sound of its V12 mechanics with six 40 Weber carburettors, which make its engine sound with a harmonious, overflowing and elegantly “full” musicality. It is a rich and vibrant tone but somehow soft and pleasant to enjoy at low and mid turns.
Handling the 400 GT in the early stages of the journey is easy: big thick steering wheel rim, surprisingly precise short shifter, wide pedals, a comfortable driving position in comfortable armchair-cushioned seats, it’s all luxurious. , gentlemanly, calm and sophisticated, to “savor” it with leisurely intensity.
The sensations are those of a good GT; comfort for long distances and plenty of mechanical performance to enjoy power without demands. The 400 had to have an air of aristocratic superiority compared to the rest of the vehicles and it has a smooth ride although with numerous mechanical noises. The constant rubbing sound of the differential and the clicking noise of the gearbox when engaging the gears are appreciated, however, the soft suspension and the gurgling sound of the V12 sounding at a serene rate sweeten the traveling experience.
With inaccurate and fluctuating steering, which requires numerous corrections, very unconvincing braking, with a long and soft pedal travel, and which seems to act only in the final stretch, the 400 GT does not invite you to explore the limits of its performance, which certainly comes through when stretched in second gear and allowed to “flow” freely in third and fourth gear.
It is then that the true nature of the vehicle is appreciated, designed for long continental journeys in full comfort at a time when speed restrictions were little more than a suggestion on a large part of the roads of Europe and let’s say “interpretable” or “at the driver’s discretion” in the incipient highway network of the Old Continent.
