www.QV500.com - Lamborghini 350 Part 2: 350 GT

Dry sump lubrication was deemed unnecessary for the road, but with a top speed of 152mph and 0-60 time of just 6.5 seconds, the 350 GT was more than a match for a 250 Lusso. Meanwhile, Carrozzeria Touring were commissioned to redesign and manufacture bodywork for the new car. Using their famed Supperleggera technique, the Milanese firm began with Scaglione's original GTV and softened it up for a less controversial look. This involved subduing the sharply creased wings and tail, but most notably, Touring decided to ditch the original front end with its retractable headlights. Instead they crafted exposed ovoids that gave a distinctive 'bug-eyed' look. Nevertheless they had succeeded in transforming Lamborghini's raucous prototype into a refined grand tourer that was delicately balanced from every angle. Despite its restyled nose with those prominent Cibie headlights, the new alloy-bodied Lamborghini was still a clear descendent of the GTV, the razor-backed prototypes six exhaust pipes being replaced with a more familiar bunch of four.

As you would have expected from a vehicle intended to compete against the best Ferrari, Aston Martin and Maserati could offer, the Lamborghini's interior was finished to an exceptionally high standard. Fine leather covered the dash and instrument binnacle, the transmission tunnel, the door trim and the well-padded front seats with integral headrests. Wood-rimmed and with three vented chromium spokes, the steering wheel exuded sixties class while all-round visibility was far and away the best in its class. But having toned down most of the GTV's outlandish details, it was surprising to find the 2+1 cockpit layout retained.

This curious configuration saw use for a good number of the early 350 GT's but the centre-mounted bucket was replaced by a parcel shelf after the first dozen or so cars had rolled off the production line. Launched at the Geneva Salon in March 1964, orders began coming in straight away although ironing out the last teething troubles (those of the car and production line) limited the number delivered in 1964 to just 13 units. Quality control throughout this period was second-to-none and with the exceptional preparation standards dedicated to all of these early cars, it's reputed that Lamborghini lost around $1000 on every 350 GT they sold. The switch to predominantly steel bodies began in 1965, 120 350 GT's having been completed in total by the time production ended in early 1966. Ferruccio Lamborghini was always uncompromising over the subject of racing, deciding from day one that his firm should never be directly involved in competition. However, this did nothing to diminish the competitive aspirations of some customers and the factory was normally willing to uprate the specification of a valued customers car. As a result, a few were fitted with specially tuned engines boasting well over 300bhp.