www.QV500.com - Lamborghini 400 Part 1: 400 GT

Despite lavish praise being heaped upon the 350 from all who drove it, Lamborghini knew there was plenty of development potential, not least from the Bizzarrini V12. Undoubtedly the most significant upgrade was the arrival of a four-litre engine initially available as a factory option in 1965 and then briefly fitted as standard. Bore was stretched from 77 to 82mm, displacement rising to 3929cc. Compression was also increased (from 9.5 to 10.2:1) all of which contributed to a huge 50bhp gain over the outgoing 3.5. With 320bhp at 6500rpm, the new engine was one of the most venerable motors of its time. While this additional fifty horses meant alloy-bodied 400 GT's were a good deal quicker than 3.5-litre variants, the gradual shift towards predominantly steel-bodied cars was more or less complete. As a result, with heavier steel panels, performance was on paper at least, only marginally improved. Aesthetic changes found on most 400 GT's included a subtly revised front grille, a second wiper arm and a leather dash to replace the polished aluminium of earlier cars.

This was very much a transitional period though and subsequently, many 400 GT's differ in detail, some appearing more 350 than 400. You can tell a genuine 4-litre from its black cam covers. There were a total of 23 400 GT's built by the factory between 1965 and '66, only three of which had lightweight aluminium bodies, the remaining twenty all wearing steel shells.