All you need to know about Lamborghini.
DATE OF BIRTH: 1963
NATIONALITY: Italian
The story goes that tractor-maker Ferruccio Lamborghini didn't get a satisfactory answer to a complaint about his Ferrari, so he decided to build his own. The first car, the 350GT, entered production in 1964.
The 1966 Miura, which used a transversely mounted V12 behind the occupants, had a Bertone-designed two-seat bodyshell and proved a great success. It continued until 1973 when it was replaced by the Countach.
In the meantime, the Islero had replaced the post 350GT 400GT in 1968 as the company's 2+2 coupé, while in the same year the Espada had given the marque a four-seater. 1970 saw the Islero replaced by the similar Jarama and two years later the V8 Urraco entered another market segment, that of the "small" supercar.
In 1972 Ferruccio Lamborghini sold a controlling interest of his lossmaking car company to a Swiss businessman, and he disposed of the balance in 1974, the same year the Countach appeared in production form with a four-litre mid-mounted V12 and very strong and angular styling.
In 1978 the car company went into receivership, but was rescued three years later by the Mimram brothers. They developed the Jalpa, more Countachs and in 1982 the LM002, a Countach-engined 4WD drive off-roader.
In 1987 Chrysler bought the company and a Countach replacement, the Diablo, emerged in 1990. Continuing the mid-mounted V12 theme, it's also available with four-wheel-drive and a roadster has also been built. In 1998 Lamborghini was sold to the VW Group, and is controlled today by the Audi division.
BEST CAR: The 2000 Diablo GT
WORST CAR: The Urracco P200, introduced in 1974 with a 1,994 cc engine, reflecting the oil crisis of the time.
WEIRDEST CAR: The Countach-engined LM002 off-roader