Starting your own car company is hard. It takes a few models before you learn the ropes, and such was the case with Lamborghini. His family was known in Italy for building tractors and farm equipment, so he became intolerant of the clutch on his Ferrari and improved upon the design.
Much like the Tesla Roadster, or any early Ford that preceded the Model T (Models A to S), Lamborghini’s early GT cars are easily overshadowed by later models. When he set out to build a better Grand Tourer, he hired the best in the industry and debuted with the 350 GT. It received great reviews, but there is always room for improvement. Space behind the two passengers was cramped, so not much luggage could be stored in the cockpit.
Going back to the drawing board, the differential and rear suspension were modified to lower the floor pan. This allowed the GT to gain two small seats without compromising its low roof. Along with a slightly larger version of their V12 engine, the 350 GT evolved into the 400 GT 2+2. Only 247 cars were produced from 1966 to 1968.
Because these early GT cars were eclipsed by the Miura, many were daily driven or turned into track cars. Only a handful survive, and we happened to stumble on what is probably the only 400 GT 2+2 north of the border. Our friends at Lamborghini Montreal have just received a stunning 1967 example that has been fully restored.
