Lamborghini 350GTV
Lamborghini 350 GTV Kerb weight | 1,292 kg (2,848 lb) | |
---|---|---|
Chronology | ||
Successor | Lamborghini 350 GT |
The Lamborghini 350 GTV is a Lamborghini prototype and forerunner of the automaker's first production model, the 350 GT. It was first presented to the public at the 1963 Turin Auto Show.[1][2]
Development
The design and development of the 350 GTV was overseen by Lamborghini chief engineer Giampaolo Dallara, assistant Paolo Stanzani and test driver Bob Wallace, the core engineering team that developed many early Lamborghini cars. Giotto Bizzarrini was commissioned to design the engine and an early version of the chassis.[3]
The 350 GTV's name signified the 3.5 L displacement of the engine, the "GT" for grand tourer and the "V" for the Italian word "Veloce" (meaning "fast").[4]
The 350 GTV body was designed by Franco Scaglione and built by Carrozzeria Sargiotto in Turin.[1][5] Ferruccio Lamborghini's opinion had a significant amount of influence on the design. He reportedly requested styling echoing the Aston Martin DB4's tapering rear bodywork and the sleek front of the Jaguar E-type. The 350 GTV had many styling details that were unusual at the time of its introduction, including hidden headlamps and six exhaust tailpipes (three on each side of the car's rear). The body was constructed of aluminum and steel. As workers at Sargiotto were primarily skilled in building molds for plastic products, the 350 GTV's body had numerous fit and finish issues.[4]
Initially, Bizzarrini designed a racing-style tubular spaceframe chassis for the 350 GTV. Giorgio Neri and Luciano Bonacini built the tube frame chassis in Modena.[6][7][4] This design was later reworked by Dallara into a more conventional, heavier design constructed of mostly square and rectangular section tubing that would be used in the production 350 GT.[4]
This engine had a
The transmission was a 5 speed manual made by ZF. Power was directed to the rear wheels via a Salisbury self-locking differential.[9] The independent suspension used triangular wishbones on the front and trapezoidal wishbones on the rear, with telescopic shock absorbers and coil springs at all four corners. Servo-controlled disc brakes were equipped on all four wheels. The Borrani center locking wire wheels were fitted with Pirelli Cinturato HS tires.[3]
The 350 GTV was never a complete, driveable car during its time as a Lamborghini prototype.[4] During assembly, the workforce discovered that the body panels would not fit around the engine. Since he had no further plans for the 350 GTV beyond being a show car, Mr. Lamborghini had the engine bay ballasted with bricks and kept the bonnet shut throughout the Turin Auto Show. The incomplete show car also lacked brake calipers, foot pedals and windshield wipers.[2]
Introduction and influence
The 350 GTV was introduced to the public at the 1963 Turin Auto Show. It was covered extensively by the press and received both positive and negative reactions.[3][7] A sales brochure was produced and Ferruccio Lamborghini used the unveiling of this prototype to cultivate interest in a production version.[9][3][10] At the time of the 350 GTV's introduction, Mr. Lamborghini told Road & Track magazine of his intention to make both touring and competition versions of the 350 GTV,[11] although no competition version was ever realized. Lamborghini later garnered a reputation for being reluctant to build racing versions of his cars.[4]
Ferruccio Lamborghini was dissatisfied with several design features of the 350 GTV,
Later history
After the 1963 Turin Auto Show, the 350 GTV was placed into storage at the Lamborghini factory.[3] The 350 GTV remained in storage until the mid-1980s, when car dealer Romano Bernardoni and his cousin, Lamborghini expert Stefano Pasini, convinced the management to sell the 350 GTV to them. Bernardoni and Pasini did not receive the gauges and steering wheel with the car. They did, however, receive several proposals to modify the car into running condition and accepted one. During the modification process, the car's colour was changed from its original pale blue to deep metallic green at the owner's request.[2]
The 350 GTV was then sold to a Japanese collector, who placed the car in the Noritake Collection. Several years later, the 350 GTV was placed on display at the Lamborghini Museum in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy.[6]
References
- Citations
- ^ a b c d Automobili Lamborghini Holding SpA: Lamborghini - History - Masterpieces - 350 GTV
- ^ a b c d Lamm, p.127
- ^ OCLC 12806744.
- ^ OCLC 18937830.
- ^ a b c Lamm, p.123
- ^ a b c d e LamboCars.com - Lamborghini 350 GTV
- ^ OCLC 9458867.
- ^ a b c QV500.com - Lamborghini 350 Part 1: 350 GTV
- ^ OCLC 8431194.
- ^ Smeyers, Mark (3 January 2016). "350 GTV". lambocars.com. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- Sources
- Lamm, John (May 1994). Bryant, Thos. L (ed.). "Salon: 1963 Lamborghini 350 GTV". Road & Track. 45 (9). Newport Beach, California: Hachette Magazines: 120–127.
- "Automobili Lamborghini Holding SpA: Lamborghini - History - Masterpieces - 350 GTV". Automobili Lamborghini Holding Spa. Lamborghini.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- "Lamborghini 350 GTV". LamboCars.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
- "QV500.com - Lamborghini 350 Part 1: 350 GTV". QV500.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2009-12-26.