Which Entrepreneur Made Tractors Before Entering the Sports Car Business?

We all have heard of humble beginnings of tech giants like Apple and Google that started at garages before becoming mega corporations.

However, there is an automobile company whose origin story is quite phenomenal. Do you know which entrepreneur made tractors before entering the sports car business? 

Well, if you are a sports car enthusiast, the answer is evident to you. But don’t worry, if you still haven’t gotten a clue- We are covering whole story in this article.

The invention of sports cars has changed the automobile industry’s landscape, but one sports car company that dominates the world did not start as a sports car company. 

We are talking about Lamborghini. Yes, Ferruccio Lamborghini is the entrepreneur who made tractors before entering the sports car business.

Is Lamborghini Italian or German?

Lamborghini is an Italian brand that becomes popular when it comes to sports cars. 

About Ferruccio Lamborghini

Lamborghini was founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini, born on April 28, 1916, and passed away on February 20, 1993. He was an Italian businessman who started his Italian brand of the sports car in Sant’Agata Bolognese in 1963. The name of the sports car company was Automobili Lamborghini. 

Ferruccio came from a very humble background without any links to the auto industry. His parents were grape farmers in Renazzo, in the commune of Cento, situated in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. 

Lamborghini didn’t set out to build sports cars; initially, he had sufficient mechanical works knowledge. That knowledge allowed him to start his business of tractor manufacturing. In 1948, Ferruccio founded his tractor company called Lamborghini Trattori. 

Not long after that, his company became a famous brand in the agricultural equipment sector of Italy. Lamborghini was not stopping there. He opened Lamborghini Bruciatori in 1959, which was an oil burner factory. The same factory later started to build air conditioning equipment. 

Lamborghini Oleodinamica was the fourth company that started by him in 1969. By the 1970s, he was not actively involved in the operations and decided to sell his interests from the companies he built from scratch.

He took retirement and settled down in a lavish estate in Umbria, where he started winemaking. 

Ferruccio’s Entry into the Entrepreneurship

As mentioned above, he knew mechanical works. He set up a garage in Pieve di Cento after the 2nd World War ended. Lamborghini had an old Fiat Topolino at that time, which he modified using his mechanical know-how.

He turned that regular car into a sports car and participated in the Mille Miglia of 1948.  Lamborghini had a vision for the future. He recognized that there would be scope for an agricultural and industrial market in Italy after World War 2.

When was the First Lamborghini Tractor Made?

First Lamborgnini Tractor was made in 1951. He built his first batch of “L 33” tractors by using six-cylinder petrol engines from military trucks. Petrol was quite expensive at that time in Italy.

Lamborghini entered into the agricultural equipment business with the supply of parts of military vehicle engines. Still, Ferruccio used his creativity to build a fuel atomizer that allowed Morris petrol engines to start with petrol and switch to diesel fuel, which was cheaper back then. 

Tractor Business of the Company

The vast scale success of Carioca tractors gave him the initial push to found his first company – Lamborghini Trattori. The systematic manufacturing of tractors was started. This is how the legendary automobile industrialist entered into the world of entrepreneurship, and the rest is history.

So, When Did Lamborghini stop making tractors?

In 1973, Lamborghini stopped making tractors after selling the Lamborghini Trattori to SAME(now SDF group).

SAME is a reputed name in the international tractor market. They manufacture their own tractors while still another range of Lamborghini tractors.

Where is Same Tractor Made?

SAME tractors are made in Treviglio, Bergamo region, Italy. Yes Lamborghini still makes tractors, by labeling the name Lamborghini but the parent company is different.

Lamborghini Vs. Ferrari Rivalry

We read about how Ferruccio entered entrepreneurship without having any solid background in it. But do you know how he started his high-end sports car brand? Well, the story of how it started is quite impressive. 

We all know that he became a successful tractor manufacturer soon after building his prototype Carioca tractors built using surplus military vehicles.

He made a fortune from the business, which allowed him to indulge in luxurious activities, and started buying luxury cars that led him to his participation in races like Mille Miglia. 

He also had a Ferrari in his collection, and used to drive his Ferrari and also raced with it. Since Ferruccio knew the mechanics of automobiles, he noticed various defects and issues plaguing his cars, including the Ferrari. He thought these cars needed various improvements. 

In his Ferrari case, he found out that the car was too noisy and rough while driving at top speed. The interior clutch also broke too often.

It was the era of the 60s when Ferrari was the best luxury sports car in the market. Enzo Ferrari was the founder of the Ferrari brand. Lamborghini had previously worked as a mechanic, so he knew what exactly was not good with the Ferraris.

Why was Lamborghini Invented?

He decided to meet Enzo and inform him about the defects. However, it didn’t go as planned by Lamborghini. Enzo Ferrari was a top sports car tycoon of his times, and receiving feedback from someone who was a mechanic and built tractors was not palpable for him.

Lamborghini thought Enzo is utterly ignorant of how his or any car in general worked. This incident sparked a rivalry that created a history that changed the automobile landscape forever.

Did Enzo Ferari Insult Lamborghini?

Yes, Lamborghini was merely a hobbyist, and then he decided to turn it into a serious craft after Enzo Ferrari insulted him. 

How did Lamborghini work on Sports Cars? 

That insult from Enzo Ferrari was something that seriously drove Ferruccio to consider building his own sports car that was better than anything that existed in the market back then. He started working on the designs of the cars. 

When he decided to build his first car, he had some buffer period to build his assembly line and pick a date for unveiling his first model. Having the inherent skills, he dedicated efforts to pick up the best material for the cars. 

Who Designed The Lamborghini?

Giotto Bizzarrini, who had earlier worked with Ferrari engines, was commissioned to design engines for his cars. The other two bright engineers – Giampaolo Dallara and Giampaolo Stanzani, were hired for working on other cars.

The official work on the project began in 1962, and the company Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini was founded in May of 1963. A piece of land for the factory was purchased in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Since he was experienced in manufacturing, he ensured that the factory was equipped with the best facilities. The company was an iconic example of superiority in functionality and facilities.  

What was Lamborghini’s First Car?

It took him only four months to show his first car – Lamborghini 350 GTV in the Turin Motor Show. Later they changed the name to 350 GT and sold 13 cars before the end of 1964. 

It wasn’t like Lamborghini wasn’t wealthy. He already had enough money from his previous businesses. After bringing competition to Ferrari, Lamborghini took an interest in other activities and businesses. He was mocked by many for aspiring to compete against Ferrari. They thought building a sports car as superior as Ferrari was an impossible task. 

Legacy of Mr. Ferruccio Lamborghini

Finally, Lamborghini retired from the operations in 1974, and he had sold his interests from various companies by then. He bought a luxury estate of 740 acres in the Umbria region of central Italy, and was returning to his old roots of farming. 

He started activities like farming, hunting, and winemaking in the estate. Mr. Ferruccio also managed to design a golf course on his land. Lamborghini had a daughter named Patrizia, at the age of 58. 

When Did Lamborghini Die & How old was Ferruccio Lamborghini?

He passed away on February 20, 1993, after suffering a heart attack at the age of 76. 

From now on, whenever you see a Lamborghini Urus, Aventador, or Huracan, you will remember which entrepreneur made tractors before entering the sports car business. 

Bull – An Inspiration for Cars

We all know about some exciting stories of how many brands got their logos and names. Well, Lamborghini’s logo and model names aren’t exceptions to that rule. Mr. Lamborghini was a massive fan of the Spanish game of bullfighting.

That game was something he enjoyed from the bottom of his heart, would spend time watching bullfighting matches. He was a Taurus himself. He knew how powerful a bull is, and that’s how the company got a bull in its logo.

He thought their cars should be as powerful as a bull. Many models of Lamborghini were given names of bulls that were known for bullfighting. The first name was Lamborghini Miura. That’s how it became a recurring theme in their production.

Final Words

Lamborghini brand today has become synonymous with high-end luxury sports cars. They currently have these models under production. Audi owns the Lamborghini now. They produce almost 6 thousand cars annually.

They are earning revenue of almost €600 million every year. Lamborghini and Ferrari’s rivalry is a good thing that happened to the automobile industry, and fans are fortunate to see the two brands striving to deliver their best. There are many models that are going to come out this decade. We are sure they will rock the market upon entry. 

We hope that the business owners will take lessons from Enzo Ferrari and never ignore the customers’ feedback. Who knows what else we might get to see from such rivalries in the future?

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