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Of tractors, supercars, pride, and ego
One of the legendary business stories of pride, ego, and entrepreneurship - Ferruccio Lamborghini, a successful tractor maker who could afford a new Ferrari, tried to share feedback on his unsatisfactory Ferrari ownership experience with Il Commendatore himself, Enzo Ferrari.
Lamborghini was basically blown off by the imperious Ferrari, setting off a supercar rivalry that continues to this day, over half a century later.
Looks like Salinas, the salad basket of America
And the fastest lettuce delivery vehicle on the planet. Great photo.
Mike
Mike
It's Aged Well
I'm going to take an unpopular position and declare Chrysler's modification of the original Gandini design to be a big success, and it's looking like an even bigger success as more time passes. There's been a lot of grousing and sideways swipes at the American design team for altering the original Diablo's shape from the initial Italian sketches; that original car design, undiluted, became the Cizeta Moroder. The Cizeta was cool, but it was cool in the sense that a 14-year-old would understand it; provocative but clumsy.
Almost 30 years later, the Cizeta looks its age and has period-piece appeal, but the Diablo looks fantastic - timeless, even. I'd go so far as to say that the Diablo has aged as well as the Miura, another shape that draws heavily upon the power of compound curves.
Best,
Tim
It really has aged well indeed
Although to me the Countach and the LM002 are the icons.
Agreed, though the Countach, as iconic as it was / is,
Has aged - it looks like what someone in the 1970's thought cars of the future would look like 30, 50 years later.
To my eyes, the Diablo transcends periods, transcends decades.
The LM002 is in a category unto itself, lol
To my eyes, the Diablo transcends periods, transcends decades.
The LM002 is in a category unto itself, lol
I will have to humbly agree with you...
The Diablo as it appears here is that transcendent combination of sharp lines and edges representative of the wedge design school epitomized by the Countach and the Lancia Stratos Zero Concept, and the sensuous compound curves so beautifully drawn by Pininfarina and also timelessly expressed in the Miura (another Marcello Gandini design at Bertone)
Whatever the sideways swipes and gripes about the dilution of the purity of the original Gandini design over the decades, history and the passage of time and evolution of taste is the final proof of timelessness.
Agree the CZ and even the iconic Countach now look dated, clearly products of their age and period, even as visions of the then future, whereas the Zero concept or the Diablo, if introduced as 2018 models or concepts, would still appear fresh and striking.
Good eye and taste, sir...
Whatever the sideways swipes and gripes about the dilution of the purity of the original Gandini design over the decades, history and the passage of time and evolution of taste is the final proof of timelessness.
Agree the CZ and even the iconic Countach now look dated, clearly products of their age and period, even as visions of the then future, whereas the Zero concept or the Diablo, if introduced as 2018 models or concepts, would still appear fresh and striking.
Good eye and taste, sir...
What a fantastic pic!
I take it there are two Lamborghinis in this photo?
Cheers
Fernando
Wish there was, Fernando, but just one Lamborghini
In farmland with a tractor ready and willing to pose with it was a rare enough occasion - one Lamborghini, one John Deer.
Thanks, Fernando.
Thanks, Fernando.
Great pic!
And a cool story! Several tractor makers turnedo ut decent sports cars - Porsche and Ford being two others 
Indeed, KMII. Wonder if anyone has ever had a tractor pulling contest...
Pitting the Lambo against the Porsche and Ford...hmmm...
Lol
Lol
One of my favorite reports on the Lamborghini ...
I saw this as a kid and never forgot...
Lamborghini on 60 Minutes
Best 60 Minutes segment ever??? So awesome, thank you. And I didn't realize that Balboni had been with the company for so long. [nt]
No message body
Valentino Balboni joined Lamborghini as an apprentice
In 1968 and soon became junior test driver to Chief Test Driver Bob Wallace. Balboni drove nearly every prototype Lambo and most off the production line until his retirement in 2008. It's hard to believe retirement was almost 10 years ago, I saw him during his farewell tour and have seen him several times since as an ambassador of all things Lamborghini.
The best job EVER...
The best job EVER...
As much as a Lamborghini is nice, its overall reliability and durability aren't matching the ones of a Porsche Carrera GT or a Saleen S7
Like most of lamborghinis, expect a high maintenance and huge gasoline bills. They are nice exotics but certainly not cars that can be daily driven because of their delicate construction and very demanding costs.
Humbly disagree...
Hi, George,
I prefer the Lamborghini V12 and gearbox to the drivetrain of the CGT or S7 anyday (have driven all three and lived with 2 of them for periods of time)
The CGT probably wins out on the electrical system, the S7 is notorious for poor and inconsistent fit and finish.
Maintenance costs of the CGT and S7 are certainly higher than your typical Lexus, Toyota, or Hyundai. Whether or not they are higher than contemporaneous Lambos...
Gasoline bills? The Diablo averages 7 miles per gallon when driven hard constantly running through the rev range, but I've seen up to 16 miles per gallon highway cruising.
The S7 wasnt much better, dont remember the gas mileage on the CGT, but I can ask some friends who still regularly drive theirs.
Which of the three do you have experience with? Would love to read more...
Cheers,
TM
I prefer the Lamborghini V12 and gearbox to the drivetrain of the CGT or S7 anyday (have driven all three and lived with 2 of them for periods of time)
The CGT probably wins out on the electrical system, the S7 is notorious for poor and inconsistent fit and finish.
Maintenance costs of the CGT and S7 are certainly higher than your typical Lexus, Toyota, or Hyundai. Whether or not they are higher than contemporaneous Lambos...
Gasoline bills? The Diablo averages 7 miles per gallon when driven hard constantly running through the rev range, but I've seen up to 16 miles per gallon highway cruising.
The S7 wasnt much better, dont remember the gas mileage on the CGT, but I can ask some friends who still regularly drive theirs.
Which of the three do you have experience with? Would love to read more...
Cheers,
TM
None experience with th three of these cars. A friend of my uncle living in Lausanne had a diablo v/t of the third series from 2000 and he was always having electronical and mechanical issues.
He then sold it after two years of ownership and baught a 959. A different animal but with all wheel drive. Regarding the carrera GT, we had a neighbor before moving in the south of France 5 years ago who had one in dark grey metallic who always used to run it at the track during the week ends. I asked him by curiosity why he didn't daily drive it. His response to me was the following: "The car isn't made for bumpy roads or cruising inside town plus there is no luggage and no room when you go shopping. It is a car for the track.For daily driving I use the 600sel tuned by brabus". Where I live sadly there is no saleen owner. The Diablo is before all a car for the track and the highway also to be honest some like modern lamborghinis and others not . I loved and still love the LMP001, the Miura and the Countach but the Diablo not so much and the Aventador even less. Like in everything, it is a matter of tastes. Have a nice day
best regards
Georges
best regards
Georges
We are mostly in agreement but...
Hi, Georges,
The Diablo is definitely NOT designed for the track - the seating position alone points to this. When the model was developed Lamborghini for the most part was still a "no racing" company though there were some small half hearted attempts by both the factory and privateers (Wolf Racing comes to mind) and there were the aborted single make race series featuring the Diablo GTR, as well as the still born F1 engine..In this context the Diablo has surprisingly large amounts of grip but the shape and size also make it unwieldy; it is a straightline missile (held fastest production vehicle title for just less than 2 years) that also grips well (so not a straight line only bomber like American big iron muscle cars, for example)
Seems we are in agreement the weakness of the pre-Audi Lamborghinis are mostly in the electrics / electrical system.
Lamborghinis are very polarizing, more so than Porsches, and it is fine with me whether someone loves, likes, dislikes, or even hates them, the brand or specific models. But in your original post you made what seemed to be specific objective statements and comparisons, and I was just presenting balancing points based on personal experience.
I am not a fan of the CGT though I do respect what Porsche achieved with it.
Post Audi Lamborghinis seem to be a turning point both design wise, development and production wise. For many long time hard core Lambophiles, Lambo models can be grouped into the classics: pre-Miura; the supercar era: starting with Miura but really taking off with the Countach; and the post Audi period which really took hold with the Murcielago and Gallardo, this point underscored with platform and parts sharing between Lamborghini and Audi models.
To be honest I was not a fan of the Aventador until driving the Aventador S a few weeks ago (had driven the original Aventador on both Sepang, Shanghai, and on the street "at speed") and except for the final SV version (which I love), neither the Murcielago...
Most Lamborghini's are not designed to be daily drivers - less than easy entry and exit, the low ground clearance, are pretty conclusive proof of that.
But that said, I know quite a few people who daily drive (as one might daily drive a 911, for example) the Gallardo and Huracan. Even the Diablo has surprising amounts of (weekly) grocery trunk space...anyone expecting sedan or even GT levels of luggage swallowing trunk space is just being silly.
Nice chatting with you, and
Cheers,
TM
The Diablo is definitely NOT designed for the track - the seating position alone points to this. When the model was developed Lamborghini for the most part was still a "no racing" company though there were some small half hearted attempts by both the factory and privateers (Wolf Racing comes to mind) and there were the aborted single make race series featuring the Diablo GTR, as well as the still born F1 engine..In this context the Diablo has surprisingly large amounts of grip but the shape and size also make it unwieldy; it is a straightline missile (held fastest production vehicle title for just less than 2 years) that also grips well (so not a straight line only bomber like American big iron muscle cars, for example)
Seems we are in agreement the weakness of the pre-Audi Lamborghinis are mostly in the electrics / electrical system.
Lamborghinis are very polarizing, more so than Porsches, and it is fine with me whether someone loves, likes, dislikes, or even hates them, the brand or specific models. But in your original post you made what seemed to be specific objective statements and comparisons, and I was just presenting balancing points based on personal experience.
I am not a fan of the CGT though I do respect what Porsche achieved with it.
Post Audi Lamborghinis seem to be a turning point both design wise, development and production wise. For many long time hard core Lambophiles, Lambo models can be grouped into the classics: pre-Miura; the supercar era: starting with Miura but really taking off with the Countach; and the post Audi period which really took hold with the Murcielago and Gallardo, this point underscored with platform and parts sharing between Lamborghini and Audi models.
To be honest I was not a fan of the Aventador until driving the Aventador S a few weeks ago (had driven the original Aventador on both Sepang, Shanghai, and on the street "at speed") and except for the final SV version (which I love), neither the Murcielago...
Most Lamborghini's are not designed to be daily drivers - less than easy entry and exit, the low ground clearance, are pretty conclusive proof of that.
But that said, I know quite a few people who daily drive (as one might daily drive a 911, for example) the Gallardo and Huracan. Even the Diablo has surprising amounts of (weekly) grocery trunk space...anyone expecting sedan or even GT levels of luggage swallowing trunk space is just being silly.
Nice chatting with you, and
Cheers,
TM
It looks futuristic even nowadays, just think the impression when it was released. Usually I do not like red Lambos, since red is Ferrari but I must admit that on this model I really like it.
However the purple Countaches are in my opinion unbeatable.
Best.
Best.
Still looks like a true exotic car, aging well.
Actually has more body character the the current models. Just a stunning machine.