For Lamborghini, 2022 is the year of the V12, its legendary 12-cylinder engine that has powered iconic models for almost 60 years of history and became a symbol of technological innovation, vision, and engineering expertise: the foundations of Lamborghini’s DNA.

Before entering the hybridisation phase in 2023 with the advent of the first series production model, Lamborghini is paying tribute to its most memorable engine in a retrospective account of the cars that have featured it. The first ever Lamborghini to leave the Sant’Agata Bolognese factory in 1964 was the 350 GT, more recently taken to the historic centre of Bologna for an epic encounter with the latest V12 in the brand’s history, the Aventador Ultimae.

The genius Giotto Bizzarrini and the story of a contract ‘with a bonus for every 10 extra horsepower’

To design the engine, Ferruccio Lamborghini chose an exceptional external consultant, the engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, born in Quercianella (province of Livorno) in 1926, still today considered one of the best engine designers who ever lived. Bizzarrini was a huge fan of racing and dreamed of building an engine for Formula One.

The agreement with Lamborghini was simple and created the basis for something absolutely extraordinary: 12 V-cylinders, displacement of 3.5 litres, and lots and lots of horsepower: at least 350.

As an incentive for Bizzarrini, Lamborghini included in the contract a bonus for every additional 10 horsepower. When the engine ran on the test bench for the first time in July 1963, the readings were spectacular, with 360 HP at 9,000 rpm. Ferruccio Lamborghini paid what he owed, including the bonus for the extra horsepower, but he realised he was in trouble. In fact, Bizzarrini had designed a Formula One engine that was unsuitable for road use and mass production.

The arrival of Paolo Stanzani: the engine was rationalised and reached over 250 km/h

It was then Paolo Stanzani, one of the most highly regarded engineers in the history of Lamborghini, who was entrusted with the job of “civilising” this engine. His work, though capable of maintaining the engine’s exceptional performance and making it pleasantly drivable even at medium and low revs, did not alter the basic technical specs, which in many points would become a first for a series-produced car. Its maximum power output of 280 HP at 6,500 rpm was enough to propel the 350 GT, the first production Lamborghini model debuting in 1964, to a top speed of over 250 km/h.

The first customer launches the brand’s popularity in the entertainment world

The first 350 GT was delivered to Livorno-native drummer, Giampiero Giusti. This marked the beginning of a close relationship between Lamborghini and the entertainment world in which many actors and musical performers became passionate customers of the company.

The same car, now the oldest production Lamborghini in existence, perfectly restored and certified by Polo Storico, won ‘Best in Show’ at the ‘Lamborghini & Design’ Concorso d’Eleganza organised by Lamborghini Polo Storico, held in Trieste in 2019.

From music to movies

The starring cinematic role for a 350 GT was in the 1967 Columbia Pictures film, ‘Kill Me Quick, I'm Cold’, directed by Francesco Maselli, where it was used as a means of transport for the leading couple, the celebrated Monica Vitti and Jean Sorel.

A benchmark up to the 1990s

From its debut in 1964, the Lamborghini V12 became a benchmark for its torque, elasticity, reliability and durability. The same unit, with only minimal modifications, would remain in production until the 1990s, growing to seven litres of displacement with power over 500 HP, before subsequently receiving more substantial structural modifications.