Onora Il Padre E La Madre

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A Commandment. This is the title Tonino Lamborghini chose for the book dedicated to his father, Ferruccio Lamborghini. Many will immediately associate his name with the beautiful and imposing tractors, in a white that would seem strange on any other agricultural vehicle, but is the symbol of this great company. I can’t imagine a Lamborghini tractor in any other color, even though the first ones, like the Carioca, were a bright orange. Others will think of burners and air conditioners, while others still will think of engines for boats and Formula 1 race cars. The most indulgent may close their eyes and pretend to savor a glass of wine, precisely the “Sangue Di Miura.” But all of us, myself included, will associate this name with the fastest and most seductive cars on the planet.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was born in Renazzo, in the Ferrara region, on April 28, 1916. A man of great ingenuity and a great entrepreneur, he didn’t treat his workers as such but as equals. He was the first to turn on the lights in the morning and the last to lock up at night. Those who worked with him didn’t watch the clock, didn’t anxiously await five o’clock, but finished their work, only to realize it was nine. It was the era of “Loving the boss.” Ferruccio was loved by people, and countless anecdotes are told in this book. A memorable one is his meeting with “Il Drake,” Enzo Ferrari himself. Ferruccio was driving a Ferrari and complained about the clutch, which wasn’t strong enough for the powerful pulls of the engine. So, he took one of his own and replaced it. The car ran perfectly now. He was ready for the big challenge.

In 1963, the first Lamborghini creation, the 350 Gtv, was born, whose design drew inspiration from large American cars. It was so bold and ahead of its time that it had to be modified and “softened.” The final version was named the 400 Gt. He had succeeded. One anecdote tells of a postcard sent from America with the address “Lamborghini, Italy,” and the postcard arrived at its destination.

But it was only in 1966 that Ferruccio Lamborghini became, to the whole world, Mr. Lamborghini, thanks to the Miura. Later, the Espada, the Urraco, and the Countach followed… The latter, however, wasn’t named after a breed of bulls but by chance. “Countach,” in Piedmontese dialect, is an exclamation of astonishment: just what people felt when they saw that stunning creature that debuted in 1971.

Unfortunately, the book ends both sadly and positively. Sadly because Ferruccio passed away on February 20, 1993, a day that left everyone with broken hearts. But positively, because the Lamborghini Museum was founded in his honor, in Dosso, just a few steps from his hometown. Here, you can admire his creations, from the Carioca tractor to the Jalpa, not forgetting prototypes and unique pieces, and see photos that testify to who Ferruccio Lamborghini was. A car designer? No, a great man.