“Let me make cars. You stick to making tractors,” retorted Enzo Ferrari, dismissively responding to Ferruccio Lamborghini’s complaint about a faulty clutch in his Ferrari. However, Ferruccio did the exact opposite of that. Tractors interested him no longer, and so he went on to make a weapon worthy of a reply, a reply that would echo generations of Lamborghinis. Soon, the first Lamborghini (350GT) became the talk of the town, becoming enough of a reason for Ferruccio to gift the world a potent, more perfected version of the outgoing model – the Lamborghini 400GT. Essentially called a '350GT with a bigger engine', the 400GT (1966 – 1968) was more than just a car. It had character and an edge-of-your-seat performance, all packed in a sleek and styled aluminium silhouette. All 400GTs featured a mighty 4-litre V12 engine capable of putting down 320 horsepower and 374 Nm of torque via a 5-speed manual transmission. As a result, it could accelerate from a standstill to 60 in 7.3 seconds and achieve a wind-shredding top speed of 160 mph. Only a handful, 247 to be precise, 400GTs ever came off the Lamborghini factory production line in Sant ‘Agata Bolognese, Italy. Nowadays, well-maintained and nicely restored 400GT examples can easily fetch prices ranging from mid-$400,000 to a hefty $650,000!
Immediately after his feud with Enzo Ferrari, Ferruccio Lamborghini set out to work on a less tractor-like creation and tasked his engineer, Giotto Bizzarrini, to build him an engine worthy of mass production. A beefy 3.5-liter V12 race engine soon roared the Lamborghini factory in Italy. While a race engine may have done wonders on track-like conditions, it failed to optimize on road-like conditions, which was not part of Ferruccio’s plan. Eventually, the engineers had to rework the engine, tweaking it for more optimal performance before finally coming up with a slightly ‘detuned’ engine that featured in the first mass-production Lamborghini – 350GT. Everything went according to plan; Ferruccio successfully created a Grand Tourer worthy of bearing the GT badge. However, with the likes of rivals, including Aston Martin’s DB6 Vantage and Ferrari's 275 GTB producing impressive performance figures, Lamborghini had a long way to go. Soon enough, Lamborghini raised the stakes by formulating a potent, more refined version of the existing 3.5-liter V12. The new 4-litre V12, which delivered a thundering 320 horsepower, now sat in a 350GT-designed body, subject to slight cosmetic changes. Presenting: the Lamborghini 400GT. Production began in 1966 and ended in 1968, resulting in 247 Lamborghini 400GTs ever being made, wherein the first 23 units, also called the 400GT ‘Interim’, featured a 2-seater (driver and passenger) configuration. The remaining 224 units, were labelled the GT ‘2+2’, which, as the name suggests, included a 4-seat configuration with a pair of back seats as well.
Underneath the skin, the Lamborghini 400GT was essentially the same, albeit better and more refined, as its predecessor, the Lamborghini 350GT, subject to some engine modifications and other slight structural changes. The 3.5-liter V12, rated at 270 horsepower, was bumped up to produce an impressive 320 horsepower – a gain of 40 horsepower – and 374 Nm of torque through a 4-liter V12 engine. Coupled with a 5-speed stick shift, the 400GT achieved the 0 to 60 mph milestone in a propelling 7.3 seconds until it maxed out at 160 mph. For reference, the 400GT, in its prime, achieved the highest top speed recorded for a road-legal production car, filling the front pages of major car journals and magazines, including Road & Track. Also, thanks to a Superleggera method patented by the Touring coachmaker, the 400GT was balanced at 1,472 kilos, offering an ideal weight distribution of 220 bhp per ton. Safe to say, Ferruccio Lamborghini successfully created a weapon that he thought fit to bear the name of a Grand Tourer. According to him, GT cars needed to have a distinct character from stripped-down and track-focused racecars. So, it was right to supplement the action-packing performance with style and comfort, which could especially be felt as you stepped inside the car.
Step inside a 400GT and any Lamborghini fanatic would immediately spot the number of similarities it shares with its predecessor, the 350GT. The similarities, which are quite a few, range from the premium leather to its fighter-jet-style toggle switches. Inside, fine leather meets the eye wherever it goes, carpeting the lightweight tub from the footwear all the way to the back seats. While the earlier ‘Interim’ 400GT examples lacked the rear seat configuration, the later ‘2+2’ 400GT models featured one, which was perfect for a family road trip down European backroads. Yes, the back seats offer a little area to breathe, but then again, who's complaining when they get to savour the fine comfort of a unique and rare Lamborghini? For the driver, a set of tachometers displays necessary information, including vehicle speed, oil pressure level, and revs, all finished in a classic font. Also for the driver is a wooden steering wheel and a 5-speed manual knob, both polished in exquisite, glossy wood garnishing. Meanwhile, various toggle switch buttons and warning lights encompass the centre console for the driver's disposal. Lastly, an ashtray encased in a high-quality metal can be seen tucked away in the centre, matching the rest of the glorious theme.
Despite sharing exterior resemblances, a closer inspection would reveal that the 350GT and the 400GT use a completely different makeover. This is because almost all 400GTs used a steel-bodied construction, replacing the lightweight aluminium one. Carrozzeria Touring, the coachmaker responsible for designing the (350GT and) 400GT, was left with specific instructions to style the GT 400 while not compromising its originality. A few extra inches were added to its height, just enough to install a pair of back seats for the 400GT 2+2 version. Meanwhile, the front features a pair of dual headlights bulging from within the centre of the hood and protruding like a pair of eyes just above a low-hung, horizontally slanted grille. Eventually, the graceful profile wraps the sides in a teardrop fashion before finally setting at the back. The rear quarter showcases a subtle interplay of curves and sharp angles, distinguished by a set of thin and small tail lights sitting right above a pair of dual tailpipes.
The Lamborghini 400GT is a timeless classic, free from the shackles of any onboard computers, like electric seat control, blind-spot monitoring system, cruise control, sat-nav, and even power steering. Instead, it puts on display raw power that demands sheer driver talent, making the 400GT as mechanical as it could get. That said, a rear limited slip differential coupled with all-around anti-roll bars allowed the 400GT to power out of any corner with poise and grace. Of course, its brute force was held in check using special Gerling disc brakes at each corner.
Back in 1968, a Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 could be bought for a seemingly low $14,750. Fast forward to 2024, an average 400GT translates to roughly $400,000. Meanwhile, well-kept and restored examples command prices of up to $590,000. For reference, a rare, more special 1/23 Lamborghini 400GT ‘Interim’ recently fetched a sky-high price of a mighty $654,000. However, the 400GT ‘Interim’ doesn’t even come close to the ultra-rare 1/1 Lamborghini 400GT Monza. The forgotten Lamborghini legend is a one-off collaboration between Giorgio Neri and Luciano Bonacini, clothed with a sharper, much sleeker Ferrari-inspired coachwork. Built for an anonymous client to race at the Le Mans, the GT 400 Monza adopted a ‘racecar’ character featuring a rollbar and, not to forget, the legendary 4.0-litre Lamborghini V12 motor. Ever since, it has exchanged multiple hands before resurfacing in 2005, auctioning for a cool £177,500. Today, the Monza remains any Lamborghini collector’s wildest dream, with an estimated multi-million-dollar valuation! If you are ready to own a classic Lamborghini, be sure to pay a visit to the Lamborghini listings at Exotic Car Trader; there might just be one listed for you.
Lamborghini’s journey, evolving from building tractors to crafting high-performance supercars like the GT 400, signifies more than just automotive progress; it narrates a remarkable ascent, carrying the brand’s distinctive DNA in the years to come. Considering adding one to your collection? Well, you have come to the right place. Exotic Car Trader offers a hassle-free online platform for browsing hundreds of listed exotic cars, ready for a new owner. However, if you are looking for a safe and trusted online platform to sell your exotic or classic car, we have got you covered! Thanks to our detailed buying process and industry-best fraud verification tools, buying your next car is now a breeze. The Lamborghini GT 400 strikes a perfect balance between raw power and timeless style, making it a coveted rarity for those who understand the language of speed and beauty.
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