Reminder: Lamborghini wasn’t always horsepower and carbon fiber
20190528202157)
With their exports from Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, Lamborghini has a reputation of supercars with aggressive style and the power to back it up. It wasn’t always this way, though, and if you trace Lamborghini history back to its roots, you get just that—farming.
That’s right, the latest Huracan or Urus has agricultural roots that look like this 1962 5C TL tractor. Ferrucio Lamborghini founded his tractor operation, named Lamboghini Trattori, in 1948, a full 15 years before the automobile company to bear his name would build a car. While the tractors bore the Lamborghini name, they were not powered by Lamborghini engines. Instead, the crafty Italian utilized reputable powerplants for those early production units, like those from Benz or Morris, ensuring the tractors bearing his name would stand the test of time.
This tractor business gave Lamborghini the finances to bankroll one of the greatest rivalries in history. With the clutch of his Ferrari sports car not meeting his expectations, Lamborghini reached out to the fellow Italian Enzo Ferrari, only to be rebuffed. Flush with cash from the tractors, along with other side businesses, Lamborghini set about creating his own sports car in 1962. Just two years later, the 3.5-liter V-12-powered 350 GT was born.
This 5C TL is a tracked model, commonly called a crawler, which was introduced in 1955. While it looks quite heavy, the spec sheet on this particular model notes a total weight of 4450 pounds—bringing it in 400 pounds under the weight of the Urus. The power comes by way of a 2.2-liter diesel engine, though unfortunately a synchromesh gearbox was not standard until 1966.
Early Lamborghini sports cars mean big money, and for good reason, as they are pure Italian grace and beauty. However, if you just have to have a Lambo in your garage, you can save a lot of coin and likely get a lot more function by going with a tractor. After all, when is the last time you saw a Muira that could move its own trailer?
20190528202314 "1962 Lamborghini 5C TL Tractor front")
20190528202204 "1962 Lamborghini 5C TL Tractor rear")
20190528202211 "1962 Lamborghini 5C TL Tractor controls")
20190528202220 "1962 Lamborghini 5C TL Tractor profile")
20190528202233 "1962 Lamborghini 5C TL Tractor engine")
20190528202245 "1962 Lamborghini 5C TL Tractor exhaust")
20190528202258 "1962 Lamborghini 5C TL Tractor gauges")
20190528202306 "1962 Lamborghini 5C TL Tractor rear 3/4")
