Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2, 1967
Lamborghini 350/400 GT
Lamborghini 350/400 GT•
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Chassis No.: 01225
Engine No.: 1376
£292,500 | Sold
- Transmission: Manual
- Body Colour: Azzuro Fiat
Elegant, practical and lauded at the time as one of the World's best grand tourers, the 400 GT 2+2 was the perfect expression of Ferruccio Lamborghini's original concept of creating the fastest, most comfortable and beautiful GT ever. With verifiable provenance, very low mileage and documented ownership, all of whom seemed determined to protect its DNA, #01225 is an important car in the history of an important marque.
In effect, a refined and more luxurious version of the Giotto Bizzarrini-engineered 350 GTV prototype of 1963, the development of Lamborghini’s new for 1964 350 GT and its transition to production, was overseen by brilliant former Ferrari designer, Gian Paolo Dallara, then aged just 26. Ably assisted by Paolo Stanzi and highly-rated test driver Bob Wallace, Dallara retained Bizzarrini’s fundamental design, albeit with a suitably strengthened chassis and a de-tuned, wet-sump version of the 350 GTV’s glorious 3.5-litre quad-cam V12 engine.
The styling of the 350 GTV had originally been attributed to Franco Scaglione, whose iconic 'BAT' series Alfa Romeos had evidently influenced the former’s rakish lines to a significant degree. A broadly similar appearance was retained for the Touring-bodied 350 GT, albeit featuring a noticeably lower bonnet line due to side-draught Weber carburettors being employed in place of the down-draught items used on the prototype. Drawing praise for the smoothness of its engine, ride quality, and for its superior level of finish, the 350 GT represented a hugely positive first foray into car production for Lamborghini, with some 120 examples produced over the following two years.
In 1966, the updated 400 GT was introduced, which retained the same wheelbase as the earlier car but featured an enlarged 3.9-litre version of the V12 engine, thereby increasing power from 270 to 320bhp. Although a handful of early 350 GTs had featured a novel '2+1' seating pattern, the majority were configured in regular two-seater form. However, ever mindful of the benefits of broadening the appeal of its cars, Lamborghini, after producing just 24 examples of the two-seat 400 GT, opted to further modify its derivative into the 400 GT 2+2, the latter being publicly unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 1966.
In direct contrast to certain manufacturers, many of whom merely raised or extended the roof lines of existing two-seat designs to hastily fashion 2+2 versions of the same car, Lamborghini opted to both effect this modification and lower the 400 GT’s floorplan simultaneously. Ingeniously, this afforded much greater cabin accommodation at a far lower aesthetic cost than would otherwise have been the case. Furthermore, the 400 GT 2+2 benefited from other cosmetic and ergonomic changes; a larger rear luggage compartment, increased fuel capacity, quadruple headlamps and revised lower front valance being notable examples.
However, it was arguably in its transmission that the greatest technical improvement was made, the somewhat recalcitrant ZF gearbox of the 350 and 400 GTs being replaced in the 2+2 by a much smoother and quieter, 5-speed, all-synchromesh unit of Lamborghini’s own manufacture. Critically, as well as offering enhanced practicality, the 400 GT 2+2 retained the impressive performance of its antecedents, with 60mph being achieved in 6.8 seconds, en-route to a maximum top speed of some 168mph. Indeed, so impressed were. Autocar. journalists that they were moved to laud it as 'better than all the equivalent exotic and home-bred machinery in this glamorous corner of the fast-car market'.
Extremely close to the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 in terms of price terms (£6,444 vs £6,516), the 400 GT 2+2 remained in production until 1968, by which time some 224 are thought to have been made. However, just 14 of these were reputedly to right-hand drive specification. The car presented here is a 1967 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 and intriguingly, pre-dates the first factory-built, right-hand drive Lamborghini (which was also a 400 GT 2+2), it being chassis #01225 and is one of four examples that the marque's UK concessionaire, Mitchell & Britten, entrusted to Hooper & Co. for conversion from left to right-hand drive configuration.
Indeed, some cite Hooper’s success as an important factor in Lamborghini deciding to follow suit. #01225 was originally registered as SUC 683F and was reputedly supplied new to the renowned engineer, Brian Morgan, the Grandson of the man responsible for constructing the Blackpool Tower and father of F1 and IndyCar powertrain supplier, Paul Morgan (the ‘Mor’ of Ilmor Engineering). Brian was serving as the Managing Director of Benton & Stone at the time. Interestingly, Brian was interviewed by.
Motor Sport. magazine, alongside Earl Howe and Peter Hampton, regarding the pros and cons of owning an Italian thoroughbred for their March 1968 issue, with the publication stating: 'He had been drawn to the Lamborghini because of its sophisticated four-cam V12 engine, which appealed to him as an engineer. He had also heard that Sig. Lamborghini was personally interested in the car manufacturing project and he knew from experience that in such cases a better product was likely.
He has not regretted the choice: the car is used every day for commuting to work in Birmingham and has given no trouble at all. 'Brian Morgan never keeps a car more than three years, a maxim that was difficult to stick to when it came to selling his Bentley Continental R-type. He had never owned a proper GT car and the choice of a Lamborghini was made after consulting enthusiasts like Peter Hampton, Denis Jenkinson and 'Steady' Barker. What he likes about the car it is absolute lack of fussiness; there are no signs that it ever runs rich, even in the worst traffic jams.
This was perhaps what surprised Mr Morgan so much, for he had fully anticipated the exhilarating performance.' Brian Morgan is understood to have sold the 400 GT 2+2 to Derbyshire-based construction magnate Ivan Davis Esq. during 1971. Re-registered as DFG 9 and taken off the road some 11 years later, the Lamborghini shared its lodgings with a Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 plus a variety of Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. Having been purchased by our vendor from the Davis family via a 1998 auction, the 400 GT 2+2 was found to be in exceptionally original condition.
Although the earliest service record on file dates from September 1971 at 6,920 miles, our vendor is extremely confident that the current odometer reading of 28,710 miles (at the time of cataloguing) represents the total covered from new. As well as the exceptionally well preserved interior, the Lamborghini pleasingly retains such fragile details as the original FIAMM stickers on its air cleaners. Examination of the transmission tunnel reveals evidence of where the factory had previously located the handbrake lever (Hooper fabricating a neat cover).
Conscious that DFG 9 was original even down to its windscreen glass, the present owner has enjoyed having it on (essentially) static display as part of his impressive Collection for the past 26 years. Aside from refreshing the tired paintwork via a bare metal respray (some 30 years ago, which was 'done once and done properly') which revealed no trace of major corrosion or accident damage, he has had the Borrani wire wheels refurbished and some minor brightwork improved. As a highly accomplished engineer, including time served at NASA, our vendor has got the fabulous – and original - 'quad cam' V12 running to his satisfaction in addition to renewing the clutch and master cylinder.
Much of the rest of chassis #01225 would be familiar to anyone who helped assemble it at the Sant Agata factory, including its original marque-adorned carpets. A simply superb 1960s GT car, with an enviable history and ownership, this 400 GT represents V12 Italian continent-hopping fast motoring at its finest. Offered at a sensible guide price, it would undoubtedly be welcome at any high profile car event anywhere.
Стоимость
1 449 110 AED
