A Fast Italian Hits 40; Ferruccio Lamborghini would be amazed and pleased at what has become of his company.

Byline: MATT DAVIS

From tractors, converted World War II vehicles, boilers and air conditioners sprouted the enterprising genius that is Automobili Lamborghini. In point of fact, Ferruccio Lamborghini was one of few in this business as tenacious as Enzo Ferrari and it was Ferrari's apparently bad after-sale care that contributed to the creation of Lamborghini cars.

Lamborghini owned several Ferraris and reportedly hated their drivetrain noise. He asked for a moment in private with Ferrari to discuss all this and was kindly refused. Fine, he said, I'll build my own damn V12 GTs. Lucky for us, he did.

Thus-in shortened form- is the tale of how in late 1962 was born the idea to lift the Lamborghini brand name from those tractors and put it on an exotic sports car. The first such car was the 1963 350 GTV with an engine by Giotto Bizzarrini, chassis by Neri and Bonacini of Modena, and body design by Franco Scaglione. The GTV never got beyond the prototype. Production began with the 350 GT of 1964 (3464 cc) and the subsequent 400 GT (3929 cc) with bodies by Touring. Many consider these latter two the best-looking Lambos ever built.

After strolling among a gathering of 40 years' worth, we'd humbly have to include the 350 GTS, all Miura variations, the Islero, later Countaches, the apocalyptic LM super off-roaders, most Diablos, Murcielago and Gallardo. A truly wild entourage, and for the first time-on the occasion of Lambo's 40th anniversary held in May at the factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese-all on view together for us to drool on or near. There were 250 of 'em, and a host of activities and revelations besides.

There was the inauguration of the Lamborghini Registry. Then we were feted in the unfinished addition to the factory that will house a much expanded restoration workshop (Centro di Restauro), the new in-house design center (Centro Stile Lamborghini) under Luc Donckerwolke, a modern customer service facility that would make Ferruccio proud, and an employee/dealer/ mechanic training center.

Head of all after-sale activity is Giorgio Gamberini, and with a certain pride he told us, "We have the original forms to produce authentic replacement parts all the way back to the 350 GT. Maranello can't say the same for its 1964 models.''