1965 Lamborghini 350 GT by Touring

Lamborghini’s inaugural production car, the 350 GT, was the product of some of the best minds in the Italian automotive industry. Its engine was designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, fresh from exiting Ferrari during “the palace revolt,” and its chassis with four-wheel independent suspension engineered by Gian Paolo Dallara, while the bodywork was produced by the renowned Carrozzeria Touring. Unsurprisingly the striking automobile debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show of March 1964 to great acclaim, and it was quickly recognized as an impressive machine in both specifications and appearance—indeed, more rare and more advanced in its specification than many of the famous Ferraris of the period. About 120 examples of the 350 GT were built. It is thought that about 80 of these were delivered with all-aluminum bodywork, built by Touring using its ultra-lightweight Superleggera method of construction. These bodies were costly and time-consuming to construct, with the result being a net loss to Lamborghini and, therefore, a switch to steel bodies on later models. Unsurprisingly these early aluminum-bodied cars have better performance and are, thus, more desirable. Offered here is one of those rare aluminum-bodied 350 GTs and it is believed to have been the only example delivered in this striking combination of hues, Blu Notte over Tabacco leather. Its chassis, engine, and gearbox numbers all match those described on the Lamborghini Certificate of Original Configuration, showing that it remains very much the automobile that it was when delivered in 1965 to its first Italian owner, A. Comiti. The 350 GT reappeared across the Atlantic in 1971, when it was purchased by Steve Nyman of Seattle, Washington. Mr. Nyman would retain the car for 42 years before selling it in 2013 to Richard Molke of New Jersey. Mr. Molke commissioned noted Lamborghini specialist Gary Bobileff of San Diego’s Bobileff Motorcar Company to undertake a complete restoration of the car, including both mechanical components and body, from 2013 through 2016. With the work completed, the 350 GT was shown at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, winning First in Class. In 2017 the Lamborghini was purchased by the present owner, a longtime and devoted collector of fine European performance machines. In his ownership nearly $60,000 was spent in further sorting, including going through the carburetors, ignition, clutch, and power windows in order to bring the car as near as possible to perfection. A later five-speed manual gearbox was installed, for better driveability, while the original numbers-matching gearbox remains apart from the car and will be supplied with it. Also accompanying is the aforementioned Lamborghini Certificate, as well as an original owner’s manual, advertising brochures, a book of restoration photographs, and documentation of the services undertaken for the current owner. This is one of the finest, most beautiful 350 GTs offered in recent memory, a wonderful example of the car that birthed the Lamborghini legend.