1965 Lamborghini 350 GT

The famous 1961 “Palace Revolt” at Ferrari’s headquarters in Modena resulted in the loss of Giotto Bizzarrini, the mastermind behind the 250 GTO. Ferruccio Lamborghini, who was also unhappy with Ferrari at the time, hired Bizzarrini, along with Gian Paolo Dallara and designer Franco Scaglione, to create an entirely new sports car with the goal of making it the best in the world.

Development began in 1962 and shortly thereafter the one-off 350 GTV prototype was revealed. Transformed into the production 350 GT, it was the star of the 1964 Geneva Motor Show. Its lightweight alloy coachwork was crafted in Touring’s patented Superleggera (Super light) method, and the richly appointed cabin befit an upscale Italian GT. Its Bizzarrini-designed V-12 transmitted power through a ZF five-speed gearbox and engines were dyno-tested for 20 hours before installation. In all, Lamborghini built only approximately 130 examples of the 350 GT until it was succeeded by the 400 GT, which featured steel bodywork, and of which nearly twice as many were produced.

According to original factory records on file, this remarkable example, just the 62nd in the series, was ordered new by a client in Madrid and delivered in Grigio St. Vincent, a medium gray metallic, with a Tobacco pigskin interior. It reportedly remained in Spain for over 40 years in the care of just two owners. In 2009, the 350 GT was sold to Isao Noritake of Aichi, Japan. Noritake is a noted Lamborghini collector, race-team owner, and the chairman of the Japan Lamborghini Owner’s Club, which he co-founded in 1988. Prior to joining his collection, the 350 GT, like many of his purchases, was sent to Lamborghini for servicing. The car was then repainted in Pino Verde (Pine Green) and joined his private museum, where, for a time, it was a stablemate of the GTV prototype. During Mr. Noritake’s ownership, the Lamborghini remained unregistered, and the upholstery, which is believed by the consignor to still be original, was beautifully preserved beneath custom-fitted seat covers.

When the car’s prior owner acquired the 350 GT and brought it to the US in 2015, it was inspected and serviced as necessary and the paint was refinished in the correct color. In 2018, the Lamborghini was purchased by the consignor at Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island sale. A meticulous racer and collector, he had the show-winning firm Steel Wings of Ivyland, Pennsylvania, carry out a mechanical refresh, as he intended to use the car on touring events. This included an engine rebuild and the development and tuning of a specialized fuel-injection system for increased reliability and easier starting. The consignor wanted the engine bay to retain as correct an appearance as possible, and the throttle bodies still resemble the stock carburetor setup.

The mechanical refresh also included work on the car’s suspension, braking, and fuel systems, and the installation of a custom air-conditioning system that reverse-cycles as a heater and was designed to preserve the car’s factory appearance as much as possible. The 350 GT was also ceramic coated, paint protection film was applied in certain areas, and the windshield and rear window glass were covered in transparent sun-protective film, keeping the cockpit cool on hot days. The car’s sensational upholstery was conditioned to prevent drying and the consignor has since added a few thousand highly enjoyable miles, even using it as his daily driver for a time. He also drove it on the 2025 Copperstate 1000 tour, where it performed flawlessly regardless of temperature and altitude.

This 350 GT has had just four known private owners – knowledgeable custodians who sympathetically preserved and refreshed it over the years. Rare, technically advanced, and undeniably stylish, the 350 GT is one of the most outstanding Italian GT cars of the 1960s. The example offered here is an ideal representation of this seminal model – an enduring testament to the vision of Ferruccio Lamborghini.