Lamborghini built its cars alongside its reputation without missing the mark. It’s among the automakers whose niche and target market was distinct and well established from the beginning. Their focus was on luxury cars with a sporty feel and touch. It was also clear from the beginning that they would be exclusive, expensive, and targeting a particular economic class. The company has lived to its philosophy, adding lots of sophistication with each model. This continues today, even after becoming part of the larger Volkswagen family and, more specifically, under Audi.
Interestingly, in comparison to some of its contemporaries, Lamborghini’s history is relatively youthful. Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the company in 1963. What many people don’t know that Lamborghini had greater experience building tractors since1947. The tractor company was known as Lamborghini Trattori.
In line with its unconventional approach to car making, Lamborghini didn’t participate in car racing until recently. They considered it a waste of resources. However, this has changed and the company now fields teams to competitive races.
From the company’s experience with constructing farm machinery, Lamborghini's first SUV, the LM002 became quite a spectacular machine, combining off-road capabilities, speed, luxury, and comfort. But the LM002 isn’t the only little-known car that the company had made.
10 Lamborghini Espada
The Espada is among the Lambos that made a significant difference in the company’s lineup in the late 1960s. By all means, this four-seater had to make an impact if any success was to realized. It was among the first three nameplates the company built in its formative years, the others being the Islero and the Miura.
Unveiled at the 1968 Geneva Auto Show, the Espada reigned for years. It received a series of modifications over time. Its power came from a four-liter V12 engine that produced 325 hp. The Espada became a huge success for the company, selling 1,227 units in this period.
9 Lamborghini Countach LP400 "Periscopio"
The coming of the Lamborghini Countach in 1974 is widely considered a game-changer in the world of supercars. RM Sothebys says that with its outrageous appearance, the Countach “ shunned user-friendliness in favor of sheer shock and awe.” Whereas all Lamborghinis are striking, the Countach was by design and performance a departure from the past and birth of a new class.
"Periscopio" is Italian for “periscope.” It comes from the small mirror that appears on the roof of the Countach and gives the driver a better view of the rear. This mirror placement was dropped during production, although the name never went away. In line with Lamborghini’s exclusivity, a few variations were built, such as the LP400 S, the LP500S, and the Turbo S. In total, slightly more than 2000 Lamborghinis were built.
8 Lamborghini Islero
The Islero was first showcased at the 1968 Geneva Auto Show. Among its very enticing features were the hidden pop-up headlights, a first for the company. The naming follows Lamborghini’s dalliance with bull breeds, just like the Miura and the Espada.
This grand tourer was made to seat four persons. Although its styling wasn’t as vivid and exceptional as the Espada alongside which it was introduced, it still managed to captivate the masses. The Islero is powered by the 4.0-liter V-12 engine that had now become the top option for nearly all Lamborghinis of this season.
7 Lamborghini Jarama
This is certainly one of the little-known Lambos in its lineage. The Lamborgini Jarama was built for six years from 1970. It was a well-endowed replacement for the Lamborghini Islero. The Islero had been built for the American market, and the Jarama was expected to fit in the same rather demanding space. It’s named after a river in Spain.
The Jarama packed a front-mounted 4-liter V12 engine. There were GT and GTS versions built to produce 365 hp. Part of this car’s heritage is being the last to carry a front-mounted engine, which would only be seen much later in the LM002 and the Urus SUVs.
6 Lamborghini Urraco
Lamborghini's fantasy of naming cars around the bull culture continues with the Urraco. This name translates to “little bull” in English and the Urraco is a bull in its own skin. The 1970 Turin Motor Show was the platform of choice to announce the Urraco to the world and this sharp-wedged 2+2 sports car would remain in production until 1979.
For some reason, this car didn’t get as much attention as other Lamborgini models. Possibly because there were a few amazing cars from the automaker that were incredibly unique and powerful. Only about 800 of them were built and benefited from the new 2.5-liter V8 mid-mounted engine.
5 Lamborghini LM002
We’ve probably mentioned the LM002 several times and you couldn’t wait to get to it. It's time to check it out.
The LM002 was a Lamborghini's breakout from tradition to build a truck. Coming in 1986, it was an idea that was long overdue. Back in 1977, the company had built a prototype truck codenamed “Cheetah ” hoping to attract the military market, as well as the oil and exploration industry. After lots of trial and error over the years, the final version dubbed the Rambo-Lambo appeared at the Brussels Auto Show in 1986.
It’s the absolute off-road machine by looks, design, and power. Weighing no less than 6000 pounds, the LM002 is powered by a 5.2-liter V12 engine generation of around 444. In their 1987 issue, Car and Driver remarked that ”Never before in recent memory have we driven a vehicle that has turned as many heads, blown as many minds, freaked as many citizens, or been as much insane.” This is no doubt a well-deserved validation of one of the most unconventional trucks ever.
4 Lamborghini Jalpa
Ever heard of the Lamborghini Jalpa? It was yet another attempt by Lamborghini to make a less expensive Lamborghini…or let’s just say an affordable one. Only 410 were made and production ceased as sales went south.
It made its maiden entry at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show carrying a 3.5-liter DOHC V8 engine producing 255 hp. Mated to Ferrari’s 308 shift manual transmission, the Jalpa was capable of a 0-60 mph sprint within six seconds. The top speed was capped at 155 mph.
3 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento
The Sesto Elemento is among the company's most outstanding cars. Sesto Elemento directly translates to the sixth element. Lambo’s recent efforts to continue its heritage of uniqueness and standing out from the crowd are well enhanced herein.
The name is derived from the sixth element of the Periodic Table-carbon- and this goes on to describe how extensively this element is used all along. The car that weighs only 2200 pounds is described by Lamborghini as “a car born for the sole purpose of generating indescribable driving emotions, but only on the track, far from the roads.” This is a befitting description for the car that takes about 2.5 secs to sprint from 0 to 60 mph. Only 20 units of the track-only car were produced, all of which were sold out by the time of production.
2 Lamborghini 350 GT
This ought to have been the beginning of our list, given that the Lamborghini 350 GT was the first car that the company produced in 1964 and 1966. Within these two years, the company found a way to amuse the market and fill its niche.
The company first presented it with a prototype dubbed the 350 GTV at the 1963 Turin Auto Show. It was gifted the 3.5-liter V-12 engine mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission. The 350GT was capable of pulling 280 hp and took about 6.8 secs to 60 mph. About 120 GTs were produced before being replaced by the 400 GT in 1966 which carried a larger engine.
1 Lamborghini Diablo
The Lamborghini Diablo is certainly part of the company’s most famous cars. Built between 1990 and 2001, this car showcased the company’s dalliance with speed as it became the first Lambo to achieve a 200-mph top speed. It ushered in a new era for the company and became “the epitome of Lamborghini’s crazy philosophy of infusing a car with as much character as if it were a living being,” as one reviewer observed in the Topspeed magazine.
For a car whose name 'Diablo' is Spanish for devil. Besides its speed and a continuation of the wedge theme, it became the second-longest produced car by Lambo, clocking 11 years of production. The Countach held a 16-year record, the longest. The Diablo’s powerplant was fed from a 5.7-liter V12 engine that produced 492 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. Through a five-speed manual, the power went to the rear wheels and sent the Diablo from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, quite a commendable feat at the time.