Some of the biggest brands today are products of hard work of people who started at the very bottom. As a matter of fact, the car manufacturing industry might just have some of the best rags to riches story. Though a lot of people may not care about the backstory, a lot of the car brands that saturate the market today have built their reputation from the ground up - Lamborghini is no exception.
It was in the spring of 1916 when Ferrucio Lamborghini decided he wanted to make tractors after World War II. But this hardworking guy didn't stop at that. He ventured into other merchandise including heating and air conditioning systems. It didn't take long before he grew rich, bought his own Ferrari, and decided he could make something that could rival it.
After establishing Automobili Lamborghini in 1963, the company has been making achievements that set a concrete name for them. Here are just some of the greatest cars that helped make the brand what it is today and one that it can do without.
10 Greatest: Lamborghini Diablo
Bearing the classic wedge-shaped characteristic of pretty cars back then, the Lambo Diablo is probably one of the most insane cars of the '90s. Even if many didn't have the money to buy it, the poster version is enough to adorn every big boy's room.
This dream car served as Lamborghini's flagship vehicle for a good couple of years. There were also different variants made available. It's a good thing the Diablo ended up with the classic feature we're all thankful for - pop-up headlights. The Diablo is also the lats model that the company produced before it became part of the Volkswagen group.
9 Greatest: Lamborghini Espada S2
If it were made today, the Espada S2 would have been a rare Lambo to see due to its four-person capacity. But back then, it was actually a production model completely based off another four-seater concept, the Lamborghini Marzal.
The Espada was made in three series with the Series 2 bearing a 3.9L V12 under the hood. This gave it up to 345 hp and made it sprint 0 to 60 in 7.8 seconds - making the S2 the most powerful in the group. There have only been 575 Espada S2s made and one can be bought online if you have the moolah for it.
8 Greatest: Lamborghini Countach
Regardless of how good it actually was, the Countach will always count itself not just among the greatest Lamborghini cars ever, but the most iconic cars in general. It's a car that decorated the wall of every teenager in the '80s, and for some, represents that automotive era as a whole.
It was also one of the first and most insane supercars ever made, featuring a 4-liter V12 producing 455 horsepower. Regardless of how unreliable, uncomfortable, or loud it was, the Countach was a supercar icon then as well as now.
7 Greatest: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera
This modern beauty from the famed Italian manufacturer is not only a good-looking ride. Thanks to its styling and power-focused design, the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera also made it into Need for Speed and got players wishing they could drive it.
With its 5.2L V10 engine, the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera is granted 562 hp and 398 lb.-ft of torque. This makes this iconic Gallardo go from a standstill to 60 mph in only 3 seconds. With its smooth performance and a top speed of 203 mph, it's no wonder it's one of Lamborghini's best-selling cars.
6 Greatest: Lamborghini Miura P400
The Lamborghini Miura is on the list for two good reasons. First, because it was Lamborghini's first contribution to the supercar community. The second is that the Miura is considered as the very first car made under that category.
It bore not only the Italian charm that the American market is craving for. It also had a powerful V12 engine seated in the middle of the car that gave it as much as 350 hp. This makes it possible for the Miura P400 to go from 0 to 60 mph in a good 5.2-second record.
5 Greatest: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento
The Sesto Elemento is a mesmerizing and improved track-only version of the Gallardo that will make any car enthusiast weak in the knees. Its name means the "sixth element" in Italian and is fitted with tons of carbon, which happens to be the sixth element if you check the periodic table of elements.
The lightweight material is mated with a 5.2L V10 engine to churn out 570 horsepower and 397 lb-ft of torque. With an acceleration of 0 to 60 in only 2.4 seconds, the Sesto Elemento is one of Lamborghini's fastest cars.
4 Greatest: Lamborghini Urraco P300
If we're talking about the greatest cars from Lamborghini, we'd have to go back all the way to 1973. This was when one of the forgotten Lambos, the Urraco, was first introduced to the world.
This 2+2 coupe was once a secondary option if you didn't want to spend on Lamborghini's then flagship car, the Countach. The Urraco made headlines as the brand's first V8 engine-equipped car. It was later upgraded from a 2.0L to a 3.0L - giving the Uracco 247 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. There are only 190 P300s out of the 780 Uraccos made and the Sultan of Brunei has one of them.
3 Greatest: Lamborghini Urus
Lamborghini is known for its supercars. So for them to make an SUV is something that can cause people to raise an eyebrow. However, the Urus certainly didn't fail expectations and even sold over 10,000 units.
The extravagant SUV looked like a cross of functionality and style with power added into the recipe. With a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 power mill, you can count on the Urus to pour out a crazy 641 hp and 850 Nm of torque. This lets the Urus swiftly sprint 60 mph from a standstill in only 3.6 seconds.
2 Greatest: Lamborghini LM002
Although Lamborghini's claim to the LM002 "paving the way for off-road vehicles" was a bit too much, the LM002 was actually a pretty good choice for off-roading adventures.
People saw the design as "odd" back in the day and even now, it can still look a little out of place. But this off-roading Lambo actually packs a punch thanks to the 5.2L V12 under its hood. Running with 455 hp and 369lb-ft of torque, one can expect the LM002 to climb grades up to 120%.
1 Terrible: Lamborghini Jalpa 2.0
Being a Jalpa in a fleet of beautiful and high-performance Lambos must be tough. You're not only recognized as one of the more affordable options but also one of the less exciting ones to drive.
Who knew that even with its good looks, the Jalpa would turn out to be such a flop. But for something developed under the company's financially troubled days, it would be understandable. The styling would have been better on a car that actually performed well which is why it's a good thing that the Jalpa was later fitted with a 3.5L V8.