Vehicle Description
Year 1965
Make Lamborghini
Model 350GT
Completed December 1964
Chassis No. 0343
Engine No. 0274
Gearbox No. 220
Steering Box No. 368726
Final Drive Ratio 47/11 (4.27:1)
Production Sequence No. 62 of 120
Coachbuilder Carrozzoria Touring of Milan
Body No. 18035
Paint Code No. P21385
Interior Code No. F69110
Exterior Color Grigio Saint Vincent (Grey)
Interior Color Tobacco Full Leather
Registration M589925
Mileage 97,195 kilometers
Options:
-Multi Band Radio, Amplifier and Dual Speakers
-Power Windows
-Marchal Key-Operated Battery Disconnect Switch
-Seat Belts (Left & Right)
Background:
The Lamborghini 350 GT was the first production vehicle produced by
Lamborghini. The very first examples were completed in May of 1964
not long after a well-received debut at that year's March Geneva
Auto Salon Show. Many orders were taken for subsequent examples and
the success ensured the company's survival, establishing it as a
viable competitor with nearby neighbor and rival Ferrari.
The manufacture of the bodies was entrusted to Carrozzeria Touring
of Milan, who used their patented Superleggera method of
construction to fix aluminium alloy panels directly to a tubular
structure. The first 350 GT frame was fabricated by Neri and
Bonacini, who continued to act as Lamborghini's chassis supplier
until production of the 350 GT was well underway at which point the
job was turned over to Marchesi. Chassis and bodies were mated at
Touring, which then delivered the complete assemblies, including
bumpers already fitted in place to the Lamborghini factory. 350GTs
could be ordered in a variety of colors but options were otherwise
very limited. When leaving the factory the 350GT originally carried
Pirelli Cinturato 205VR15 tires. No other tire manufacturer was
used on the 350GTs.
The first 350GT chassis/body, delivered to the Lamborghini factory
on March 9, 1964, was Production No. 101 (Touring Body No. 17001).
That same month 101 debuted at the Geneva show. The first customer
delivery (consegnato) of a 350GT was Production No. 104 (Touring
Body No. 17004), delivered on July 31, 1964.
Lamborghini produced just 120 350GT models with the last being
completed in Mid 1966. The replacement was given a variety of
improvements and refinements in several stages, most noticeably in
the use of a longer wheels base and larger body in order to fit a
small set of rear seats to the original design. The new 400GT also
featured a larger 4.0-Liter engine and it was a far more profitable
venture for Lambrorghini with more than twice as many being built.
Time however has proven the original, earlier design to be the
favorite and most coveted of the series by a large number.
1965 Lamborghini 350GT, Chassis No. 0343:
This is an original first production year "alloy-bodied"
Lamborghini 350GT... the rarest and most coveted of the early
Lamborghini's ever built! This particular 350GT was sequentially
the 62nd of only 120 examples completed. Production began in May of
1964 with the final examples being completed in early 1966 when
production of the all alloy-bodied, short-chassis 350GT model came
to an end. The replacement model was a an interim model that now
used the designation 400GT. That too was soon replaced by the all
steel-bodied, production oriented, long wheel-base 400GT.
Chassis No. 0343 was completed on Carrozzeria Touring Job and Body
number 18035 as a standard specification 350GT. The various sub
assemblies that would comprise and be fitted to this vehicle were
assigned the following individual stamped identity numbers and
carry the associated casting and completion date codes:
Engine No. 0274 (Casting Date Code June 1965)
Gearbox No. 220 (Casting Date Code October 1964)
Steering Box No. 368726 (Casting Date Code March 11th, 1964 /
Completion Date Code July 1964)
Final Drive Ratio 47/11 (4.27:1) (Casting Date Code July 1965)
The Carrozzeria Paint and Trim tag indicates that the original
exterior color of this vehicle was code P21385 (Grigio Saint
Vincent) which is a very pleasant shade of grey with an ever so
slight hint of a metallic effect. The interior was finished in full
"Pig Skin" Leather, code 69110 or Tobacco Tan. From the Lamborghini
Records and individual component casting code and assembly codes it
is apparent that this Lamborghini spent nearly a year being
assembled. The various subassemblies that would comprise this and
likely the other 120 original 350GTs completed took quite a bit of
time to be gathered and production was hardly linear or without
constant delays. Chassis 0343's oldest individual component is the
ZF steering box which was cast on March 11th, 1964 and assembled in
July of the same year. The latest date coded item is the rear axle
assembly which was completed in July of 1965.
The original order for this 350GT was placed by a Spanish client
from Madrid, Spain. His order requested the car be finished in grey
with contrasting "tobacco" full leather interior. Four options were
also specified, a multi-band radio, amplifier and dual speakers as
well as seat-belts, a Marchal key-operated battery disconnect
switch and a left side electrically operated power window lift.
Completion of 0343 which began in the late Spring of 1964 took more
than a year to complete. In January of 1966 it was first road
tested but additional work meant that final completion and delivery
did not take place until April of 1966. This Lamborghini was
delivered at the Factory and driven by the new owner to his home in
Madrid, Spain. It was registered at that time for the first time on
Madrid plates "M589925." It would remain in Madrid on these plates
during the careful and conservative ownership of two different
sympathetic owners over the next 44 years until being sold in 2009
to a Japanese Private Museum Collection from which we purchased it
late in 2015.
In 2004, the car's second owner decided that the original grey
exterior paint was beyond saving and agreed to have the car
disassembled and stripped for a full repaint, this time to a dark,
slight metallic green. The interior and all other aspects of the
vehicle were carefully preserved due to their pristine original
condition.
This Lamborghini's third owner was Japan's most famous Lamorghini
collector and enthusiast, Mr. Isao Noritake of Aichi, Japan.
Noritake San is the world-wide renown and respected chairman of the
Japan Lamborghini Owner's Club for which he was instrumental in
founding in 1988. He is also the team president of the JLOC race
team, a privately run professional racing team that with direct
Factory support has been successfully racing various Lamborghinis
for the past two decades. Noritake San selected this particular
350GT to join his growing collection as it was a completely
original, un-molested example with no signs of rust or accident
damage ever. Most importantly it was an all "matching numbers"
vehicle and at the time represented the finest original example he
could locate to join his museum collection.
This 350GT remained stored and un-driven with Noritake and was
never road-registered during his ownership. It remained still on
the original Madrid, Spain plates he purchased it on until our
purchase. From 2009 until this year, the vehicle was placed on
display in his private museum collection and never driven. The only
mileage added was during services and maintenance procedures in
order to ensure all was in good order at all times.
O...for more information please contact the seller.
