| Author | Message | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Junior Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 81 Registered: 12-2002 |
A note on the old story of why Lamborghini started making cars, from an interview with Ferrucio Lamborghini, Supercar Classics, Spring 86: "Lamborghini became a wealthy man, and naturally, started to buy expensive cars. Ferraris and Maseratis appeared in his garage. And Ferrucio would probably have stayed a Ferrari client were it not for the belief that he could make money out of building cars, and were it not for a problem with one of his Ferraris. The car had persistant clutch problems. Eventually, after a number of visits to Maranello, Lamborghini took the car to his tractor factory. He found the Borg and Beck clutch was virtually the same as he was using in his tractors. He also found that Ferrari was charging something like 10 times the usual cost for the bits. He decided to go into the supercar business. The final reason for the fateful decision - and probably the most important - was that Ferrucio Lamborghini just loved to make things. And what could be more glamorous than making supercars?" The article doesn't mention anything about having to cool his heels in the waiting room, or any personal conflict with Enzo. | ||
| Bart McMurry (Mcmurb)
New member Username: Mcmurb Post Number: 23 Registered: 9-2002 |
just because a guy is on television doesn't make him an expert. and just because a guy is wealthy doesn't mean he's smart. but to leno's credit, he does frequently mix it up with the common man at concourse events and is very approachable (genuine guy image). i agree with him on the appeal of the miura though. | ||
| James Angle (Jimangle)
New member Username: Jimangle Post Number: 19 Registered: 9-2002 |
Actually, I thought that Lamborghini decided to make cars because he was dissapointed in the performance of ferrari, and the maintenance. Yesterday, I got stuck in traffic behind a Diablo. Very cool. I need one. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1691 Registered: 9-2001 |
I saw a TV special on Leno and his approximately 80 cars a while back. He keeps most of them in a large warehouse/garage . He has full time mechanic who work for him on his cars. He stated on that program that he bought his first Lambo because he could not afford a Ferrari at the time. He still has that first Lambo. Most of his collection is old American Classic and antiques. He does have a McLaren F1 though. | ||
| Chris Scott (Jcscott)
New member Username: Jcscott Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2002 |
OK, fine Jay. The Lambo v-12 from the 350/400/Islero/Countach was and is a great engine. But the bottom line is how many Lambos sell for 1 million plus(or 200 plus). On the other end, how many good Lambo's can you buy for 30K. The espada was a good car, but the styling was way too buck rogers and looks dated today. | ||
| David C. (Worth_it)
Junior Member Username: Worth_it Post Number: 60 Registered: 10-2002 |
To those who doubt the authenticity of the comment - this came directly from a F Club of America Chapter President - who relayed the story long before this thread - The story came up because we were talking about how bad Lambo is about making changes in parts during production. The parts used can vary greatly between even 10 vin#'s. This is supposedly why Leno was still waiting on the part. I feel like I need to defend the comment, even if it was made last year. As for Leno waiting - maybe he really didn't care since he has plenty of others to choose from. In addition his comments are not directed towards the driving / performance of the cars, just the looks. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion, even Leno. | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 460 Registered: 5-2001 |
If part of owning a Ferrari means you have to go buy all those Ferrari books, then does owning a Lamborghini mean you have to go get all those Countach posters with naked ladies too? Classy. I read somewhere that he never bought a Ferrari mainly because of erroneous histories. For example, he would occasionally come across, say, a good Daytona with 8700 miles on the clock. After a few phone calls to FNA or whomever he would learn the same car had like 78,000 miles in 1978. Of course I am sure all Lamborghinis have accurate milage histories. | ||
| allan fiedler (Allanlambo)
Member Username: Allanlambo Post Number: 291 Registered: 6-2002 |
The waiting on a part story is bullcrap. | ||
| Mark Lambert (Mlambert890)
New member Username: Mlambert890 Post Number: 47 Registered: 4-2002 |
Yeah... Leno is well known for driving *all* of his cars (even the insanely old stuff). I'm not buying the "waiting on a part for a year" story, sorry. There is no way Leno has to wait on anything. Money is no object, people instantly know him, car guys respect and love him AND he hangs around with "regular guys". If the part exists somewhere on earth, he'd get it pretty quickly. | ||
| allan fiedler (Allanlambo)
Member Username: Allanlambo Post Number: 290 Registered: 6-2002 |
Jay actually drives his Lambos very often, even to the set. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 675 Registered: 10-2001 |
No real enthusist like Leno would be happy not showing his cars. He's quite proud of his collection and with good reason. Rest assured he has a thick skin and whatever comments he is alleged to have made aren't going to lose him any sleep. This 'friend of a friend' stuff gets thin by it's very nature. | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 664 Registered: 5-2002 |
Now you know why celebrities must be careful about their circle of associates. There Jay was just talking to a couple of fellow car guys, now those car guys relay his personal comments made inside his own garage to others and those comments are now posted on an international bulletin board. If I was a celebrity, I would also be careful about who I showed my car collection to. | ||
| David C. (Worth_it)
Junior Member Username: Worth_it Post Number: 56 Registered: 10-2002 |
A very active F-club member told me about meeting Jay Leno at a car show in LA a few years ago. Through a mutual friend they had dinner at the same table. He inivited them to his garage to see some of his car and motorcycle collection. ( The garage is actually a hangar at a local airport, maybe Burbank ) When they arrived Jay was by himself at gave them the tour. NOW TO THE POINT: He told them how much he liked certain models but specifically pointed to the Lambo and described how he had been waiting almost a year for a part and how riduculous it was to have it parked for this amount if time waiting for the right piece. ( sorry I don't recall the exact part, but it was nothing like a complete engine or clutch ). No cameras or journalist - just car guys talking and he is complaining about how the car has to sit. Even with his money he can't get the car back on the road. Remember his quotes never talk about what he likes to drive just what he likes to look at - Probably because he can only "look" at his Lambo's. Just my observation. | ||
| Jaime Torres (Chevarri)
New member Username: Chevarri Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2003 |
Im not to sure about the Countach, but I saw a Muira go for like 37k in a classic car catatlog. They are very Cheap for such rare and exotic cars IMO. They are one of the few Lambos I like. | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 446 Registered: 1-2002 |
What did Tiff Needle say 'bout the Countach? Oh, yah, the quote, if I remember was.."..this isn't the worst car I've been in; I have driven a Nissan Micra.." I'll pass on the Countach for an Ferrari anyday, but a Miura? Maybe not. How much are countach's trading for these days? For the money I'm sure you could get something MUCH better. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Intermediate Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2063 Registered: 6-2001 |
Every car is faster in top speed without a wing. The wing on the countach knocked it wayy down though. i remeber reading an old C&D article were it was compared to the TR. The wing makes up for it in grabbing attention. | ||
| Kevin Butler (Challenge)
Junior Member Username: Challenge Post Number: 78 Registered: 9-2002 |
I have a video, 'The Red Road Gods,' that I swear shows Jay Leno wiping down a red F50 at the 1997 50-year Ferrari celebration in Maranello. He must be a closet F-car enthusiast! | ||
| Chris Randazzo (Car)
New member Username: Car Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2003 |
I remember the Countach wing be refered to as the "Hyundai" wing! Also, if memory serves me right, the Countach is actually faster (top speed) without the rear wing.... | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 298 Registered: 9-2002 |
Doody, OMG that is HAILARIOUS! We should call TR clutches Kia clutches  Ken, interesting incite. I was thinking of the Espirts, as I am not too familar of Lotuses (Loti?..here we go again ) of the past. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 698 Registered: 11-2001 |
back in the day, didn't people used to call that countach wing a "hyundai wing" 'cuz the wing cost as much as a hyundai ($5K to $6K at the time?). doody. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 827 Registered: 4-2002 |
Maybe he doesn't like Ferrari because Letterman does? | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1500 Registered: 8-2002 |
No, Mark, i agree that he wasn't putting Ferrari down or anything and i DO like him, he always cracks me up... But enthusiast or not i would much prefer to take my advice from someone who specializes in this sort of thing... | ||
| Mark Lambert (Mlambert890)
New member Username: Mlambert890 Post Number: 45 Registered: 4-2002 |
Jay Leno actually makes about the same as Letterman despite having higher ratings (substantially and consistently higher). Leno is a huge car enthusiast and does all of his own wrenching. You may not like/agree with his opinion, but let's not try to pretend that he is "just some celebrity with a lot of money". He is unlikely to register here, but you can probably run into him at that classic car get-together he attends at that LA diner. His comments were actually complimentary to Ferrari. He said "well maybe not everything" in reference to the Lambo being able to do "everything a Ferrari can". | ||
| Michael Yip (Mightyslash)
Junior Member Username: Mightyslash Post Number: 107 Registered: 4-2002 |
I think Jay Leno sucks too, dont know why he's making so much money. David Letterman is much better | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1489 Registered: 8-2002 |
Jeff, as i no longer have day to day access to a television (Since October), i haven't watched Leno in a while- even before that, i rarely had a chance to watch him... i used to watch him religiously and thought he was pretty funny most nights... Maybe he's taking a dive... Same thing with Dennis Miller- most nights, he was pretty funny- maybe not any more. | ||
| pete (Pete_peter)
New member Username: Pete_peter Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2002 |
I love the Countach...one of the sexiest cars ever made. Period. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 674 Registered: 10-2001 |
According to Colin Chapman, the plurel of "Lotus" is "Lotus" but hardly anyone else seems to find that elegant. I say 'Lotuses'; and as an interesting note on wings, Europas don't need them. The headlight buckets create downforce in the front over 100 MPH and keeps it from getting too light, as people who have put headlight covers discover when they find the car won't turn well at these speeds. | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Junior Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 74 Registered: 12-2002 |
DES: You think Jay Leno is hilarious? He is SO predictable, you can picture him sitting with his writers saying, "Come on guys, can we milk just ONE more stupid joke out of (whatever). We've only done this same joke every night for the last month." He was funny many years ago, he SUCKS now. Big time. So does Dennis Miller. Did anyone ask for my opinion? | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1477 Registered: 8-2002 |
Ok, Omar, now i see what you're saying- i thought you were saying there was joke in what you were saying, not what you had said- make sense...? LOL... We have words like that in the english language, as well- of Latin origin, of course... But now i see what you're saying... Thank you for the clarification... | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Junior Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 73 Registered: 12-2002 |
This sounds like the scene in "Life of Brian"! Romani, ite domum. Now write it out a hundred times, and if it isn't done by sunrise, I'll cut your balls off!! | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 295 Registered: 9-2002 |
Its been years, but if I remember correctly, the nomintive plural ending on 2nd declention (masculine) nouns in latin was 'i'. So boy (Peur or was it Puer?) would get a i and the end and become Pueri/Peuri. Many of nouns of the second declention ended in 'us' like slave (Servus) For these nouns, the 'us' would change when the ___ changed from nomnitive to dative/ablitive/accusitive/etc (i forget what they are called..tense maybe?) sooooo nouns eding in 'us' of the 2nd declention would get a 'i' ending for the nomnitive plural...thus, Servus (nom sing.) would be Servi (nom. pl.) ...yes my spellings are wayyy off...but get it? | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1473 Registered: 8-2002 |
LOL, seems as though i'm the butt of the joke...! No, Omar, i'm sorry, i don't get it... If you could explain it to me, i would appreciate it... Thank you... | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 290 Registered: 9-2002 |
Des its a old latin joke. Servus - Servi if I remember back to 8th grade..so Lexus - Lexi and Lotus - Loti Get it? | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1468 Registered: 8-2002 |
Omar... Plurally, Lotus is pronounced as you have it: 'Lotuses'... Loti (pronounced: Lo-tee) is a monetary unit of some sort, of which country, i'm not sure... | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 288 Registered: 9-2002 |
Horsefly, a number of production Lotuses(Loti?) need wings for high speed (think well in excess of 100 mph) stability, ask Allan. The same is true on the NSX. But yes, most cars don't need them at all. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1463 Registered: 8-2002 |
Ok... (you guys knew i would chime in sooner or later, right...? ) If i wrote this article or posted it just as a post or someone else did, we wouldn't take it so much, to heart... i think that this received so much attention merely because a celebrity said it... Sure, he's a big enthusiast- i like Leno, i think he's hilarious- but i'd ask Mr. Ausbrooks for his opinion before i asked Leno... Like Tom said, this isn't some big enlightenment... When Jay registers on FerrariChat (or LamborghiniChat- hee hee) and starts spouting forth information like the geniuses here, then i'll consider taking his advice on cars... For now, i'll just settle for his jokes... P.S. James, that's a helluva story... | ||
| Jean-Louis (Jlm348)
Junior Member Username: Jlm348 Post Number: 66 Registered: 11-2002 |
I love the wing. Is the car a 88 1/2 or an 89 non anniversary. If it is an 89 Non-anniverary it is a very rare car. | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 657 Registered: 5-2002 |
Does that "wing" on the Countach really do anything? Sure, on race cars it provides downforce. But does it actually provide downforce on the production cars? With all the gaudy, tacky, Japanese cars buzzing around these days, that wing sure makes a Lambo look kind of trashy. | ||
| Jeff Edison (Euro308guy)
Junior Member Username: Euro308guy Post Number: 184 Registered: 7-2002 |
Not to "drift" the subject, but, I've got a close friend here in Memphis, who drives a Lambo. 1989 Countach. Cool car actually. I assisted in the removal and re-installation of the drive train to change the clutch. Big job. I really enjoyed it though. It shed some light on the differences in design philosophy. As a reward for my assistence I got to keep the car for a while. I drove it for a few trips out. Fun really. I recommend it. The Italian feel, but "different"  | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 664 Registered: 11-2002 |
>>>You know how Mr. Ferrari could get when someone criticised one of his cars.<< James, Oh yes, Mr. Lamborghini also. I'm sure there were heated words behind the scenes...;-)..two Hot Tempered Italian, Wealthy, Powerful Industrialts likely had quite an exchange. Both deserve all the credit they can get for becoming World Automotive Icons. We see it here, just the mention of the names & models evoke passionate dialogue and arguments. I love both, although the Brutality of my Miura harkens to bygone days where comfort wasn't even the slightest consideration. Just the power and noise of road ripping thrills were all that mattered. | ||
| Racer 001 (Mr_0011)
Member Username: Mr_0011 Post Number: 460 Registered: 3-2002 |
It's his opinion... good for him. | ||
| Nebula Class (Nebulaclass)
Junior Member Username: Nebulaclass Post Number: 151 Registered: 11-2002 |
So the man likes Lambos...because he saw one on the cover or R&T when he was a kid. When I was a kid, I saw an F40 on the cover of R&T, and from that moment on, the Countach was nothing to me. Does that make F-cars better? Opinions are like assh*les....everyone's got one, and they stink. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 370 Registered: 10-2002 |
JRV You know how Mr. Ferrari could get when someone criticised one of his cars. I once had a similar experience. One day at WWOC a customer was complaining to Alberto that as his clutch had burned out after only 3000 miles. "Ferrari's obviously didn't have very good clutches." He said. Alberto turned the same shade of purple that Mr.Ferrari probably turned on occasion pointed at me who happened to be standing nearby and said: "See that man? His Ferrari has 85,000 miles on it and he's never changed his clutch. People like you don't deserve Ferrrari's. Tow yours out of here." | ||
| Debbie (Dilly)
Junior Member Username: Dilly Post Number: 103 Registered: 9-2001 |
I had the opportunity to meet Jay Leno several years ago at a Lamborghini event and asked him why he was not more interested in Ferraris. He told me that when he started to collect cars Lambos were cheaper to buy. He is a very nice guy and was called upon to MC the club dinner that night. As you might guess, he did a great job. | ||
| Andrew Menasce (Amenasce)
Member Username: Amenasce Post Number: 495 Registered: 10-2001 |
He likes lambos and yet he doesnt own a Miura SV ?? Oh well he wear white socks .. | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 663 Registered: 11-2002 |
>>"He went to Ferrari to buy a car, and he wanted it the way he wanted it. Mr. Ferrari said no, you'll take the car the way we build it.<< Wayne, yes Jay paraphrased the 'real story' but that's essentialy what happened. Ferucio's Ferrari was 3 months late being delivered and broke down on one of his first outings, inciteing Lamborghini to set about building better, faster, more Exotic Cars. | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 662 Registered: 11-2002 |
Yea I agree with Jay. I think the savvy guys here with bucks should start carefully considering Lamborghini's before the market takes off. Like Jay says, $15K for an Espada is a steal, and many other used models are Way Undervalued. But it's just a matter of time before Lambo prices take a Big Jump. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 678 Registered: 8-2002 |
"He went to Ferrari to buy a car, and he wanted it the way he wanted it. Mr. Ferrari said no, you'll take the car the way we build it. Mr. Lamborghini was so insulted he went off and started the Lamborghini car company just so he could build sports cars the way he wanted them--and hopefully put a dent in Ferrari sales." Pure folklore. Some expert! | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 2403 Registered: 9-2001 |
not really a big enlightenment - he likes the underdog and less books - not like he has some huge tech argument or style argument - in the end every one is entitled to their opinion and to spend their money accordingly | ||
| Warren L. (Warren)
Junior Member Username: Warren Post Number: 141 Registered: 2-2002 |
Below, please find an article by Leno himself describing why he thinks Lambos are better than F-s. In the beginning of the article he states that Mclarens are the best cars, much better than Lambos [I did not include this part in the excerpt below]. Anyways, as we all know, Leno is an expert on the automobile SO... it is disheartening that he would say that L-s are better than F-s because I trust his auto knowledge. What do you guys think? Excerpt from an article written by Jay Leno: ...I like Lamborghinis, especially Miuras, more than Ferraris because of the reason the company started in the first place. Mr. Lamborghini manufactured tractors in Italy and was very wealthy. He went to Ferrari to buy a car, and he wanted it the way he wanted it. Mr. Ferrari said no, you'll take the car the way we build it. Mr. Lamborghini was so insulted he went off and started the Lamborghini car company just so he could build sports cars the way he wanted them--and hopefully put a dent in Ferrari sales. I remember when I was 16, sitting in math class reading a copy of Road & Trackwith a Miura on the cover. People were still driving boxy old '55 Buicks and DeSotos. The visual impact of the Miura was incredible. Nothing looked like it, not even a Ferrari. Actually, the main reason I don't like Ferraris is that I don't have a place to put all those Ferrari books. You know if you own a Ferrari, you have to collect all the books. And there's gotta be a million of 'em. Later, on the used car market, Lamborghinis were (relatively) cheap alternatives. They could do almost anything a Ferrari could do. Well maybe not everything. I know that statement will start some arguments. Remember, I always tend to like the underdog. I have a Miura and a Miura S, an Espada and a Countach. And think about the Espada: It's got four cams, six carburetors, room for four adults and it'll go 150. Where else would you get that kind of technology for 15 grand? |