How one argument created the never-ending Ferrari Lamborghini supercar rivalry

Ferrari and Lamborghini are two of the premier supercar brands on Planet Earth.

But did you know that one brand actually inspired the origin of the other?

Ferruccio Lamborghini found himself disrespected by the legendary Enzo Ferrari in 1963.

This is the absolutely incredible story of how one argument created the never-ending Ferrari Lamborghini supercar rivalry.

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“Stick to making tractors,” Enzo tells Ferruccio

The story of the now never-ending Ferrari Lamborghini supercar rivalry starts in 1963.

Ferruccio Lamborghini is an incredibly successful (and wealthy) manufacturer.

But he is not – at this point – the crafter of his most famous products.

Instead, Ferruccio is a very successful and well-to-do tractor manufacturer.

In the 1960s, as now, being wealthy meant having access to some of the world’s best cars.

And, of course, being Italian means owning Italy’s premier brand – Ferrari.

Ferruccio owned several of the Italian marque’s cars, but he absolutely hated the clutch systems.

The clutch systems broke so easily that Ferruccio Lamborghini drove to Maranello to complain.

And he knocked on the door of none other than the legendary Enzo Ferrari himself.

Given his prowess as a tractor manufacturer, Lamborghini knew how to make good clutches.

So, instead of simply giving Enzo Ferrari an earful, he actually suggested a solution to try and make his clutches better.

And that is when one of the most famous rejections in modern history was delivered.

“Let me make cars. You stick to making tractors,” is what Enzo Ferrari reportedly told his soon-to-be rival.

The tractor tycoon drove home and was absolutely furious at being humiliated in such a manner.

But this rejection would prove to be a lesson in how not to treat your customers.

Ferruccio fights Ferrari fire with fire; establishes Lamborghini

Instead of plotting some sort of physical revenge, Ferruccio decided on a different path.

He would also enter the sports car industry – and he would beat Enzo at his own game.

They would be faster, they would be more durable – and they would be better in every way.

In just four months, the first facility was built at Sant’Agata.

1964 would see the first Lamborghini road car see the light of day – the 350 GT.

At this point, it’s possible that you might be wondering how Ferruccio was able to build a car from scratch so quickly.

Well, it turns out that Enzo helped with that, too – because he fired five of his best employees.

Five gentlemen had stepped into Enzo’s office in Maranello. Among them was Carlo Chiti, the chief engineer, and legendary development manager Giotto Bizzarrini.

The five were unhappy that Enzo’s wife, Laura, was making important decisions on the factory floor.

Enzo took his wife’s side and fired all five on the spot.

Ferruccio then approached these five former employees, who had founded a design company in Bologna called ATS.

The next two decades would see Lamborghini unveil legendary cars such as the Miura and Countach.

Enzo’s disrespect and dismissal ultimately spawned the legendary supercar rivalry, and he had no idea.