This 1965 Lamborghini Tractor Used To Be a Workhorse, Now It's a Gem

Ferruccio Lamborghini started building tractors back in 1948 as a rival to Fiat Trattori and Landini. Lamborghini Trattori became part of the SAME (Societa Accomandita Motor Endothermici). The first Carioca tractors were built with engines and differentials from trucks and military vehicles.

But we are dealing with a model that was developed during the early 1960s, while the supercar company Lamborghini Automobile was working intensely on the Miura. In 1965, the 1R tractor was sold for 1.100.000 Lire, while the Miura cost 7.700.000 Lire, which was exactly seven times the price of the agricultural vehicle.

The example that we have here is a restored classic 1R tractor in a factory-correct two-tone color scheme. It is believed to be one of the last 1Rs built back in 1965, the final year of production. Only 365 units were built that year, one for each day of it. It only had two owners in its almost six decades of existence.

The model is one of Italy’s best-selling post-war tractors, and it is one of the reasons that the Lamborghini car company came to life. It was the 1960s when Ferruccio Lamborghini realized that his Ferrari 250GT had the same type of clutch as his tractor. It was the moment when he decided to join the carmaking business.

It had been pretty easy with the tractor manufacturing. It was a time when the Italian government offered generous loans to encourage farmers to buy Italian. So, the 1R was the right tractor coming at the right time. It wasn’t going to be that easy with building supercars, though.

But back to tractors we go. The one that we have right here, a matching-numbers example, was first registered in Italy on February 22, 1965. It went through a thorough restoration in Germany, carried out by the current owner, who bought it from the one who had originally ordered the vehicle from the factory.

The entire procedure was documented with photos. The procedure focused on originality, restoring the existing parts wherever possible, replacing those that really needed replacement.

The Lamborghini lettering is in red, as originally painted. All the badges, the tachometer, and the oil pressure gauge from the factory kept their ground. The tachometer glass, though, is cracked, and the odometer cable is missing. Meanwhile, the original oil pressure gauge got a little bit scratched over the years. But all the faults add the patina of a bygone era.

The vehicle was first fully stripped, the panels were repainted in the correct factory two-tone scheme, with the blue frame and orange hood, seat, and wheels. It also sports factory-correct decals and the original Lamborghini wheels made of steel, which have also been fully refurbished and shod with new tires measuring 4x15 inches at the front and 9.5x24 at the rear.

It sports dual head and tail lights, with the ones at the rear being new. Also new is the rear wing. The next owner will sit in the orange Lamborghini-branded seat and will hold the original three-spoke black Lamborghini steering wheel. The current owner mentions some light scratches that are visible under the hood, but those can only be seen by those who pop it up.

The components of the cooling system were painted in galvanic silver. To make the tractor safer, the braking system was completely overhauled. A new starter motor and a new battery were installed, while all fluids were replaced during the latest service.

The model has barely been used since the restoration was completed. By the way it looks, who would buy it to use it as a workhorse when it looks like a motorized trinket? It would be better suited for being exhibited in a museum or on the front lawn as something to brag about, not for tough agricultural work.

The Lamborghini tractor is powered by a 1.5-liter two-cylinder Lamborghini air-cooled diesel engine that delivers around 24 horsepower. The engine is mated to a three-speed manual gearbox with a two-speed transfer box for high/low range for a total of six speeds.

The later 1R models came with four-speed gearboxes. The top speed of such a tractor has nothing to do with what the Lambo supercars can brag about. It is of only 20 kph (12 mph). The Miura could hit 276 kph (171 mph).

The reliable power unit matched all the capabilities of the tractor. That is why it became Italy’s most popular vehicle of the kind. It was cleverly engineered, yet simple, which meant that it was easy to fix and maintain by owners or local workshops.

The Lamborghini 1R tractor is now listed on Car & Classic with just 4,460 miles (7,177 kilometers) on the clock. It is sold “as seen” without warranty. With two days left to the end of the auction, bidding hit 11,000 euros ($11,796).