c. 1962 Lamborghini 1R Tractor

• Two-wheel drive model
• 26 horsepower diesel engine
• Offered from a private collection in Belgium

Long before his name became synonymous with some of the world's most celebrated supercars, Ferruccio Lamborghini established his reputation as a successful manufacturer of agricultural machinery. Built before the foundation of Automobili Lamborghini SpA in 1963, this 1R tractor represents the heritage of Ferruccio Lamborghini's automotive empire.

After serving as a mechanic in the Regia Aeronautica during WW2, Lamborghini set up a small car and motorcycle repair shop near Modena before branching out into the manufacture of tractors using surplus military hardware. By the mid-1950s Lamborghini Trattori SpA had become one of the largest agricultural equipment manufacturers in Italy, a gratifying state of affairs.

Introduced in 1961, the Lamborghini 1R formed part of the company's new generation of agricultural tractors. Powered by Lamborghini's own air-cooled, 1,462cc twin-cylinder FL2 diesel engine producing 26 horsepower, the compact 1R combined straightforward engineering with robust construction and practical agricultural capabilities.

Presently belonging to a Belgian collector, the example offered here bears chassis number '11000' and is fitted with an FL2 engine carrying the corresponding number, '11000'. A two-wheel drive model, it is an interesting example of Lamborghini's early agricultural production. Its matching numerical identification warrants further investigation, particularly in establishing the precise production date and whether the engine remains the one originally fitted at the factory.

An appealing reminder of Ferruccio Lamborghini's entrepreneurial beginnings, the 1R occupies an important place in the history of a marque that would go on to achieve worldwide recognition through its extraordinary sports cars. This beautiful tractor would make a distinctive and welcome addition to any significant collection of classic agricultural machinery, or a unique addition to any Lamborghini collection. Finished in the Lamborghini's classic orange/blue livery, it has the potential to draw crowds, especially when exhibited alongside the most beautiful supercars sharing the marque's famous 'Raging Bull' emblem, such as the legendary Miura and Countach.