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He left this morning Eng. Paolo Stanzani

Wednesday, January 18, 2017 has unfortunately failed, in Bologna, Ing. Paolo Stanzani. Man and trusted technician Cav. Ferruccio Lamborghini, Ing. Paolo Stanzani was also the father of all the Lamborghini history, the 1963-74 period, when, after the release of the founder, has also left the company from Sant’Agata Bolognese. Later it was also the protagonist of many other adventures, such as in the 80’s working with the Scuderia Italy, Italian F1 team Beppe Lucchini; or even early 90s, adventure Bugatti in Campogalliano. Great supporter and sympathizer “Menu dei Motori”, we want to remember him, with this exclusive video, in a delel typical evenings of inauguration, when she would be glad to tell episodes of his formidable career, all within the ” Modena planet. ”
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, WITH ON A VIDEO OF TESTIMONIALS DELL’ING. STANZANI, RIGHT ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF “MENU DEI MOTORI” (2003)
We want to remember him, with the last witness, published on the # 20 of “Menu dei Motori”, which tells how the Cav. Ferruccio Lamborghini founded Automobili Lamborghini in Sant’Agata Bolognese, back in 1963.

By Eng. Paolo Stanzani

Ferruccio: The Inventor of Supercars

On the occasion of the Centenary of the birth of Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916-2016), Mr. Paolo Stanzani, one of his first engineers and a man Ferruccio trusted who later became also a Manager of his Company, tells us about his first contact with Ferruccio Lamborghini and how the company – famous throughout the world for its inimitable supercars – that bears his name was established.

Ferruccio Lamborghini chose Sant’Agata Bolognese as his car manufacturing company’s headquarters mainly not for sentimental reasons but for a specific utilitarian choice. First because in those days Sant’Agata was a depressed area, so there were financial advantages for those who started a business there. Second, because the area was fairly close to Modena, therefore a good region because its proximity to Modena helped recruiting skilled engineers and workers specialised in the construction of supercars, who would work in Sant’Agata. The third reason was related to suppliers, i.e. all businesses in the automotive industry around Sant’Agata (again from Modena and surroundings). Therefore, the choice of Lamborghini was oriented essentially by practical reasons. The choice of the location in the province of Bologna (instead of Modena) was also oriented by practical reasons, because the other two companies owned by Lamborghini, including the manufacturer of agricultural vehicles, were located in the province of Ferrara, i.e. around the area of Bologna.
Speaking about Lamborghini, we must dispel some myths and legends related to Ferruccio Lamborghini, i.e. we should mention some of the highlights of his life. According to a legend, Ferruccio Lamborghini began manufacturing cars when Enzo Ferrari refused to meet him to discuss problems related to a car produced by Ferrari. This story is basically a legend, as the real story is however quite different.
The story of the dispute between Ferrari and Lamborghini was told by Ferruccio himself, because basically also Ferruccio, like many other great characters, knew when to act. The truth is this: Lamborghini had two Ferraris, a 250 GT and a 400. One of the weak points of those cars was the fragility of the clutch, mainly because of the materials and the complexity of the use of those cars. For these reasons, Ferruccio Lamborghini often went to Modena, because he had to replace the clutch and often complained of repair and maintenance costs. The staff of the experience department of his company that manufactured tractors suggested him to buy clutches directly from Ferrari and to be then installed by his employees (“Sir, you buy the clutches, give them to us, and we will replace them in your car”).
Ferruccio followed the suggestion and handed the clutches directly to the experience department of tractors, and the chief mechanic, Roberto Frignani, discovered that the clutch he bought in Maranello was the same procured by the experience department of Lamborghini Trattori: a BORG & BECK. In those days, there were two types of clutch including the aforementioned type, which was mounted on the majority of engines (“Sir, this is the same clutch that we install on tractors, it’s a BORG & BECK”).
The problem was actually very different, namely that for Lamborghini’s company that manufactured tractors, purchasing that clutch was much cheaper (one sixth/seventh of the price) than the amount paid by Lamborghini to replace clutches for his Ferraris. Ferruccio Lamborghini then realized that it was more profitable to make luxury cars instead of tractors; it was a business reason that led him to the idea of manufacturing sports cars.
Ferruccio Lamborghini was a simple man. He ate at the factory’s cafeteria and always paid his meals. He did not interfere in anything. On the production of new cars, he observed when prototypes were ready for production, and he used to say: “I like it. Hopefully customers like it too”. This, simply, was Ferruccio Lamborghini.

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