The Legendary 1960s Lamborghini 3500 GTZ by Zagato

Stand ground - The golden age of the Italian automotive industry in the 1960s was full of daring experiments, rivalries, and collaborations that shaped the cars we still admire today. At that time, Ferrari was already setting the pace, and Lamborghini—still a young player in the market—was determined to prove that it could create something just as refined, if not more striking. In this pursuit, Lamborghini didn’t just rely on its in-house genius; it also turned to Italy’s renowned coachbuilders to sculpt cars that carried both speed and style. This is where a fascinating partnership came into play, one that remains a rare chapter in Lamborghini’s history: the collaboration with Zagato.

The 1965 Lamborghini 3500 GTZ was a solution which originated from the philosophy at that time for racing cars with a Zagato body and transferred with success to a more comfortable and well refined GranTurismo (GT) car. (Picture from: LamboCars)

Back in 1964, Lamborghini had just launched its first production car, the 350 GT, with the body designed by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. While the 350 GT was a solid introduction, Lamborghini wanted to set itself apart from Ferrari with a bold move. The company soon explored the unique design language of Carrozzeria Zagato, a Milan-based coachbuilder already admired for shaping some of the most dramatic cars of the era. 

The 1965 Lamborghini 3500 GTZ is made on a 10 cm shortened chassis of the 350 GT and debuted at the 1965 London Auto Show. (Picture from: Zagato-Cars)

In 1965, after a meeting in Sant’Agata Bolognese attended by Lamborghini’s Paolo Stanzani and Gian Paolo Dallara along with Elio Zagato, son of founder Ugo Zagato, the collaboration was sealed. Their project would be based on the 350 GT, but it would receive a special twist—ultimately becoming the Lamborghini 3500 GTZ.

The 1965 Lamborghini 3500 GTZ has a lightweight aluminum-made bodywork with the surfaces and volumes is adopting the Zagato's typical cut-tail design of the era designed by Ercole Spada. (Picture from: LamboCars)

To bring this idea to life, Lamborghini provided Zagato with a shortened version of the 350 GT’s chassis. From there, Ercole Spada, one of Zagato’s star designers, went to work. The result was a lightweight aluminum body that carried the firm’s signature cut-tail design, a shape commonly linked to racing machines of the time. This styling philosophy aimed at balancing performance aerodynamics with grand touring elegance, a bridge between raw racing spirit and refined driving comfort.

The 1965 Lamborghini 3500 GTZ has an interior somewhat resembles an evolution of the 350 GT is featured with the quintessentially Italian bespoke dials, steering wheel and switchgear remained stock, the dashboard was fitted with a wooden panel framing a 3500 GTZ badge in front of the passenger. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Underneath its sculpted exterior, the 3500 GTZ carried Lamborghini’s 3.9-liter V12 engine, delivering 320 bhp at 6,500 rpm and 375 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. Paired with a five-speed ZF manual gearbox, the car was capable of sprinting to a top speed of around 260 km/h (161 mph). On paper and on the road, it had all the credentials of a proper Gran Turismo. Yet, despite the performance and design pedigree, the finished product had an unusual presence. Some noted its resemblance to Ferrari’s 250 GTO or even Alfa Romeo’s TZ2, leaving it somewhat caught between influences rather than standing as a fully independent vision.

The 1965 Lamborghini 3500 GTZ has the structure line was shared with the Alfa Romeo TZ2. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

Only two examples of the Lamborghini 3500 GTZ were ever completed. The first, finished in white with a black interior, debuted at the 1965 London Motor Show. After its show days, it was sold to Marchese Gerino Gerini, a former Formula 1 driver and Lamborghini’s Milan agent. From there, it embarked on an adventurous life—shipped to Australia, converted to right-hand drive, repainted red, and eventually restored in Europe, where it was returned to left-hand drive and refreshed in a new coat of red. This car still exists today, a rolling reminder of the one-off collaboration. 

The 1965 Lamborghini 3500 GTZ is powered by a V12 engine with a capacity of 3,939 cc, which is capable of producing the power of 320 bhp at 6,500 rpm, with a peak torque of 375 Nm at 4,500 rpm. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

The second chassis, painted silver with a black interior, had Paolo Stanzani himself as its first driver before passing into the hands of an American collector. Sadly, this example’s fate remains shrouded in mystery, with rumors suggesting it was destroyed in an accident, though no official confirmation has ever surfaced.😭

The 1965 Lamborghini 3500 GTZ has also some resemblance with a Ferrari 25O GTO as you can see it at rear. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

The Zagato-bodied Lamborghini 3500 GTZ stands as a fleeting experiment, one that didn’t move into mass production. Ferruccio Lamborghini ultimately chose to continue collaborations with other designers, particularly Nuccio Bertone, who went on to shape some of the most iconic Lamborghinis ever built. Still, the Zagato chapter was never fully closed. Decades later, the partnership resurfaced, giving birth to cars like the 1996 Lamborghini Zagato Raptor and the striking 5-95 Zagato in 2014, proving that the spark of creativity between the two brands had not faded..

Today, the 3500 GTZ is celebrated not just as a rare collectible but as a bold experiment from a time when Lamborghini was carving out its identity in a competitive market. It represents a moment when artistry and ambition collided, producing a car that—even with only two examples—has earned a place in the story of Italian automotive design. Much like a hidden gem, it reminds us that sometimes the most fascinating chapters in history are the ones that were never repeated. *** [EKA [17092021] | FROM VARIOSU SOURCES | LAMBOCARS | ZAGATO-CARS | CARIOS | CARSTYLING.RU | ]

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