Ferrari vs. Lamborghini: The Argument That Built Two Multi-Billion-Dollar Brands (2024)

FAQs

What is the conflict between Lamborghini and Ferrari? ›

The story is that Ferruccio Lamborghini, a successful tractor manufacturer and a Ferrari owner, was not satisfied with his Ferrari and walked up to Enzo Ferrari with suggestions to improve the car. The discussion was short and unpleasant, driving Ferruccio furious enough to start his own car manufacturing.

In terms of revenue, Ferrari is ahead of Lamborghini. This doesn't necessarily mean that Ferrari is 'better', but rather that they have a larger business operation.

Ferruccio was a car enthusiast himself and owned various luxury vehicles, including several Ferraris. Dissatisfied with the performance of his Ferraris, he sought to build a car that would surpass them. This dissatisfaction and his determination led to the birth of Automobili Lamborghini in 1963.

In one telling of the story, Ferrari said: “The clutch is not the problem. The problem is you don't know how to drive a Ferrari and you break the clutch.” His implication: Lamborghini should stick to making tractors.

A Hilarious History Of How Lamborghini Was Created Out Of Spite For Ferrari. According to legend, Ferruccio Lamborghini complained about his Ferrari's clutch to the car company's founder. That row sparked the biggest sports car rivalry in the world.

As a passionate car enthusiast, you might find yourself captivated by the roar of a Lamborghini or entranced by the sleek design of a Ferrari. But can you, as an owner of a Lamborghini, walk into a Ferrari dealership and purchase one? The short answer is: yes, of course.

Get this: Ford posted revenue of $148 billion in 2018, compared to a top line figure of about $4 billion for Ferrari in the same year. Yet even though Ford's gross sales were roughly 37 times greater than Ferrari's, the iconic U.S. automaker is only worth about 25% more than its high-end Italian peer.

Lamborghini prices start at around $200,000 and can go up to $5 million for limited edition models. Ferrari prices start at around $215,000 and can go up to $4 million for limited edition models. However, Lamborghini cars tend to be slightly more expensive than Ferrari cars.

Ferrari offers a long heritage of racing history and a certain nostalgia and prestige that many drivers want. Lamborghini provides more power and innovation, setting itself apart as a car maker that grabs your interest and doesn't let go. Both offer speed, elegance, and first-rate driving experiences.

The situation did not improve: the 1973 oil crisis plagued sales of high-performance cars of manufacturers from around the world. Consumers flocked to smaller, more practical modes of transportation with better fuel economy. By 1974, Ferruccio had become disenchanted with his car business.

Who owns Ferrari now? ›

Ferrari is co-owned by Dutch holding company Exor, which is majority-owned by the billionaire Agnelli family, and Piero Ferrari. The Italian entrepreneur Enzo Ferrari died in 1988, having founded the car brand in 1939 after leaving Alfa Romeo. Enzo Ferrari's son Piero inherited a 10 per cent stake.

Ferrari doesn't care if you have enough money to buy one or a couple of their cars. The Italian car manufacturer has a blacklist of celebrities banned from acquiring a car, and the Kardashians are part of that list. According to the Italian luxury car company, they reserve the right of admission to all celebrities.

In 1963, Ford was in negotiations with Ferrari to acquire the company. Right as they were about to close the deal, Enzo Ferrari backed out because he didn't want to relinquish control over his racing team. Enzo then insulted the company and turned around and sold major stock of Ferrari to Fiat.

The Ferrari-Lamborghini rivalry has been one of the most enduring and exciting stories in the automotive world for many decades. It all started with an insult when allegedly Ferruccio Lamborghini challenged Enzo Ferrari by claiming that his tractor has a better clutch than his Ferrari.

After gaining experience at Lamborghini, Pagani approached the company with his designs, hoping to collaborate on a project. However, his proposals were rejected, prompting him to pursue his dreams independently.

Ferrari. Ferrari is the original competitor of Lamborghini.

A popular movie depicts the fierce rivalry between Ford and Ferrari during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Supposedly, the rivalry originated right at the top when Enzo Ferrari dismissed Ford's take-over offer (over the long run that was likely a blessing for Ferrari, but let's not spoil the drama).