From Tractors to Supercars and Back
Ferruccio Lamborghini made his fortune building tractors before his name appeared on supercars. However, it was only many years after his death that these two worlds crossed paths. Meet the Centenario Tractor — a modernized agricultural machine created to honor Ferruccio Lamborghini’s 100th birthday in 2016.
Unique Design and Origin
This lowered steampunk-style Lamborghini tractor is now up for auction, and it’s as strange and captivating as it sounds. One of five similar projects, it was created by Italian designer Adler Capelli with support from Lamborghini experts at the German collector group Klima Lounge, combining old agricultural machinery with a striking appearance.
Technical Foundation
At the heart of this project is a 1960s Lamborghini DLA35 tractor. This means a three-cylinder 2.2-liter diesel engine producing a modest 36 hp (36.5 PS), paired with a manual transmission. These aren’t impressive numbers, but performance was never the main goal.
Art Over Power
Instead, the focus is on design and craftsmanship. The tractor has been completely transformed into a low, almost hot-rod shape, where the driver and passenger sit low between the huge rear wheels. The result isn’t as sleek as a Miura, but by agricultural machinery standards, it looks very sporty.
The hand-formed metal panels are left unpainted to age naturally, developing a patina over time, like the old tractors still working in Italian fields. There are also plenty of hidden details and several Lamborghini badges for enthusiasts.
Rare Specimen
Despite being fully functional, this isn’t something you’d want to hitch to a plow. It’s more like moving art than a work machine, which explains why this example has only covered 310 miles (500 km) since completion in 2020. Surprisingly, it has even driven that much.
Value and Auction
When new, each of the five tractors reportedly sold for about €1.75 million ($2 million at current exchange rates), putting it on par with supercars. That’s a staggering sum for something with less power than a city car, but exclusivity and craftsmanship don’t come cheap.
Now one of these rare creations is looking for a new owner. If you’ve ever wanted a Lamborghini that combines the brand’s farming roots with its love of drama, this might be your only chance for a while. You may need more than a Revuelto budget (currently $600,000 in the US) to take it home.
This tractor is a vivid example of how a brand’s heritage can be reimagined in completely unexpected ways. It’s not just a tribute to the past, but a bold artistic statement that sparks debates about where utility ends and art begins. For collectors, it’s not just a vehicle, but a unique artifact blending agricultural history with automotive luxury, and its appearance at auction will undoubtedly attract attention from both Lamborghini fans and lovers of the unusual.