Wallace was the chief test driver for the italian sports car company during its. Jun 21, 2018 in 1970, lamborghini s test driver bob wallace saw a need to create a fiaspec racing version of the miura and built the p400 jota. Bob wallace 1938 19 september 20 was a new zealand test driver, automotive engineer and mechanic, best known for his role in developing early lamborghini road cars. Longtime lamborghini test driver valentino balboni has formed a new tuning firm focused on the supercars churned out of santagata bolognese. Built in 1973, the svj was inspired by the oneoff miura jota, a test bed built in 1970 at the behest of lamborghini s chief test driver bob wallace with the ultimately fruitless hope of being homologated for competition under the fias appendix j regulations. Bob wallace, lamborghinis first test driver passes away. Some car companies just wouldnt be the same without their most prominent test drivers.
After wallace s jota was lost in an accident, incessant customer demand in the following years led automobili lamborghini to build a few miura svj models and remarkably a single miura svr. Bob wallace test driver from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia bob wallace 1938 19 september 20 was a new zealand test driver, automotive engineer and mechanic, best known for his role in developing early lamborghini road cars. Valentino balboni has reportedly driven about 80% of all lamborghinis ever built. Apr 14, 2020 thus were born two of lamborghinis most unusual history, though destined to remain unique pieces. As the first test driver of the company, wallace has played a key role in the early years of lamborghini and strongly contributed to the birth of the myth of the bull. Oct 24, 2014 his role model at the time was lamborghinis legendary chief test driver, bob wallace. The endoftheworld prototype countach engine, which exploded, reducing itself to scrap metal while im driving flat out on the autostrada. Robert bob wallace, a historical lamborghini test driver. Gian paolo dallara, paolo stanzani and bob wallace, lamborghini top three engineers, unveiled a prototype, known as the p400, to ferruccio behind closed doors. Famous lamborghini test driver bob wallace passed away. Lamborghinis first chief test driver bob wallace passed. Norman dewis was to jaguar what bob wallace and valentino balboni were to lamborghini. The one and only real miura jota and bob wallace interview by davide cironi davide cironi drive experience.
Giampaolo dallara was among them, remembering bob wallace as not only a competent and passionate technician and test driver, but also as a true and loyal friend. However, this isnt the first time lamborghini has gone offroad. The very first test driver for lamborghini, bob wallace, sadly passed away. There is no shadow of a doubt that, in the collective imagination, being a lamborghini tamer is one of the worlds most appealing jobs.
He was lamborghini s chief test driver from 1964 to 1975 and the father of the legendary miura sv jota and ferruccios only hot rod, the jarama s bob. Oct 18, 2018 after going upstairs, balboni was faced with ferruccio lamborghini, bob wallacelamborghinis first chief test driver, a new zealander whod been hired away from maseratis race team and a man. This guy at security takes bob wallace and stanzani. The second test driver of lamborghini was valentino balboni shown in the middle, btw thats a silver bizzarrini gt 5300 strada. The news of the death of bob wallace hit me and all of us at lamborghini and leaves us with a great sorrow. By 1971 hed become a mechanic, and was increasingly driving test laps in customers cars. Bob wallace, originally from new zealand, became lamborghini s test driver in 1964. They did it in the 1980s with the rambo lambo or lm002 suv, and even lately with the urus which came under heavy criticism. Bob wallace was the chief test driver for lamborghini for twelve years from 1964 to 1975 and his competence and passion strongly supported the rapid growth of the company founded by ferruccio lamborghini. Bob wallace a website dedicated to automobili lamborghini. Charlie wallace in new zealand has confirmed that his brother bob of lamborghini fame has died aged 75. Jan 16, 2015 bob wallace, lamborghinis chief test driver and road development engineer, knew better than most, that if adapted for use in motorsport, the miura would be a formidable weapon against ferraris and porsches. Over its production lifespan, the urraco was continuously developed, with later versions fitted with fourwheel disc brakes, leather upholstery, air conditioning and other amenities. Find onan part 1542718 exhaust tube new also 01542718.
The original svj jota, known internally by the factory as miura privata, was lost in a crash, but focontinue reading. A salute to bob jota wallace, lamborghinis fastest engineer. New zealandborn wallace played a key role in the development of the firms road cars between 1964 and 1975, having joined the company initially as. Bob wallace, lamborghini s chief test driver and road development engineer, knew better than most, that if adapted for use in motorsport, the miura would be. Well, to many motorsports enthusiasts, it definitely is. This gorgeous, fully restored lamborghini miura svj is one. Jun 22, 2018 after wallaces jota was lost in an accident, incessant customer demand in the following years led automobili lamborghini to build a few miura svj models and remarkably a single miura svr.
Bob wallace, lamborghini s first ever test and development driver, has passed away in the italian supercar manufacturers 50th anniversary year. Early life wallace was born in auckland, new zealand in 1938. Thus were born two of lamborghini s most unusual history, though destined to remain unique pieces. Wallace, who was lamborghinis first chief test driver, died late last week. Stephan winkelmann, president and ceo of automobili lamborghini, said.
But even that was a sequel, because famed lamborghini test driver bob wallace created rally versions of the jarama and the urraco in the 1970s. Known internally as miura privata by the factory, the. Automotive engineer and mechanic bob wallace was lamborghini s factory test driver during the reign of the beautiful miura. Specifically, an orange jarama that is a tribute build for the legendary lamborghini test driver bob wallace. Bob wallace, who has died in the us, was a test pioneer lamborghinis original test driver and development engineer, new zealander bob wallace, has died at the age of 75.
This is the ultimate lamborghini miura grand tour nation. How the lamborghini countach got that name car and driver. Famous lamborghini test driver bob wallace passed away the. Unfortunately, only one model was made, and it crashed and burned in 1971. Lamborghini jarama rally and the urraco rally, the weird. Balboni also said that he owe so much to bob wallace, lamborghini s first test driver. Bob wallace test driver wikipedia open wikipedia design. Early life a young bob wallace working on a maserati birdcage, early 1960s. The roundabout dedicated to the lamborghini test driver bob wallace was inaugurated in 2015 in santagata bolognese. Bob wallace s commemoration san cristoforo foundation. Legendary lambo test driver valentino balboni starts. Apr 11, 2020 he was told to take stanzani and wallace to the factory room and turn on the lights where the as yet unnamed lamborghini model was located. After going upstairs, balboni was faced with ferruccio lamborghini, bob wallacelamborghinis first chief test driver, a new zealander whod been hired away from maseratis race team and a man.
In 1974 it was acquired german customer named heinz straber, who returned it to the factory for modifications. Lamborghinis first test driver bob wallace passes away our. He was the companys chief test driver from 1964 to 1975 and was responsible for the legendary miura jota. Working behind the back of company founder, ferruccio lamborghini, in the mid1960s, an elite team of engineers were about to revolutionize the design of sports cars. In 1970, lamborghinis test driver bob wallace saw a need to create a fiaspec racing version of the miura and built the p400 jota. Feb 22, 2017 the first lamborghini test driver was actually a new zealander. Realized on the occassion of bob wallace tribute in april 2015, this beautifully illustrated book present the 1st test driver of lamborghini automobili, on of the.
Lamborghinis first chief test driver bob wallace passed away. He became involved in auto racing as a teenager, meeting. The reaction from the boardroom was initially irritation, but eventually they came to see him as an asset and balboni was allowed to start testing current. The endoftheworld prototype countach engine, which exploded, reducing itself to scrap metal while. Story has it that bob pleaded lamborghini to build a race going version of the miura, a request that was turned down by the italian manufacturer who was against any form of motorsport at the time. Bob wallace was lamborghini s very first chief test driver and held that position from 1964 to 1975. Jun 28, 2018 the first jota model was actually a miura developed by the famed test driver and automotive engineer bob wallace in 1970.
Known internally as miura privata by the factory, the project was later named jota to potential customers. In october 2015 in santagata bolognese was officially inaugurated the roundabout dedicated to robert bob wallace, famous tester, technician and creator, and one of the most amazing lamborghini models of the 60s and 70s. The lamborghini miura p400 svr is a oneoff evolution of the fabled lamborghini jota developed by lamborghini engineer and test driver bob wallace. Lamborghini fully restores miura svr and its dropdead gorgeous. It had more horsepower, less weight, and significant changes all around.
The test driver was originally from new zealand, but moved to italy at the age of 21. Bob wallace test driver from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Realized on the occassion of bob wallace tribute in april 2015, this beautifully illustrated book present the 1st test driver of lamborghini automobili, on of the 3 protagonist who made this happened in an era of pioneers. Oct 29, 2016 inaugurazione scultura dedicata a bob wallace s e visita al museo lamborghini. Having moved to italy as a 21yearold to pursue his love of racing cars, the aucklandborn kiwi worked as a race mechanic for both ferrari and maserati before joining the santagata concern in 1964 as its first test driver. The news received today of the death of bob wallace hit me and all of us at lamborghini and leaves us with a great sorrow. Sep 25, 20 lamborghini ceo stephan winkelmann has released a statement concerning the recent passing of bob wallace. Lamborghini test driver bob wallace was instrumental in the development of the lamborghini miura.
Knowing full well the potential of the miura, wallace started work on the original svj in order to coax ferruccio lamborghini into racing. Its a more extreme version of the miura svj, with bob wallace, lamborghini s revered test driver, taking charge on that project. This car was newly restored by their polo storico department after a long journey of eight different owners, one of which a german, heinz straber delivered it back to lamborghini for this to take place. The original supercarworking behind the back of company founder, ferruccio lamborghini, in the mid1960s, an elite team of engineers were about to revolutionize the design of sports cars.
Sep 25, 20 lamborghini test driver bob wallace was instrumental in the development of the lamborghini miura the very first test driver for lamborghini, bob wallace, sadly passed away. The car made yet another public appearance at the monaco grand prix in may 1966, when lamborghini development engineer bob wallace and a mechanic drove the prototype car to join the lineup of exotics parked outside the royal casino on the eve of the famous race. Wallace worked for various racing teams including ferrari. Not only were his efforts significant to lamborghinis. Valentino balboni, lamborghini s former test driver, says that when paolo stanzani, managing director and father of the miura, and bob wallace, test driver, were invited to bertones studio to. Wallace spoke with hemmings about the car back in 2008. Bob wallace page 1 lamborghini classics pistonheads.
The 2019 lamborghini huracan sterrato is an experimental concept car that the italian firm launched in june 2019. Balboni, valentino test driver who was bobby wallace s understudy, taking over towards the end of miura production bertone, nuccio famed coachbuilder whose carrozzeria bertone partnered with lamborghini to build the miura bizzarini, giotto engineer who famously defected ferrari in 1961 as part of the gang of five, hired by ferruccio lamborghini to develop the famed lamborghini. Lamborghini fully restores miura svr and its dropdead. I know that the collection i am about to visit contains at least one lamborghini. Here is a ferrari engine bob wallace is working on.
Balboni started working for lamborghini on 21 april 1968, as a mechanic apprentice in the company. As the first test driver of the company, wallace has played a key role in the early years of lamborghini and strongly contributed to the birth of the. Lamborghinis first test driver bob wallace passes away. Eventually he was personally asked by the founder of the company, ferruccio lamborghini, to test drive the newly built cars alongside bob wallace. He is 69 years old and from new zealand as we know. As if the miura wasnt already radical enough, lamborghini let test driver bob wallace make an experimental version that was even better. Bob wallace was lamborghinis very first chief test driver and held that position from 1964 to 1975. Saying goodbye to legendary jaguar test driver norman dewis. Prepared as a quasiracecar, it had no compromises to comfort. But lamborghini chief test driver bob wallace wanted something even racier, so he began working on his own variant, the jota, in 1970. Bob wallace, a lamborghini test driver, had a hand in tweaking the fourwheel independent macpherson strut suspension.
Bob wallace was a new zealand test driver, automotive engineer and mechanic, best known for his role in developing early lamborghini road cars. He helped shape balbonis humble beginnings with the marques production cars. Bob, exdevelopment engineer and chief test driver at lamborghini during 20 years in italian motorsport, was working in his favourite place, his phoenix, arizona workshop, when he suffered a heart attack. Oct 03, 20 the man credited with developing the groundbreaking lamborghini miura, bob wallace, has died at his united states home aged 75. He had experience from racing ferraris and maseratis and remained a valuable resource for the factory for several years. From bob wallace to giorgio sanna via valentino balboni. The lamborghini miura svj was born from the mind of bob wallace, lamborghini s famed test driver and chief development engineer. May 20, 2018 balboni also said that he owe so much to bob wallace, lamborghinis first test driver. Bob wallace test driver wikipedia republished wiki 2. Jun 25, 2018 but lamborghini chief test driver bob wallace wanted something even racier, so he began working on his own variant, the jota, in 1970.
Lamborghini s original test driver and development engineer, new zealander bob wallace, has died at the age of 75. Naturally being a test driver involves countless accidents and parts braking down, during the v8 development bob wallace would wreck five engines in less than 5,000 miles, which didnt make the development department very happy. The car he is working on here is a ferrari f2, model 212 from 1949. Wallace was driven by a fierce passion for the cars and a strongly competitive spirit. Would you consider being a test driver the best job in the world. This is what its like to drive a 1985 lamborghini countach lp5000s qv. Lamborghini polo storico restores oneoff miura svr the drive. Another great lamborghini tester was new zealander bob wallace, who passed away last month. His role model at the time was lamborghinis legendary chief test driver, bob wallace. Not only were his efforts significant to lamborghini s development, but he was also an instrumental part of the italian manufacturers founding. He was lamborghinis chief test driver from 1964 to 1975 and the father of the legendary miura sv jota and ferruccios only hot rod, the jarama s bob. The first lamborghini test driver was actually a new zealander. The incredible story of valentino balboni classic driver.