Valentino Balboni in a Countach: Time for Tea?

From mechanic apprentice to chief test driver, here's Balboni's amazing Lamborghini story

The man whose name is synonymous with the Lamborghini brand had a simple beginning. Intrigued by Miura bodies being unloaded off a Bertone truck near the company, Valentino Balboni soon found himself completing an employment form at Automobili Lamborghini.

As part of his day-to-day duties, Balboni was asked to push cars around the company but he started them up and drove them from place to place. That didn't go unnoticed, of course, and the director soon called him to his office. An offer to be trained as a Lamborghini test driver was made and for a year he was under the wing of Bob Wallace gaining invaluable experience. This video reveals what an unforgettable working life he enjoyed and how much he loved driving the Countach in particular; listen out for Balboni mention the "mutual understanding" there must be between car and driver, especially with the Countach "always dancing"... What a man. Good video too.

Watch the video here