The Automotive Dream “One man and his dream had not simply left the world with an engine and four wheels; Henry Ford and his Model T had influenced people's everyday lives - where they lived, how they spent their leisure time, even how they viewed themselves.” - Gary...
Interview With A Lamborghini Expert
Written by Irina
Vanessa et Olivier
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Olivier Nameche Shares His Experience
For this week’s article, we had the chance to interview Olivier Nameche, a classic Lamborghini expert and friend of the Demers Car Collection. Olivier also wears other hats. He is one of the organizers of Cars & Coffee Québec events that take place throughout the summer, and he is a host for the FestiDrag show on TV Mag. You can listen to the entire episode on our YouTube channel or read a summary in this article.
What is a Lamborghini expert?
During the interview, Olivier shared with us how he developed a passion for automobiles. From a young age, he began compiling information about the brand. Subsequently, he purchased his first Lamborghini: a Jalpa. He then shared with us the laborious research process through which he gathered a true treasure trove of information about the brand, its cars, and Ferruccio Lamborghini.
Like millions of others, Olivier finds Ferruccio Lamborghini inspiring. That being said, Olivier’s interest eventually exceeded merely collecting magazines and buying cars. He made several trips to Italy to meet and interview people who had personally known Mr. Lamborghini. Thus, he was able to trace not only his career but also get a good idea of the kind of person Ferruccio was. In speaking with Olivier, one can feel the immense respect he has for this historical figure.
Over the past 15 years, he has also undertaken several restorations of classic Lamborghini cars, which have allowed him to understand exactly what constitutes a quality specimen. Today, he shares what he has learned about this man and his cars by writing articles and granting interviews. You can also consult him to provide you with expertise on a vehicle you would like to buy or sell to ensure its originality and to establish its history. You can also hire him as a broker; his specialty is the Lamborghini Miura.
Ferruccio Lamborghini
The idea of recording a podcast episode came to us following Olivier’s comments regarding our article on Ferruccio Lamborghini. Like Olivier notes, Ferruccio Lamborghini is not just his cars. The podcast format thus allowed us to delve into who this inspiring man was more in detail and to discuss the socio-cultural impact he had on history.
Photo credit – Olivier Nameche
A Success Story
Among other things, according to Olivier, Ferruccio’s first success story was to take advantage of the Marshall Plan after World War II to embark on the manufacturing of tractors. The first Lamborghini tractor appeared in 1947, and ten years later, some 1,000 people were working for the Lamborghini factory. Having a good understanding of the market at the time, Ferruccio launched a second company focusing on the production of air conditioning and furnace systems. This second company quickly expanded and employed around 500 people within two years.
Ferruccio and Automobiles
Like others at the time (and still today), Ferruccio was interested in automobiles and purchased several throughout his life, including a Ferrari with which he encountered problems. Among other issues, the clutch had to be replaced every 500 km (approximately 310 miles, or roughly the distance of a round trip from Thetford to Montreal). He then asked the engineers and mechanics at his tractor factory to find a solution to this problem, which they did. According to Olivier, Ferruccio later met Enzo Ferrari and offered him this new transmission system for use in Ferrari production. This proposal was not well received by Enzo, who reportedly told him to “go back to the fields with his tractors.” We all know the rest of the story.
Photo credit – Olivier Nameche
More Than Just Cars
Olivier’s investigations also allowed him to learn more about the man and his philosophies. Thus, he shared with us during the interview that Ferruccio preferred a paternalistic leadership approach. An approach that was not compatible with the rise of unionization in the country between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ferruccio then stepped back from his company and turned to new opportunities. He developed a vineyard, a golf course, and an agritourism complex.
Photo credit – Olivier Nameche
Let’s Talk About Cars
The Demers Car Collection contains several Lamborghini cars, and Vanessa took the liberty of asking Olivier which one is his favorite among them. His answer: The 1980 Countach 5000S. Not only does it sport a beautiful combination of yellow with off-white interior, but according to Olivier’s expertise, it is in almost original condition.
Another car discussed during the interview was the Lamborghini Jalpa, also part of the Demers Car Collection and the subject of a previous article. The Jalpa is the ultimate evolution of Lamborghini’s V8 in the form of a targa and, in part, the turning point in the brand’s resurrection in the 1980s. At the time, it was a pleasant and practical car to drive. Unfortunately, it was not very popular because it was sold at a higher price than its direct competitor, the Ferrari 308, which also benefited from free marketing due to its appearance in the Magnum PI TV series.
We also discussed the Lamborghini Miura. Olivier explained that it has a transverse engine with a gearbox coupled to the engine block. This configuration was practically unheard of before. It was Il Maestro, Marcello Gandini of Bertone, who had the privilege of designing the Miura’s body. Olivier has had the pleasure of meeting him several times. Upon its introduction, the Miura surprised everyone. It was a car that evoked “the art of living.” An English journalist dubbed it the “supercar,” a term that was little known at the time but ubiquitous today.
Cars & Coffee
We then discussed the Cars & Coffee phenomenon and Olivier’s involvement in the events in Quebec. Through our discussion, Olivier revealed that his interest in organizing these gatherings stems from his desire to democratize the passion for automobiles. Unlike other automotive events offered in the province, Cars & Coffee events are free and accessible to all. It is a family-friendly event that brings enthusiasts together, ideal for meeting other enthusiasts. It is also an opportunity to learn more about vehicles that one does not necessarily see every day. According to the concept of cars and coffee, the gatherings take place in the morning, and coffee is offered for free. If you are interested in participating this summer, the schedule and meeting locations are announced on their Facebook page, Instagram account, and website.
What Now?
As it is impossible to summarize a man’s life in a blog article, it is also difficult to cover all the topics discussed during a one-hour interview. I strongly encourage you to listen to our interview with Olivier Nameche in its entirety. Olivier is a goldmine of information on everything related to Lamborghini, but also on everything related to the hobby of car enthusiasts. You will find out what he thinks of the Demers Car Collection compared to other collections internationally that he has had the opportunity to visit.
Don’t miss our article next week where we will introduce you to the famous Lamborghini Diablo from the Demers Car Collection. According to Olivier, it is one of the most sought-after Lamborghini models by collectors today.
