The Lamborghini Diablo was unveiled in January 1990 at the Hotel de Paris in Montecarlo, and marketed as the bold successor to the iconic Countach, marking a new era for the brand under Chrysler’s ownership at the time. Designed by Marcello Gandini but refined by Chrysler’s design team for better aerodynamics and build quality, the Diablo continued Lamborghini’s tradition of dramatic styling and raw performance. At its debut, it was among the fastest production cars in the world, capable of over 200 mph, thanks to its naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V12. The Diablo maintained Lamborghini’s reputation for wild, uncompromising supercars throughout the turbulent 1990s, carrying the brand through ownership changes (Chrysler, Megatech, Audi AG) and technological upgrades until 2001.
Over its production run, the Diablo spawned numerous variants. The original rear-wheel-drive Diablo was soon joined by the all-wheel-drive VT in 1993, which added more stability and refinement. The Diablo SE30 and SE30 Jota were lightweight, track-focused specials for Lamborghini’s 30th anniversary. The SV variant emphasized rear-wheel-drive purity with more power, while the VT Roadster brought open-top motoring to the lineup. Later updates included the Diablo VT 6.0, developed under Audi’s ownership, which featured revised styling and a larger 6.0-liter V12. Together, these variants kept the Diablo competitive and desirable until it was replaced by the Murciélago.
This particular car, finished in Rosso over Champagne, is the 187th car of the 3,000 Diablos built between 1990 and 2001. It was completed on March 28th, 1991, and became ready to be dispatched on the 18th April 1991 to the Saudi Lamborghini concessionaire Al Ajda Automotive. Delivered new to Seikh Saad bin Laden, this car has never been driven on open roads. The car changed hands twice since: once to Japan, where it remained month-balled in a private collection, and once to a prominent Saudi collector. During all this time, the car received sympathetic maintenance to be functional and move under its own power.
Thirty-five years later, this Diablo remains in fully original condition, showing a mere 9 kilometres on the odometer, still accompanied by its factory seat plastics and showing its protective wheel coating. Accompanied by an original manual and a report from renowned Lamborghini historian Olivier Namèche, this Diablo may very well be amongst the most original and intriguingly eerie ones to ever be released on the open market.
