How often have you heard of someone who had a Lamborghini Countach hung up on their bedroom wall in their childhood? We weren't around for Cannonball Run, so we never bonded with the Countach. Instead, we idolized the Diablo - in scale model form in place of the bedroom poster. And, the reason we picked this particular Diablo is due to its resemblance to the 1993 Diablo featured in Dumb & Dumber.
Really, the red on tan caught our eye because of the movie association. The movie car was actually not a VT model like this one, so it would have been a more hardcore Diablo, lacking the AWD and power steering of the VT models. We've always been puzzled by AWD roadsters when a RWD version exists, but the two features don't necessarily need to be utilized at the same time.
Year: 1998
Model: Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster
Engine: 5.7L V12
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 41,654
Price: $188,888 obo
Location: Rancho Cordova, CA
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster
1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster in Diablo Rosso over Evero leather interior. This impeccable example is powered by a 5.7L DOHC V12 producing nearly 500hp mated to a 5-speed gated transmission. This is 1 of only 132 Diablo Roadsters which were imported into the US, making this a collector grade investment. All maintenance is up to date with most recent service being fresh engine oil, differential, and transmission fluids as well as new Pirelli tires all around. Factory options include front end lift system, rear wing, pop-up headlights, carbon fiber targa roof, sport driving modes, and air conditioning with climate control. Features include an upgraded Alpine audio system and Eclipse headunit with a rear view camera. This is truly a great running Diablo with no check codes on the dash, no issues, smooth idle, and mechanically sound. Everything functions as it should. This collector grade example won best in class at the Niello Concours d’Elegance in 2018. Ready to be shown or driven!
The seller states that the roadster is up to date on service, with new fluids all around and fresh rubber. No issues are reported either, so the car is good to go. The Diablo is the poster boy for expensive service costs, and given the low production and rare overlap with other vehicles, we'd tend to approach one of these cautiously.
We love the way the Diablo styling compares to the later Countach. Somehow it conveys excitement without crossing into tawdry territory. And, being an early model, the full Countach character remains intact, as Audi didn't push in with refinement in the form of the Diablo 6.0L until later in the model run. Park it next to a first generation Viper and you're all set.
-Graham