1995 Lamborghini Diablo Coupe

The name 'Diablo' continued Lamborghini's tradition of naming their cars after breeds of fighting bull. It was named after a ferocious bull raised by the Duke of Veragua in the 19th century, famous for fighting an epic battle with 'El Chicorro' in Madrid on July 11, 1869.

After 17 years in production, the Countach was replaced by the Diablo, which was the fastest, most advanced and most expensive Lamborghini models ever built. It wore styling by Marcello Gandini, the individual responsible for the Lamborghini Miura and Countach. The Lamborghini Diablo was offered to the public for sale on January 21st of 1990. It had a steel spaceframe chassis, developed from the Countach's but constructed of square-section rather than round tubing and incorporating 'crumple zones' at front and rear. It had carbon-fibre composite panels, the first use since the Countach Evoluzione model, and a suspension system that was capable of accommodating the envisaged future developments of four-wheel drive and active suspension. Power was from a 5.7-liter, 48-valve version of the existing Lamborghini V12 with dual overhead cams and computer-controlled, multi-point fuel injection, offering nearly 500 horsepower and 428 lb/ft of torque. Zero-to-sixty mph was accomplished in just 4.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 202 mph. The Diablo was a rear-wheel drive supercar with a mid-mounted engine and excellent weight distribution. They came better equipped than the Countach and fitted with many standard features including fully adjustable seats and steering wheel, electric windows, an Alpine stereo system and power steering from 1993 onwards. Anti-lock brakes were not initially available although they would eventually be used.

Options available on the Lamborghini included a custom-molded driver's seat, remote CD changer and subwoofer, rear spoiler, factory fitted luggage set and an exclusive Breguet clock for the dash.

The Diablo had more power and a lower drag coefficient than the car it replaced, the Countach. It was exciting and exotic, and more importantly it was not a limited edition model, but a series production car with a luxuriously appointed interior reflecting its designers' intention to produce a civilized Gran Turismo as suited to city streets and motorways as the racetrack.

Three years after the 1990 introduction of the all-new Diablo, Lamborghini introduced the next evolution, the Diablo VT, with the letters 'VT' representing Viscous Traction. The basic layout remained unchanged and the 5.7-liter V12 was still located between the rear wheels, and its 5-speed transmission extending forward into the cockpit behind the wide transmission tunnel. The driveshaft ran back alongside the oil sump to the differential, powering the rear axle shafts. The VT's transmission incorporated a forward-extending driveshaft with a viscous coupling to power the front wheels.

The front axles were fed power by the viscous coupling only when the demand created by the engine overcame the traction at the rear, to a maximum of 15 percent. The additional traction, however, did not improve the Diablo's outright numbers, but it did inspire more confidence in those who tried to tame the vehicle's 490-plus horsepower.

Other VT improvements included power rack-and-pinon steering, electronically self-adjusting Koni shock absorbers, more efficient Brembo disc brakes and improved airflow to the cabin, brakes and cooling system.

This particular VT example is finished in classic Rossa Red with a black interior with red piping. It has the optional factory rear wing, power windows and air conditioning.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2016