1991 Lamborghini LM002 SUV

The Lamborghini LM 002 brought together the Countach QV supercar's 5.2-liter V12 engine into an off-road 4x4 SUV. This state-of-the-art engine gave the LM 002 a top speed in the region of 200 km/h. The engine drove through a five-speed ZF heavy-duty transmission and two-speed reduction gearbox which gave the driver the choice of ten speeds and two- or four-wheel drive. It had a tubular steel chassis and a five-door body made from fiber-glass for the hood, roof and wings. The doors were made from aluminum. The interior was trimmed in leather and air conditioning came as standard. Buyers could specify their level of equipment ranging from Spartan functionality to luxurious opulence.

The LM 002 began life in 1977 as the Cheetah. They had been conceived with military use in mind, hoping to land a lucrative U.S. military contract that would eventually go to the Hummer H1. A few still-born prototypes followed before the LM002 entered production. Pirelli was tasked with developing special tires and came up with the 'Scorpion,' a design available in two different tread patterns - mixed use and sand use. Both versions could be run virtually flat.

The LM002 attracted many wealthy high-profile customers, and the first LM 002 is reputed to have been sold to HRH King Hassan of Morocco. Derivatives included the LM 003, a diesel-powered military model that never got past the prototype stage, and the LM 004, which was fitted with Lamborghini's 7.2-liter V12 engine intended for powerboats.

Between 1986 and 1992, Lamborghini produced 328 examples of the LM 002.

This particular example is a low-mileage civilian version that has remained virtually untouched. The Lamborghini was acquired by a previous owner in the early 1990s until selling it in 2013.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2018