As far as Automobili Lamborghini is concerned, there is a clear distinction between pre-Diablo and post-Diablo. Even though Ferruccio sold his remaining shares in the Italian automaker in the 1970s, the Diablo is a thoroughbred raging bull.
An old-school supercar as opposed to the Volkswagen Group-developed Murcielago, the Diablo was produced in roughly 2,900 units. Before going any further, it should be mentioned that its heir apparent packs the final evolution of Giotto Bizzarrini's naturally-aspirated V12, an engine that served the House of the Raging Bull since the 350 GTV rolled out at the 1963 Turin Auto Show.
Development for the Diablo started in 1985 as Project 132, when Swiss entrepreneurs Jean-Claude Mimran and Patrick Mimran were calling the shots in Sant'Agata Bolognese. Two years later, in April 1987, none other than Lee Iacocca decided to bring Lamborghini under the Chrysler Corporation's umbrella. The Auburn Hills-based automaker paid $25 million to the Mimran brothers, who purchased the company back in 1980 for a meager $3 million. Quite a difference, that's for sure!
With Chrysler's financial backing, the Diablo turned out to be a more refined yet better-performing machine than the oh-so-pretty Countach before it. During its production cycle, the Diablo received three big updates: the roadster body style (prior V12-powered flagships were exclusively bodied as coupes), the 6.0-liter version of Bizzarrini's engine, and an LM002-inspired viscous center differential.
The Diablo VT is what interests us today, for a superb-looking example has been recently listed on Bring a Trailer with merely 26,648 kilometers (16,558 miles) on the clock. But first, viscous traction is Lamborghini's way of saying up to 25 percent of the torque going to the front. How much is that?
Photo: DSFM2005 on Bring a Trailer
For the 1995 model year, the Diablo VT was factory rated at 492 ps (485 horsepower) at 7,000 revolutions per minute and 580 Nm (428 pound-feet) at 5,200 revolutions per minute. Bear in mind those are crankshaft numbers rather than what gets to the wheels. 25 percent of said torque is 145 Nm or 107 pound-feet, which makes a world of difference in case of rear wheel slip or bad weather conditions.
Manufactured in March 1995, chassis number ZA9DU07P3SLA12369 is finished in Nero (a.k.a. Deep Black) over a black interior with red piping here and there. It's a five-speed manual, of course! Lamborghini never offered a two-pedal option for the Diablo, although that changed with the introduction of the E-Gear automated manual in the Murcielago.
Capable of 202 miles per hour (325 kilometers per hour), the black-painted VT had been serviced earlier this year with replacement brake hoses and brake fluid. The selling dealer also overhauled the brake booster and brake master cylinder, replaced the fuel pump and fuel pressure regulations, battery, and tires. Now located in Houston, the car is rocking a clean Minnesota title and a similarly clean Carfax report.
Offered with service records and the appropriate tools, the 1995 model year Lamborghini Diablo VT had its fuel injectors cleaned, oil changed, and coolant flushed. Even so, the check engine light is illuminated for some reason or another. Italian electrics and electronics are something else, huh?
Originally priced at $239,900 before options, the car also had its front bumper repainted only recently. With nine days of bidding left, the highest offer is $175,000 after no fewer than seven bids. A bit on the low side for a 1995 Diablo VT, don't you think?
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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