General Description
The Lamborghini Diablo's 11-year story starts on the 21st of January 1990 as the replacement for the Countach. Marcello Gandini's design language of a wedge shape and cabin-forward design carried over to the Diablo, but it was considerably refined and made less angular, both in the pursuit of aerodynamic performance and to increase its appeal to a wider audience.
Power was sent rearward from a 5.7-litre, fuel-injected version of the evergreen Giotto Bizzarrini V12 engine, capable of 485 horsepower and a top speed just over 200 mph. This latest Lamborghini also introduced creature comforts such as power windows and mirrors—though the steering remained unassisted (for the early cars), and an air-conditioning system was optional (until 1997).
At the 1993 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini unveiled the Diablo VT (standing for “Viscous Traction”) with the 5.7-litre V12, an all-wheel drive variant with cosmetic and mechanical improvements, which altogether greatly improved its high-speed tractability over the base model. Looking to increase driver and passenger comfort, upgrades included a lighter clutch, slightly bigger seats, a restyled dashboard, and an improved air-conditioning system.
Intakes were added to the VT’s front fascia near the driving lights, to assist in cooling the new four-piston Brembo brakes. The driving lights themselves were also increased in number and output to aid visibility. Power steering now helped to make the car easier to control, along with an active suspension with electronically adjustable dampers.
Fast forward to 1998, the Volkswagen Group was under rapid expansion, and as a result, Audi AG signed a deal to purchase Lamborghini on the 13th of June 1998 from some highly well-connected Indonesian and Malaysian investors who were the owners at the time. This decision was largely dictated by Audi realising that instead of continuing a costly project with the Italian marque, they would simply absorb them instead for the sum of an estimated $110 million.
Promptly, the new Audi bosses instructed the current chief designer, Luc Donckerwolke, to drastically redesign the Diablo to more modern standards. The result was the very first Lamborghini to leave the Sant'Agata factory under Audi ownership and was in the form of a facelifted VT 6.0.
The all-wheel-drive “Viscous Traction” platform was borrowed from the limited production GT model, as was the 6.0-litre V12, with mechanical and electronic revisions, the output was rated at 549 hp and a hugely impressive 457 foot-pounds of torque. The already quick Diablo was now capable of covering the 0 to 62 mph dash in just 3.8 seconds, and on to a storming top speed approaching 210 mph, only being outpaced by a handful of exotics that included the McLaren F1 and Jaguar XJ220.
*Payment within 3 working days and collection within 7 calendar days.
**DK Engineering are selling this car on behalf of the private owner, offered with the usual DK Engineering level of service (subject to Ts & Cs). Please note, no warranty is implied or provided with this car. The sales invoice will be invoiced from the current owner to the buyer, the car will remain in the care of DK engineering until the funds are recieved in full.
About this specific vehicle
This example was supplied new to its first owner, Mr Chouraqui of Vaud, on the 27th of July 2000 via Lamborghini Porrentruy of Switzerland. Optioned in Nero Pegaso paint over a Nero Perseus leather interior with Grigio inserts, this VT is one of just 260 examples built and was available solely with the open-gated manual gearbox.
The car would see regular use with its first owner, covering the majority of its mileage within the first two years, when in October of 2002 it is noted in a service record that 36,733 kilometers had been covered. A few years of ownership later, Mr Chouraqui would then go on to trade the car back in to the supplying dealership, Lamborghini Porrentruy.
Handing the sale with the assistance Garage Remsa of Sion, the VT would then pass to its second owner, a collector of prominent 2000-ear sports and supercars. This owner would then go on to import the car to the UK in 2009, alongside a few other notable Diablos, where it was subsequently registered in September 2010.
Living in storage seeing close to no use from this point, the VT would then head to Rardley Motors for a major service in October 2012. The car would then remain in storage for the next ten years until in 2022, DK Engineering handled the sale of this Diablo to its current custodian.
Proceeding to give the car the refresh it deserved, the car was sent to marque specialists SB Race Engineering in December who carried out a major service and additionally replacing the fuel pumps at this time. After this, in early 2023, the car then visited DK Engineering’s own workshops where the sticky switches were rectified, wheels refurbished and equipped with new tyres. To give the cosmetics as much attention as the mechanics of the car, the VT was then sent for minor cosmetic paintwork at specialists Webster & Lancaster, after which it received paint protection film in the most vulnerable areas, care of Elite Detailing & Protection (EDP).
Available to view by appointment at DK Engineering’s storage facility, this Diablo VT 6.0 presents with just over 29k miles from new over just three owners.
Tyres
Front Right: Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico - 235/35 R18 - week 44 of 2021 - 7mm
Rear Right: Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico - 335/30 R18 - week 39 of 2022 - 7mm
Rear Left: Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico - 335/30 R18 - week 39of year 2022 - 7mm
Front Left: Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico - 235/35 R18 - week 43 of year 2021 - 7mm
