The Lamborghini Diablo VT, manufactured from 1990 to 2001, is starting to be acknowledged as a ‘vintage’ Iconic Bull from Sant’Agata. It followed the famous Lamborghini Countach and came before the Lamborghini Murciélago. The Diablo has strong ties to the legendary Lamborghini Miura, often recognized as the original supercar from the 1960s.
Dazzling Lamborghini Miura from the ’60s
Introduced as the follow-up to the Countach 25th Anniversary, the Diablo made its debut in January 1990. Initially, it was offered solely as a rear-wheel-drive variant. In 1993, Lamborghini launched the Diablo VT, which included the Visco Traction system, allowing power to be distributed from the back wheels to the front wheels, effectively establishing an all-wheel-drive capability. The 1993 model brought about several updates, such as a revised dashboard, color-matched exterior mirrors, and larger air intakes under the square headlights on the front bumper.
An important expansion to the Diablo series arrived in 1995 when Lamborghini unveiled the Diablo SV (Sport Veloce, not Super Veloce as commonly assumed) as a simplified, lighter version of the initial Diablo 2WD. The Diablo SV also marked the introduction of Alcantara upholstery to the Diablo range. Particularly noteworthy was the Diablo VT Roadster, the convertible V12 flagship from Sant’Agata, making it Lamborghini’s first production model with a V12 engine capable of being driven with the top down, a departure from the previous ‘entry-level’ V8 models like the Lamborghini Silhouette and Jalpa.
Significantly revamped from the Diablo VT, the Diablo VT Roadster retained the AWD layout and housed a robust 5.7-liter V12 just behind the occupants, generating 492 bhp at 7,000 rpm. This power output allowed the car to hit a top speed of 202 mph and go from 0 to 60 in a mere 4.2 seconds, even with the roof off. Unlike later models such as the Murciélago Roadster, the Diablo VT Roadster featured a rigid, lightweight carbon fiber roof section that could be removed in one piece and stored on the custom engine cover.
The car highlighted in this piece was custom-ordered by Donald Trump in 1997. Only 132 units of the Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster were produced for the US market between 1997 and 1999. Trump’s close ties with Lamborghini enabled him to order the car in the exclusive Blu Le Mans shade, a color not offered in 1997, making it the sole Diablo VT Roadster in this unique color.
From 1997 to 2002, Trump owned the vehicle before selling it. The unique paint was not the only rare feature; the two-tone interior, featuring a blend of cream and black, was not standard for the Lamborghini Diablo of the late ’90s. Additionally, this car came equipped with both driver and passenger airbags, although the placement of the passenger airbag on the dashboard appeared somewhat piecemeal, lacking the integration seen in later models.
This photo showcases a Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster formerly owned by Donald Trump. Following Trump’s sale in 2002, the car changed hands before being auctioned off at the end of January. Despite the changing ownership, the car’s value remained high due to its celebrity background. Forecasts suggest that the Diablo VT Roadster will eventually reach a million-dollar valuation, though currently, it is the Diablo SE30 Jota or Diablo GT that fetch seven-figure price tags. Similar high values are expected for other rare models in the future.
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