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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Lamborghini Diablo Prototype

1987

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Production period
1987
Body style
Coupé
Type
Prototype

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR

Coachbuilding, design & conversions

PRICE & SALES RECORD

Vehicle value

Original price
Not documented
Latest recorded sale
Not documented

01 / THE STORY

History & context

The Lamborghini Diablo Prototype: Automobili Lamborghini contacted Marcello Gandini to design the successor to the Lamborghini Countach, after the 25th Anniversary was created in a hurry, the Diablo was supposed to be ready by now, but design and testing took longer than expected and the Countach was redesigned to make it more up to date, hence the 25th Anniversary. The Diablo designed by Marcello Gandini was very futuristic and aggressive looking, like the Countach was back in the Seventies, now the engine cover was made in glass, but in the early testing phase this arrangement didn’t cool the engine enough, so the idea was abandoned. The original Lamborghini Diablo Prototype design was later used for the Cizeta Moroder because at this time Automobili Lamborghini SpA was bought by Chrysler, and they changed the original design completely, this hybrid was compared to the Countach and a Ferrari Testarossa on an enclosed part of the factory parking lot. This way it was easier to get an overall impression of the new Diablo super car compared to the rival Testarossa. Even Lee Iacocca was present at this comparison, the new Diablo didn’t quite live up to the expectations and the Chrysler design was altered again, this time to something much closer to the final Diablo.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production type
Prototype

Design & manufacture

Designer · Documented
Marcello Gandini
Design Studio · Documented
Marcello Gandini Design
Manufacturer · Documented
Lamborghini

06 / EVENTS & AWARDS

Events & awards

No events or documented awards are currently recorded for this vehicle.

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource type
Quattroruote — Lamborghini Diablo, quando il Diavolo vestiva Gandini www.quattroruote.it Reputable automotive history
Motorlegend — Lamborghini Diablo history www.motorlegend.com Specialist automotive history

THE CONVERSATION

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