- A 1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT roadster is up for auction on Bring a Trailer until Thursday, August 3.
- The droptop Diablo is powered by a 530-hp 5.7-liter V-12 paired with a gated five-speed manual.
- The Lambo’s “VT” designation means it has all-wheel drive, and it’s said that only 23 examples were sold in the U.S. in 1999.
Imagine it’s summertime 1999 and you’re snicking through the exposed shift gates of a brand-new Lamborghini Diablo roadster, with the wind whipping in your hair and Cher’s “Believe” blaring through the speakers.
Now come back to the reality of 2023. The last combustion-only Lambo has been sold, but there’s still a chance to bring that imaginary scene to life with the ’99 Lamborghini Diablo VT roadster that’s currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.
The black Diablo on BaT features a naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V-12 with a 7500-rpm redline. The engine’s 530 horses arrive when the tach hits 7100 rpm, and 448 pound-feet of torque comes online at 5600 revs. A gated five-speed manual provides a satisfying way to manage the V-12’s fury, which is sent to both axles—hence the “VT” designation that denotes it has all-wheel drive (“SV” models are rear-drive). While the droptop Diablo VT, at around 3760 pounds, was said to be 200 pounds heavier than the SV, it topped out at a claimed 208 mph versus the latter’s 199-mph cap.
We didn’t get to strap our test equipment to a ’99 Diablo back in the day, but we did slide behind the wheel of a silver VT roadster as part of its facelift. The exterior makeover included ditching the pop-up headlights for exposed units that were plucked from the Nissan 300ZX parts bin and adopting a set of 18-inch OZ racing wheels. Inside, the Diablo received a new dashboard with electronically controlled analog gauges and various ergonomic improvements.
The Lamborghini Diablo debuted for the 1990 model year as the successor to the Countach, which is arguably the most recognizable supercar ever built. During its development, the bigwigs at Lamborghini’s headquarters in Sant’Agata sought a top speed of at least 198 mph. The firm’s engineers were able to beat that bogey, with the original Diablo claiming a top speed of 202 mph.
It’s said that only 23 Diablo VT roadsters were sold in the U.S., making this a rare opportunity. The BaT auction ends on Thursday, August 3.
Senior Editor
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.