Lamborghini Diablo GT (2000)

Feruccio Lamborghini remained at the helm of his company for just nine years, selling a majority stake in 1972 and departing Sant’Agata Bolognese entirely in 1974. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1978, although in true Lamborghini fashion, production of their ageing Countach continued. Finally, in 1984, the company was purchased by two French brothers, Jean-Claude and Patrick Mimran.

The brothers immediately identified the need for a long-overdue Countach replacement and in mid-1985, work commenced on “Project 132”. Entering production in 1990, appropriately dubbed the Diablo, the new car featured a square-section spaceframe chassis, aluminium bodywork and a 5.7-litre V12. Now producing a little under 500 horsepower, its 202-mph capability momentarily rendered it the fastest production car in the world. However, the Diablo’s size and weight, initially 1,580 kilograms, made the original iteration somewhat unwieldly.

With “first generation” production spawning a variety of derivatives, such as the four-wheel-drive VT, high-performance SV and lightweight SE30, the Diablo received a substantial makeover in 1999; a power increase to 529 horsepower, revised dashboard layout and the introduction of fixed-lens headlights being the most significant changes. Notably, the introduction of the second-generation Diablo was accompanied by that of the Diablo GT; a track-focussed, road-legal model partly inspired by the GT2 racing iteration developed just the year before.

Featuring a noticeably more aggressive stance, owing to a racing-style front, three-piece split-rim OZ alloy wheels, a heavily ducted front luggage compartment lid and roof-mounted ram air scoop. At its front, the car’s wings were flared to accommodate its wider track, while at the rear a race-developed rear diffuser—incorporating a suitably raucous exhaust, and carbon fibre rear wing were added. Indeed, such was the vast incorporation of carbon fibre throughout, the only substantial panels retaining their original integrity were the roof and doors.

Inside, the cabin was changed in the interests of saving weight, with carbon fibre panelling and racing bucket seats being the main factors in the saving of over 70 kilograms over the second-generation SV, and almost 120 kilograms over the original 1990 Diablo. Finally, an increased stroke of 84 mm ensured that the engine capacity of the GT rose to 6.0 litres, resulting in an increased output of 575 horsepower, with the car able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, and onward to a top speed of 210 mph.