When the Diablo was launched in 1990 it was the first Lamborghini capable of over 200 mph and in the process it relieved the Ferrari F40 of ‘the worlds fastest production road car’ title. The design brief set by then Lamborghini owners the Swiss Mimram brothers for the Lamborghini Countach replacement back in the late eighties was relatively straight forward – Minimum speed capability 315 kph / 196 mph.

Marchello Gandini was responsible for the styling but when Chrysler took over Lamborghini in 1987 they were unimpressed and after the Chrsler Styling Centre in Detroit smoothed out the design Gandini was so unimpressed he took his original drawings which later were realised in the form of the Cizeta-Moroder V16T.

By the time this one of 251 penultimate VT 6.0 variants was built in 2000 Audi had become owners of Lamborghini and the Diablo had; acquired 4 wheel drive (Viscous Traction), an upgraded 547 hp 6 litre / 370 cui V12 and been fitted with made under licence Nissan 300 ZX Z32 head light clusters. The title of worlds fastest production car was short lived and handed on to the 213 mph Bugatti EB110 in 1991.

Hope you have enjoyed the Viscous Traction edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you will join me again tomorrow for Ferrari Friday, don’t forget to come back now !