What an incredible find in Monaco: one of only two Lamborghini Diablo SV Roadsters ever built, and the very first one to be featured on our site! Lamborghinis have never been produced in large numbers, but even among the rarest models, the Diablo SV Roadster stands out as one of the most exclusive "raging bulls" of all time. While the Aventador saw a substantial production run with a total of 11,465 units, the Diablo’s production numbers are far smaller - only about a quarter of the Aventador's volume, at around 2,900 units. Among these, the Diablo SV Roadster is one of the rarest.
Introduced in 1998 at the Geneva Motor Show - just as the Volkswagen Group took ownership of Lamborghini - the Diablo SV Roadster generated global excitement, seemingly combining the best features of all previous models: the bold styling of the SV, the roaring V12 engine, rear-wheel drive, and the removable roof of the VT Roadster. Fans were thrilled by the car's design, especially since it allowed a view of the 530 hp V12 engine through a triangular rear window, a feature that only fueled their enthusiasm! Had the Diablo SV Roadster gone into production, it likely would have sold out instantly. However, after a single model in a striking "Perlorange" finish was built, production was halted. The new owner, Audi, had decided that future Lamborghinis would all be equipped with all-wheel drive.
One passionate Lamborghini enthusiast, Emanuele Conforti - owner of the prominent Milan-based Lamborghini dealership Touring Auto S.r.l. - was determined to own a Diablo SV Roadster. After a discussion with then-CEO Vittorio Di Capua, an agreement was reached to produce a second, final Diablo SV Roadster. The car you see here is that very vehicle. According to factory records, chassis WLA12960 rolled off the line in Sant'Agata Bolognese on April 6, 1998, and was delivered to Touring Auto S.r.l.'s Milan headquarters on Corso Porta Romana about two months later.
The specifications of this car are nothing short of spectacular. Finished in Giallo Roadster with a Nero “Torpedo” Alcantara interior, featuring yellow piping and “SV” embroidery, chassis WLA12960 proves that Lamborghinis don’t all have to be orange. Its center console, removable roof, large rear wing, and side air intakes are finished in matte carbon fiber, while the bold “SV” graphics on both sides ensure this Diablo SV is unmistakably different from other roadsters. Though practicality is not the Diablo’s strongest suit, this car’s desirable front lift system means the driver doesn’t have to fear speed bumps or “sleeping policemen.”
After spending several years under the care of Touring Auto S.r.l., chassis WLA12960 was sold to Germany, where it was registered in 2001. Over the past two decades, this Diablo SV Roadster has belonged to three well-known Lamborghini enthusiasts, though each took it out for only occasional drives, mainly with the International Lamborghini Owners Club (ILOC). Its most recent custodian invested considerable time researching the history of this iconic bull, poring over factory documents and even interviewing former Lamborghini employees to confirm that this Diablo is one of the rarest cars ever built in Sant'Agata.
Following Lamborghini’s decision not to launch a limited series after the 1998 Geneva show, some Diablo owners attempted to recapture the magic of the SV Roadster. A few customers ordered their 1999 Diablo VT models without the front axle differential, while one even created his own version, known as the 35th Anniversary Edition. However, none of these recreated the original style of the two factory-built SV Roadsters.
In December 2023, chassis WLA12960 was auctioned at Sotheby’s Sealed Auction in Munich between the 13th and 15th, finding a new owner. With only 42,842 kilometers on the odometer, it has been rarely driven and remains in excellent condition. Rarer even than the celebrated SE30 Jota, Diablo GT, or nearly any other street-legal Lamborghini, the Diablo SV Roadster is a true collector's gem.
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