1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE30

#55 of 150, Paris Motor Show car. Chassis Number RLA12055 is a European
market Verde car with Bianco Leather interior. Prod. #1055. Originally to Excaliber,
Frankfurt, Germany on 10 Feb 95. Robert Forstner of Germany

Third in line of the Lamborghini supercar sequence, supplanting the Miura and
Countach respectively, the fabulous Diablo represented a fresh direction for Lamborghini. The Diablo series began in 1990, ending the sixteen-year production of the iconic Countach. The Diablo series production ran for eleven years to 2001 through some rough financial times for the company which saw multiple changes in ownership and design directions.

Design of the Diablo was originally carried out by Marcello Gandini who had designed the Miura and Countach for Bertone, under contract with Swiss brothers and Lamborghini financiers, Jean Claude Mimran and Patrick Mimran, who started the design process called Project 132 in 1985. Chrysler’s purchase of Lamborghini in 1987 further delayed the debut of Project 132 as the new parent company was not comfortable with Gandini’s design and as long as Chrysler was funding the project, the design had to go their way with a lot riding on the new car, a team of designers in Detroit was assigned to the project in order to refine what Gandini had started. Chrysler’s design team softened some of the hard edges and corners and so while the car very much kept the Lamborghini sensibilities, it wasn’t as over the top and rakish as Gandini, who had been named among the top car designers of the century, would have preferred. What came out of the design-by-committee was a dramatic and spectacular car keeping the Countach signature touch scissor doors but that was where the similarities ended.

Lamborghini/Chrysler wanted a 200MPH car capable of keeping up with market segment competitors such as Ferrari F40, Jaguar XJ220 and newcomer McLaren with the F1 BMW which quickly took the mantle of fastest production road car.

To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Lamborghini, the company rolled out the
Diablo SE30 as a special, limited production model. Designed as more of a street legal
racer, the SE30 was lightened and given a power increase over the standard Diablo.
The power was increased to 523BHP with enhanced features such as a tuned fuel
system, free flowing exhaust and magnesium intake manifolds. The electronically
adjustable shock absorbers of the VT model were replaced to driver controlled
adjustable stiffness anti-roll bars.

Extra weight savings were achieved by replacing power glass windows with fixed
plexiglass which were augmented with racing inspired small sliding window vents.
Luxury features such as air conditioning, stereo and power steering were likewise
removed and carbon fiber seats with four-point harnesses installed in the name of
weight saving.

Minor changes to the exterior of the Diablo identifies the cars from the original model
which included a revised frontal section, the addition of straked brake cooling ducts
integrated into a deeper spoiler and brake cooling ducts were changed to a vertical
body colored design.

The engine bonnet has slats and a larger rear wing was added as a standard feature.
The single fog and back-up lamps were relocated to the bumper which continued on
through all future Diablos. Also, special magnesium alloy wheels, SE 30 badging and
the famous metallic purple paint were standard (but could be changed on request) for
the 150 SE30 models which were produced.

This 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 (#2055) was the official Paris Auto Show car with
special one-off Verde Met paint. Since then, the car has remained in Germany with a
private collector until now. Currently showing only 6,550KMs (4,069 miles) from new
the SE30 needs nothing and is turn key ready for the road or concours lawn.

“At Curated, we do not acquire cars simply for inventory but rather based on what the car is.
We love interesting provenance, very low production, very low mileage, very special and often
weird cars.”
John Temerian, Jr.
Curated co-founder