Year: 1998
Manufacturer: Lamborghini
Model: Diablo
Model Variant: SV Monterey Edition
Exterior Color: Blu Scuro
Interior Color: Giallo
Current Mileage: 22,667KMs (14,084 miles)
Version: U.S.
Chassis #ZA9DU21B6WLA12994
Engine Capacity/Power: 5.7 liter, 4-valve, V12/530BHP
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Top Speed: 191MPH
Designer: Marcello Gandini (initial) Tom Gale (Chrysler Styling Center)
Limited Series: 1 of 20
Parent Company: Audi AG/Volkswagen Group
Public Debut: 1995 Geneva Auto Show
Predecessor: Diablo SE30 and SE30 JOTA
Successor: Diablo VT Roadster
Years Produced: 1998
Examples Produced in This Color: NA
Examples Produced in This Interior Package: NA
Examples Produced for U.S.: NA
Total Production: 20
Books & Tools: Yes
CarFAX: Yes
Etc. Diablo SVE. Prod. #1994. Originally to Exclusive, USA on 13 Jul 98.
Very rare Monterey edition. Baseball star Jason Giambi provenance. 1 of 20 produced for U.S.
distributor Vik Kelunyian. One of one Blu Scuro/Yellow color combination
As Lamborghini began to make updates to the Diablo with items like fixed headlights, the engineers
and designers in Sant’Agata Bolognese unveiled one last example in 1998 for the American market,
the Diablo SV (Spinto Veloce “Pushed Fast”) Monterey Edition.
These unique cars were delivered in special liveries with accents unique from the standard SV.
Different shift knob, side rockers, color coded wing with exposed carbon fiber lip along with
unique stitching and Monterey Edition embossed on the headrest.
Only twenty Diablo SV Monterey Editions were built, an acknowledgement to the
growing importance of the Monterey Car Week in California. The Diablo SV Monterey Edition reprised
the SE30 and VT Roadster’s trio of air intakes in front of the rear wheels rather than the single,
large opening the automaker used on the Diablo SV. The SV Monterey Edition retained the Diablo’s
signature pop-up headlights even though the automaker would debut a new face with fixed headlights
the following year.
A 530BHP version of Lamborghini’s famous 5.7-liter V-12 engine produced 20BHP more than
contemporary Diablo SVs, making the Monterey Edition the most powerful production Diablo with
pop-up headlights. The more powerful V-12 was also an indication of things to come for the next
model year when Lamborghini would boost power to a similar level.
Like other Diablo SVs, the Monterey Edition was rear-wheel drive and sent power to the wheels
through a five-speed manual transmission. Lamborghini had no trouble finding new owners for the 20
special edition Diablos, which were only offered to customers in the U.S.
Some of the twenty cars built were finished in rather strange colors like Lime Green, Pearl Yellow,
Verde Scandal and Le Mans Blue, while the very last one, number 20 was finished in Lightning Blue
over cream.
The cars were delivered to the USA in time for the 1998 Bull Run led by American racing legend
Mario Andretti. Most of the cars also featured special 18” chrome Kinesis wheels.
This unique car was ordered in a 1 of 1 Blu Scuro (purple metallic) over yellow interior, with
contrasting purple piping. It was purchased and owned by its second owner, baseball star Jason
Giambi (Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies and Cleveland Indians) who owned the
car for over 15 years. It comes complete with books, tools, some records and only 14,033 miles.
“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
