1995 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 JOTA

Included: Set of keys, export plates, cover, manual, service history paperwork

Third in line of the Lamborghini V12 supercar sequence, supplanting the Miura and
Countach respectively, the fabulous Diablo represented a fresh direction for
Lamborghini’s flagship V12 model. 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 headed by Tom Gale 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 200+MPH car capable to keeping up with competitors
such as Ferrari F40, Jaguar XJ220 and newcomer McLaren F1 which quickly
took the mantle of fastest road car.

In 1994, Chrysler and Lamborghini parted ways, the company was sold to a group of
Indonesian investors and by 1998 was sold again to Audi AG (the Volkswagen Group).
Throughout the turbulent times at Lamborghini, the Diablo survived as production was
never halted.

Upon Audi’s take-over of Lamborghini, a project was set to modernize and update the
Diablo as the replacement Murciélago was in the works. Audi contracted Luc
Donckerwolke to design a more refined, modern Diablo and in 2000, the VT 6.0
(commonly known as the 6-liter or 6.0) was born.

The Diablo 6.0 featured significant styling and performance changes under
Donckerwolke’s direction, the last of the Diablo range ran for only two years,
2000-2001with a mere forty examples produced. Donckerwolke made subtle changes
to the Diablo, most notably at the front with inset headlights instead of the usual popup’s.
Under the headlights, the air dam with large air intakes ahead of the front wheels while
further refinements included further smoothing of hard lines of the fenders sweeping
back to the enormous rear section which remained largely the same with huge air ducts
atop the rear fenders with dramatic air ducts atop the engine bonnet to help keep the
big, snarling 6-liter, 543BHP V12 cool.

The wheels were changed from three-piece alloys to a 18” O.Z. “phone dial” rims
holding up the massive Pirelli P-Zero 335/30 ZR 18 tires at the rear. The car has a
massive presence and correlations may be clearly drawn between the 6.0 and the
Murciélago which was the Diablo’s V12 replacement which began production in 2001.
Inside, the 6.0 was further refined, gone was the familiar rectangular interior of the
Countach in favor of a sweeping leather dash with the instrument cluster thoughtfully
spread out, creating a more comfortable and luxurious cabin with added carbon fiber
touches throughout with the famous six speed gated shifter sitting atop the console with
actual working air conditioning and sound system.

The looks of the Diablo 6.0 prompted Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson to state that the car
to be “Solely, the biggest head-turner in-the-world”. Descriptions of how the 6.0 drives
range from “600 horsepower rage” to “Not a car for everyone”.

Only 150 SE30 models were built with only about 15 being converted to JOTA
specification and 28 JOTA kits being produced. The JOTA derivative was a factory
modification made to meet homologation specifications so the racing version, the Diablo
SV-R could participate in the Lamborghini Supertrofeo Series and Japanese Grand
Touring Series (JGPDS) as mandated by the FIA which were designated JOTA PO.01.

The JOTA kit features:
• Racing ECU
• Forced intake and unique intake manifold system
• Unique racing cams
• Unique functional rear hood scoops
• Unique exhaust system
• 400km/h speedometer
• Small “JOTA” badge

The Diablo JOTA got a new ECU, new cams, new intake, an incredibly loud exhaust
(creating nearly 600BHP from its naturally-aspirated V12, 4-valve engine), fixed
suspension, adjustable sway bars and lightweight plexiglass windows instead of glass.
Perhaps the biggest visible differences on the JOTA are the ducting vents atop the
engine cover and a return to pop-up headlights. The JOTA also features a dramatically
revised snow plow nose which houses four more fog lights mounted down low and a big
rear wing, the JOTA is very much the racing version of the Diablo SE30 and the MSRP
was $300,000 when new.

This 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE 30 JOTA (#12116) is a Euro version left hand drive
example in brilliant Giallo with blue leather interior