It's probably difficult to recall now, given this car's debut was at Geneva in 1995, but the Diablo SV was a really big deal for Lamborghini. The Diablo had been received pretty well at its launch just a few years earlier, plus there has already been new additions to the range in the form of the VT and SE30, but the arrival of the Super Veloce meant the return of the hallowed SV badge after more than 20 years away. It had featured on the Miura back in the 70s, a swansong for the original supercar, yet had never been part of the Countach range.
It's return needed to signify something special, and the car most certainly delivered: the SV had less weight than a standard Diablo thanks to being rear-wheel drive only and boasted more power, bigger brakes and an adjustable rear spoiler. Somewhat amazingly, given the current contemporary trend for lightweight special editions, the SV was the most affordable model in the Diablo range. What a time the 1990s were...
Some things, though, will never change, and the fundamentals of the 'high-speed' Diablo hold as much appeal now as they will have done a quarter of a century ago. A mid-mounted V12, revving to over 7,000rpm and producing in excess of 500hp, plus a manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive and an outrageous aesthetic meant plenty of fans now and then. The fact that Lamborghini has seen fit to stick with the SV nameplate since the Diablo with both Murcielago and Aventador equivalents, would imply a level of success for the for the Super Veloce formula.
This one, surely, is a perfect spec: yellow, black accents including graphics and split-rim wheels and a miniscule 16,000 miles. Interestingly, too, despite probably now being worth more than ever - £249,975, since you're asking - the Diablo still looks reasonable enough when compared with the similar cars in Lamborghini's back catalogue. The Murcielago that followed this Diablo in the SV lineage can't be bought for less than £350k; there are only a couple of Aventador SVs at less than £300k, despite their prestige arguably reduced by the later SVJ; and there's just the one Miura SV on PH currently - set aside £2.5m for that.
So while the Diablo is hardly a bargain basement supercar anymore - that ship sailed a while ago, sadly - it doesn't look like an absurd price given the money asked for similar Lamborghinis. For what it's worth, there's not a Countach on offer at less than £300k, either. More than that, it's hard to imagine the traditional supercar formula - particularly a yellow, scissor-doored traditional supercar from Sant'Agata - ever losing its appeal now; while the market seems somewhat uncertain at present, certain supercars will surely always be popular given the genre's electrified, autonomous future. It's hard to imagine much more of an antithesis to that upcoming era than the Diablo SV.
Bear in mind, too, that this SV isn't actually the most expensive Diablo on PH. Just. While it might pip it by only a few pounds, this 6.0 VT is £249,990. And given you won't pay less than £130k for a Diablo in 2019, it's fair to say the Lambo legend is most certainly part of the classic supercar firmament. Finally, for those less precious about SV mileage - or bright yellow paint - this 32,000-mile, dark blue car is available for £100,000 less. Spoilt for choice...
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