RM Sotheby’s Auction: 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GTR

Tony’s Take: Lamborghini built the Lamborghini Diablo GTR for their Super Trofeo one-make race series. There are two reasons to own a GTR:

. . . to fling it around its “natural habitat” or stash it as a collector car. Or both. Is that three?

The video below makes a good case for the collector side of the coin, aesthetically speaking.

When Lambo owner Chrysler softened Marcello Gandini‘s original Diablo design, the Italian was molto irritato. He was also wrong.

In the 21 years since its debut, the Diablo’s rounded angularity [sic] has lost none of its freshness, drama or beauty.

If a regular Lamborghini Diablo GT has “presence,” the 590 hp GTR is Santa on steroids. The gi-normous rear wing and funky front and roof-mounted air scoops give the GTR a big dose of BSC (bat sh*t crazy).

Integrated roll cage, harnessed race seats, screw-you-manettino steering wheel, engine fire suppression system, kingsnakes masquerading as cables? This isn’t your drug dealer’s Diablo.

Rarity is a thing. In its one year of production, Lamborghini manufactured 30 GTR’s for well-heeled gentlemen racers and their hired guns. There’s also this . . .

In no way, shape or form is the GTR suitable for public roads. With postal slots for window, no AC and a 6.0 L V12 generating hp, dB’s and BTU’s in equal measure, the Geneva Convention bans driving a GTR in rush hour traffic. [Note: the car above is not an original single seater.]

When Lambo’s Super Trofeo series moved on, the GTR became nothing more (or less) than a track day toy. Let’s see how it’s been playing out in the market . . .

Well that’s not very helpful . . .

In 2018, a 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GT (not GTR) with no miles hammered for $810,476. When new, a GTR cost a third more than the GT. By that calculation, in 2018 a zero mile Diablo GTR would be a $1.07M car.

This car has 4k miles on the clock. I figure it’ll go for 15 percent less ($161,550) than the theoretical $1.07M Now add 40 percent collector car spike over the last two years: $1.49M

Downside: As dramatic as it is, the GTR lacks both practicality and pedigree (it never competed in a “real” race series). Keeping the GTR track happy costs a king’s ransom, and the exact condition of this well-used example is unknown.