Tony’s Take: When it come to buying a collector car for there are a number of important variables. Of course, you need to know the car’s service history and current condition. As I’ve pointed out many times, color is key (e.g., red Ferraris are worth less than other colors). The car’s design and place in history also factor.
All things being equal – which they rarely are – rarity is number one. So how many Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadsters did the Italians make?
hotcars.com says “the company only produced 466 Diablo VT Roadsters.” lambocars.com puts the total number at 343 and maintains that Lamborghini only made 100 examples of the 1999 second generation, standard-issue Diablo VT Roadster.
classicdriver.com doesn’t count the 12 U.S.-only Diablo VT Roadster Momo Edition cars but does account for the 30 Millennium Edition Roadsters. As always, they provide an excellent description.
Unlike the Diablo VT, the second generation Diablo VT Roadster was produced from 1999 until 2000. As with all Diablos from the 1999 model year onward, the second generation VT Roadster received an updated interior, as well as larger brakes and the new fixed headlamp units.
Among other improvements, the updated VT Roadster was fitted with a more powerful version of Lamborghini’s 5.7L V12, which saw total power jump to 529 hp.
While production for the standard second generation VT Roadster ended in 1999, a special run of 30 Millennium Edition Roadsters were built in 2000. These cars were almost identical mechanically to the VT Roadster, but featured a different differential, as well as cosmetic changes unique to the Millennium Edition.
I’m going with 343 VT Roadsters all-in – which makes the car up for auction at Sotheby’s exceedingly rare. Let’s go to the tape.
In 2015, you had trouble selling a Lamborghini Roadster for north of $150k. Today they’re bringing more than twice that. The last sale did $480k with 7k miles but not sure the blue is a great color. [RF: Sure does sound nice, though, no matter what the color.]
This car’s variables? A better color (Titanium Silver over black leather upholstery), more owners (six) and “high” miles (18,716 mi.). That puts this car in the $350k area. Downside: no easy way to get in and out, no rear visibility, useless window wiper.
