This radical Lamborghini Diablo SV-R V12 is for sale: it smells of the 90s and unfiltered petrol!

Some cars smell of new leather. Others smell of history. And then there's this 1996 Lamborghini Diablo SV-R, which smells of the 90s, hot rubber... and unfiltered petrol. Offered for sale today for £650,000 in the UK, this Diablo like no other is not a supercar transformed for the track. Quite the opposite: a genuine racing car built by Lamborghini itself, at a time when the Sant'Agata brand was taking its first official steps in modern competition.

The first real modern racing Lamborghini

Presented in March 1996 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Diablo SV-R marked a historic turning point. It was the first Lamborghini to be mass-produced directly by the factory to compete in a one-make championship, the Super Sport Trophy, promoted by Stéphane Ratel. The first round was held at Le Mans in June 1996, as a curtain-raiser to the 24 Hours. 28 cars start, 28 finish. The tone was set.

The SV-R was later to become the basis for the GT-R and, years later, the entire line of modern competition models developed by Squadra Corse. In a way, this car is the spiritual ancestor of the Huracán GT3, Temerario GT3 and today's endurance programs. Produced in just 31 examples (34 according to some records), the SV-R is today one of the most important Lamborghinis of the modern era.

A lighter, sharper, more radical Diablo

Technically, the SV-R is based on the rear-wheel-drive Diablo SV. The 5.7-liter naturally-aspirated V12 engine is retained, but increased to around 540 hp thanks to an upgraded fuel system and variable valve timing. All this for just 1,385 kg. By comparison, a SE30 weighs in at 1,450 kg for 525 hp.

The manual gearbox retains its architecture, but adopts shorter ratios. Brakes are increased (355 mm at the front, 335 mm at the rear), the suspension is fitted with Koni units (this model is now equipped with completely overhauled Öhlins) and the aerodynamics are thoroughly revised: large front spoiler, side skirts, rear diffuser, large spoiler (GTR-type here).

There's nothing civilized about the interior. Welded roll bar, OMP bucket seats with harnesses, removable steering wheel, sliding Plexiglas windows. The retractable headlamps have been replaced by cooling scoops for the brakes. Even pneumatic jacks are integrated for pit stops. A far cry from a simple Lamborghini Diablo “prepared”.

Chassis #08: three full seasons and a title

The model offered for sale is chassis 08. And it wasn't built to stay under a cover. Entered in all three seasons of the Super Sport Trophy between 1996 and 1998, this car was notably used by the 1997 champion. It went on to compete in the FFSA GT championship in France, then in various national competitions in the USA in the early 2000s.

With 16,000 miles on the clock, this SV-R has done what it was designed to do: race. It's no forgotten relic in a warehouse, but an authentic racing machine that has survived the decades by staying active.

Arriving in the UK in 2017, it changes hands in 2021 before undergoing a complete restoration at BBM Sport in Daventry. Over £150,000 is invested in a stripped-down, full bare-metal paint job, a thorough mechanical overhaul and an interior redesign inspired by the Diablo SE30 Jota. The results are spectacular. The bodywork is now protected by a competition-quality PPF film. The car returned to the track in July 2023 for a private event, demonstrating that it has lost none of its spirit, even in the rain.

Ready to race... or almost ready to race on the road

Rarely seen: a large proportion of the original components removed when the SV was transformed into the SV-R accompany the car. Additional wheels are also included for track use. The seller points out that, with a few modifications and a technical inspection, it could even be registered in the UK again. That's the magic of these one-design championship cars from the '90s: they have a real history, a real pedigree, and remain usable. Not just for display.

650,000 for a piece of history

650,000 may seem like a steep price. But when you look at current Diablo SV road-going prices, often quoted above €500,000, the gap for a much rarer, more powerful, lighter version with a racing past becomes almost coherent.

Above all, this Diablo SV-R represents Lamborghini's starting point as a modern racing car manufacturer. It embodies an era when supercars were still analog and brutal. A time when an atmospheric V12 sang without filter, without intrusive electronic assistance, without compromise.

Yes, this Lamborghini smells of the '90s. And above all, it smells of petrol.