1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster

With a 1990s movie portfolio that would put Tom Hanks to shame, the Lamborghini Diablo became the ‘it’ car of the decade. Wherever it went it was admired and whoever was seen in it, well, they had made it. But there was one version of the Diablo that was a little more daring than the others, the rear-wheel-drive 5.7, V12 Diablo.

First contemplated in 1985 as a successor to the Countach (another vehicle with a strong film presence) Project 132 had a one-line brief – the car must have a top speed of at least 315km/h. After a design program that spanned multiple iterations and five years, the Diablo was first presented to the public in January of 1990.

Available in coupe or convertible, the Diablo featured a range of drivetrain options including a 5.7 and 6.0 litre, V12 engine paired to either rear or all-wheel-drive (from 1993) configurations - pending variant and grade.

Powered by a 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V12, the Diablo pumps out 362kW at 7,000rpm and 605Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a five-speed manual transmission, paired to a limited-slip differential. The formidable combination saw the Diablo hit 100km/h in 4.5 seconds as it proceeded to a mind-bending 325km/h top speed – design brief fulfilled.

This particular Diablo VT Roadster is 1 of only 4 Australian delivered cars and its first owner was none other than flamboyant entrepreneur, investor, investment adviser and stockbroker (and all round scallywag), Rene Rivkin. He owned the car for just two years before selling it to its second owner in 2000 who has owned the car since then right up until the CHROME TEMPLE Mach 1 fund acquired it.

Presenting in immaculate and outstanding original condition and just impossibly good to drive, this Diablo VT must surely be one of the most desirable and collectible V12 supercars on the market.