The Lamborghini LM002 is probably the first luxury SUV in history
- The Lamborghini LM002 is inspired by a military vehicle from the 1970s
- This is a one-off Wagon model built for the Sultan of Brunei
- It’s done under 12,000 km
Published on Jul 16, 2024 at 5:53 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jul 23, 2024 at 2:12 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
When Lamborghini unveiled the Urus a few years back, some people called it the ‘first’ ever SUV made by Lambo, but that wasn’t quite right.
In the 1980s, when the world was different and therefore the car market was different, Lamborghini unveiled the LM002.
It was halfway between an experiment and a design study, but it quickly became iconic.
This is the ‘Wagon’ version, which – get this – used to belong to the Sultan of Brunei, and it is currently available from SBX Cars.
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In the 1970s, Lamborghini built the Cheetah, a one-off prototype initially designed as a military vehicle for the US Army.
The one-off, powered by a 5.9-liter V8 and featuring a fiberglass body, was unveiled at the 1977 Geneva Motor Show.
But the project never really went anywhere, and Lamborghini forgot all about it for nearly 20 years.
Introducing the Lamborghini LM002, the first-ever luxury SUV
In 1986, Lamborghini launched the LM002, a luxury off-roader openly inspired by the Cheetah.
It had a 5.2-liter, 450-horsepower engine from the Countach, but customers could also opt for a 7.2-liter V12.
It wasn’t the fastest car in the world, but it could still accelerate from standstill to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, and reach a top speed of 130 mph in its 450 horsepower guise.
A car fit for a king…or a Sultan
The Lamborghini LM002 ‘Wagon’ version was built specifically for the Sultan of Brunei, who has a collection of over 7,000 cars.
It definitely stands out, even though it is relatively subtle, coming in with Argento Metallizzato paintwork and leather upholstery in Nero Cuoio.
This vehicle was built in 1986, but it still quite well-equipped, with air conditioning, power windows and central locking, a stereo system, a television, and a sunroof.
And it also has a lot of seats.
Technically, you wouldn’t be wrong if you called this a 10-seat car.
It has two at the front, two at the back, and three two-person benches in the trunk.
A one-off unicorn
There aren’t that many Lamborghini LM002 examples available to buy, and this is especially true for this Wagon model, because this is a one-off.
The LM002 Wagon is available from SBX Cars, with 10,383 km (6,451 miles) on the clock.
The Sultan has apparently driven it for 1,770 of those kilometers.
This car really is a piece of history, and it’s available now on SBX Cars.
