Sultan of Brunei’s Lamborghini Is Up for Auction

The LM002 is a rare and sought-after vehicle that originated from Lamborghini’s 1970s Cheetah project, which saw the Italian supercar manufacturer attempt to create an off-road vehicle for the US military. The final production model of the LM002, now with Lamborghini’s own V12 located ahead of the driver, was first presented at the Brussels Auto Show in 1986. Just 300 examples were manufactured between 1986 and 1993. Today, the LM002 remains a sought-after machine. The Online auction house SBX Cars is offering a particularly special one from August 7-28, 2024. The highest bid so far is INR 1.25 crore ($150,000). The vehicle in question, chassis ZA9L00000KLA12162, is one of only three LM002 Wagons ever built and the only wagon-bodied LM002 that Lamborghini ever sanctioned.

The car was originally delivered to the Sultan of Brunei via Singapore Lamborghini in 1986. Three years later, the Sultan commissioned Salvatore Diamonte to convert the LM002 into wagon specification. Diamonte’s conversion saw significant alterations to the LM002’s utility and silhouette. The rear pickup bed was fully enclosed and the roofline was raised, extending the cabin. A U-shaped bench was then installed in the rear that provided seating for five passengers. The downside of the conversion was a significant weight increase of 499kg, bringing the total kerbweight to just a shade under three tonnes at 2994kg.

It is believed the Sultan of Brunei covered just 1100 miles in the LM002 before it passed into the ownership of former BMW and VW CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder, who then sold the car to a Swedish woman who used it for the school run. It has remained in Sweden ever since and is being offered for sale with just 10,383 miles on its odometer.

The LM002 originally sported Nero paintwork but was later refinished in Argento Metallizato. The Cuoio Nero leather interior features a host of optional extras including air-conditioning, electric windows, central locking, a stereo system, custom dashboard and wood panelling, DVD player, television and a sunroof. The best part of all, though, is undoubtedly the 5.2-litre V12 engine from the Lamborghini Countach that lurks under the bonnet. Here, it develops 444bhp, allowing the 2994kg off-roader to reach 60mph in around eight seconds and top out at 130mph.

The Sultan of Brunei’s LM002 is from the vehicle’s first year of production, 1986. Some may call the off-roader an SUV, but thanks to its bed it’s more of a truck, just like the Humvee that inspired the first-generation Hummer. This wouldn’t do for the royal, though, so he hired coachbuilder Salvatore Diomante to turn it into a wagon. Three LM002 wagons would be built during the seven years the vehicle was in production, but this one-off is the only build that Lamborghini officially sanctioned.

The Sultan of Brunei’s LM002 is one of the very few vehicles to leave the monarch’s insane collection. The boxy off-road vehicle is soon going to be auctioned off by SBX Cars, giving car collectors a unique chance to own a rare automobile.