Lamborghini LM002 1982

So after the LM001 project was rejected by the army Lamborghini went back to the drawing board.
The LMA002 was built with an entirely new chassis, moving the engine (now the V12 out of the Lamborghini Countach) to the front. After much testing and altering of the prototype, it was finally given a serial number and became the first LM002. The production model was unveiled at the Brussels Auto Show in 1986. The LM002 was offered with carburetors and later on a fuel injected version of the V12.

Nick named the "Rambo-Lambo" (in an article by Brock Yates I believe) it carried a completely outlandish styling, not to mention having a V12 in an SUV...unheard of! The LM002s were outfitted with a full luxury package, including full leather trim, tinted power windows, air conditioning, and a premium stereo mounted in a roof console. In order to meet the vehicle's tire needs, Lamborghini commissioned Pirelli to create the Pirelli Scorpion tires with custom tread which had a small lip on the sides to be able to run on deep sand more easily. These were made specifically for the LM and no other car/SUV used them. These tires could be run flat without risk. The LM002 was also fitted with a 290 liter fuel tank.

For those requiring even more power there was a rumor that the Lamborghini L804 type 7.2 liter marine V12, more commonly found in Class 1 offshore powerboats, could be specified. This however was never officially on the options list.

Also contrary to many rumors the military version of the LM002 was never built nor were there any orders from the Libyan and Saudi Arabian military, no military versions of the LM002 exist and none were sold to foreign governments or military forces.

In 1988, Lamborghini sent an LM002 to a team of special engineers with the intention of making it capable of participating in the Paris Dakar rally, but that's another story for the following post.



 LMA002 Prototype

LM002 series version with fuel injection (notice the low hood compared to the following taller hood)