Only 132 Diablo VT Roadsters were built between 1997 and 1999 for the American market. That alone makes such a sports car a rarity. But it gets even more exclusive: Because the Lamborghini now sold was not only the only one of its vintage that the factory painted in the color “Blu Le Mans”, but also belonged to former US President Donald Trump, the rare flounder recently set a record .
At an auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson’s gavel only fell at $1.1 million. No Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster has ever been this expensive. For comparison: In Switzerland, a comparable vehicle from 1998 can be had for around half a million euros; at other auctions the prices are in a similar range.
The rare Trump package, consisting of papers with the president’s name, the rare color and a personalized plaque with the words “Donald Trump 1997 Diablo” on the door, was apparently worth around twice as much to a buyer. “The Donald” got the extra sausage because of his good relationships with the manufacturer, writes Barrett-Jackson.
But apart from that, the Diablo VT Roadster hardly differs from other vehicles in the model series: It is powered by a mid-mounted 5.7-liter V12 engine with 48 valves that produces 492 hp. The Lambo also comes with a 5-speed manual transmission and an all-wheel drive system. The top speed is 325 kilometers per hour, and it goes from 0 to 100 in around 4 seconds.
The hype surrounding the vehicle was significantly greater this year than when it was last sold. At the end of 2016, shortly before Trump took office, the “Blu Le Mans” Lambo ended up on eBay and was offered there for 460,000 US dollars. Stern reported at the time that the offer had been withdrawn and the car probably did not find a buyer.
The exact mileage at that time was around 25,000 kilometers. That hasn’t changed to this day, only a few trips have apparently been added. It is not known who can look forward to the considerable increase in value – and who will now be traveling in the ex-Trump Lambo.
