All cars out there lose value as miles add up. But collectables are a whole different story, a story in which 100 miles might cost the owner thousands of dollars. A true "devil" no matter how you look at it, this 1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV is surely one of them. The current owner bought it in 2021, drove it for 1,000 miles, and decided to sell it.
It is not uncommon among collectors. But it sounds heartbreaking for all those who would give an arm and a leg to have this beast in their driveway. This head-turning Lamborghini Diablo is an SV.
The SV is the radical version of the sports car. Lamborghini unveiled it in 1995, five years after the Italian house had rolled out the replacement for the Countach. It had big shoes to fill because the Countach was an icon, which had come out of the hands of Marcello Gandini.
But the Diablo checked all the right boxes and got the scissor doors of the Countach, too. It was the first production Lamborghini to reach a top speed of over 200 mph (322 kph).
There were times when car enthusiasts had to wait for motor shows to see a car getting unveiled. Officially introducing it on the internet was not an option. So, that was what Lamborghini did. The head-turning Diablo SV, with the SV standing for Super Veloce, which is Italian for Super Fast, debuted at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show.
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It came with an extreme design and extra oomph. The. 5.7-liter V12 pumped out 510 horsepower (517 metric horsepower) and 428 pound-feet (580 Newton meters) of torque. A five-speed gated manual helped put the power down through the rear wheels because the SV was supposed to be more fun than the all-wheel drive standard Diablo.
Lamborghini called it an "entry-level," but that wasn't really accurate
Lamborghini came up with an adjustable rear spoiler, either in the body color or carbon fiber. Dual front lights, black taillight surrounds, repositioned rear fog, and reverse lights were on the list. Furthermore, it sported an extra set of front brake cooling ducts and larger diameter front brakes to match the extra oomph. Consequently, it needed larger 18-inch wheels on the front axle.
Customers could also check the box for the optional "SV" decals on the sides. As you probably guessed – it is not like you can ignore them! – this 1998 Diablo SV has those huge decals on the sides. Roof scoops, similar to those of the Jota version, help the engine breathe. Despite all the extras, Lamborghini kept calling it "entry-level."
Lamborghini only built 20 examples of the Diablo SV for the United States and marketed them as the Monterey Edition. They came with air intakes inspired by the SE30/VT versions, positioned in front of the rear wheels, unlike the European models. Some of them were painted in eye-damaging colors, but not this one.
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This is finished in Smalto Deep Black with the aforementioned "SV" graphics on the doors over a Nero leather interior. The "SV" logo is also embroidered on the headrests. Power-operated windows, power door locks, power-adjustable door mirrors, an air conditioning system, and a front axle lift system are also on the menu. An aftermarket Pioneer head unit and a rear-view camera showed up on board the Diablo SV.
The car rides on factory 18-inch three-piece, five-spoke OZ Racing wheels. It is equipped with an adjustable suspension system and a limited-slip differential.
The Diablo SV has never been a garage queen
It comes with a clean, accident-free Carfax report, which contains several gaps. However, there are no mileage discrepancies. The only modification that it underwent was being wrapped in a paint protection film, which covers the whole car and currently sports some rock chips on the forward-facing surfaces.
The odometer reads 38,831 kilometers, which translates to 24,128 miles. The listing also mentions that the paint on the wheel surfaces has faded over the years and that the gas pedal shows signs of wear, which are signs that this car has been driven and has not spent its life as a garage queen, but has had its fair share of fun on the road.
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The left front window regulator was replaced in July 2023, the car got new tires in September 2018, and a new oxygen sensor, engine oil and oil filter in June 2018. There are also the onboard Pioneer head unit and rear-view camera added at some point during the lifetime of this 26-year old "Devil."
The current owner bought the Diablo SV in 2021 and has only added 1,000 miles since. He is selling it now. The car goes with a key fob, the owner's manual, and the original tool bag.
With six days to go, the highest bid hit $275,000, and that is just where it might stop. Doug DeMuro drove the car and decided it should be a $600,000 affair. According to classics.com, the average sale price of a Diablo SV is $275,000, with a top sale reaching $450,000
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