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LOT 383

Selling on Saturday

1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey Edition

#1 - the very first of a mere 20 Monterey Editions built
Clean CARFAX® and just three private owners from new
Equipped with the desirable upgraded factory 530-horsepower 5.7-litre V-12 engine
The most powerful production Diablo with pop-up headlights available

VIN: ZA9DU21B1WLA12000

By the late 1990s, Lamborghini was pushing the Diablo to its limits, refining the formula that had made it one of the most outrageous supercars of its era. Wanting to celebrate the final year of the pop-up headlights before giving the Diablo a new facelift, the SV Monterey Edition was introduced in 1989 and became one of the most exclusive Diablo variants. A limited-production model unveiled at the 1998 Monterey Car Week, Lamborghini built just 20 examples, making it one of the rarest iterations of the legendary V-12-powered machine.

The Monterey Edition was based on the Diablo SV (Super Veloce), but with a more potent power plant. To help further set the Monterey Edition apart, it was blessed with 530 horsepower, 20 more than the SV. Power came from the 5.7-litre V-12, an engine that roared to life with a distinctively raw Italian soundtrack and propelled the car from 0 to 60 mph in just over 4 seconds. Unlike its VT sibling, the SV was a driver-focused machine, omitting all-wheel drive in favor of a purer, more aggressive handling experience.

What further set the Monterey Edition apart besides its performance was its exclusive aesthetic treatment. Each of the 20 cars were finished in a unique color combination, with striking two-tone interiors and bespoke badging. Special wheels, carbon-fiber trim, and a more aggressive stance emphasized the Diablo's razor-edged personality. Combined with its aggressive and powerful performance, these cars became instant collectibles and are praised as being the most powerful production pop-up headlight Diablos available.

#1 of a mere 20 examples built, as the dash plaque will attest, this 1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey Edition is finished in a striking and eye-catching color of Yellow Metallic with the iconic SV graphics and its Monterey Edition factory chrome OZ racing wheels. The aerodynamically aggressive design also features tinted windows, black taillight bezels, quad exhaust pipes, and an optional factory rear wing with a carbon fiber down force adjustable blade.

The cabin is inlaid with special two-tone yellow and black upholstery with sport seats that comprise headrests embroidered with "SV Monterey Edition." Other interior items include air-conditioning, a Pioneer "flip out" screen and Bluetooth radio, which was a trademark of these early Diablos, factory white-faced gauges that show this example retains 25,797 km (16,253 miles) at the time of cataloging, and a carbon fiber "SV Monterey Edition" shifter knob. A fresh mechanical service was completed in March of 2025 and, to protect the special Yellow Metallic paint, full PPF wrap was applied. Accompanying the sale of this prized Diablo is a treasure trove of items that includes the clean CARFAX®, maintenance records, manuals, a tool kit, and a Monterey Edition car cover.

Today, the Diablo SV Monterey Edition remains a coveted prize for collectors, offering a snapshot of late-1990s supercar excess. It represents the final years of Lamborghini's raw, unfiltered V-12 experience before the Audi-led modernization of the brand. Rarity, performance, and outrageous style - this Diablo has it all, and as the first of just a mere 20 Monterey Editions, its arguably the most desirable of them all.