1990 Lamborghini LM002 - Rambo Lambo (Part 2)

‘The owner’s had this car for 20 years and absolutely loves it,’ explains Graham Schulz, proprietor of The Modena Group. ‘We’ve looked after it since he first bought it, and about a year ago he asked us to restore it to better-than-new condition. As far as we know, no-one’s ever gone into an LM002 in this depth. The factory was very supportive of what we were doing; we sent them photos regularly, and whenever I talked to Bruno in the parts department he’d ask how we were getting on. We reckon it’s now the best example in the world.’

Like other vehicles of its ilk anyone who has been inside a Hummer will know what we mean – the LM002 achieves a ‘reverse Tardis’ effect: it looks huge on the outside but not at all big on the inside. That’s because much of the space is taken up by an enormous transmission tunnel. This LM002 is a lot more accommodating for the driver than most, however, because Modena has adjusted the reach of the steering column and moved the seat rearwards to suit its six-foot-plus owner . It’s definitely a four-seater, and surplus minions must perch less-than-comfortably outside on the benches above the rear wheels – although even that option is denied to passengers in this vehicle, which has a massive detachable locker bolted to the load space floor.

Even taking into account the Alice in Wonderland growth in car proportions that’s occurred over the last 30 years, the LM002 is still a monstrous vehicle. “The closest thing to a street-legal Tiger tank known to man,” was Brock Yates’ introduction in his 1987 road test. And you do need a certain amount of chutzpah to be seen filling it up on the average British forecourt, although you can take some small relief in knowing that the 9.5:1 compression-ratio V12 will run happily on Regular rather than Super Unleaded. ‘So, Graham, what is the average fuel consumption?’ ‘About 5-8mpg,’ deadpans the Modena boss.

Even taking into account the Alice in Wonderland growth in car proportions that’s occurred over the last 30 years, the LM002 is still a monstrous vehicle.

Lamborghini did experiment with a diesel-powered LM002, using a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six made by VM of Italy, but 150bhp to propel nearly three tones was never going to make much sense. Exit LM003.ButLM004,which follow a diametrically opposed philosophy , did make it into production. This variant was equipped with a 7.3-litre Lamborghini V12 that had been designed by Paolo Stanzani for powerboat racing, and which gave a claimed 420bhp at 5400rpm. Autocar was given a demonstration in 1986, part of which involved climbing a 70º hill: ‘Bystanders reported the front wheels coming off the ground. We should be in the Guinness Book of World Records.’

There’ll be no antics like that in High Wycombe this evening, thank you very much. Hoist yourself up into the monochrome cockpit and you’ll find a steering wheel set at an appropriately bus-like angle. Land Rover drivers will be familiar with the lever used to shift between high and low ranges, and perhaps also with the way that you have to climb back out of the vehicle to lock the freewheeling front hubs for off-road use – the freewheels being a token gesture to greater on-road fuel economy. There are limited-slip diffs in both axles and you can manually lock the rearmost one (from inside the cabin, thankfully).

Graham warns that the clutch is exceptionally heavy, something that road testers also commented on back in the day, but in fact it turns out to be not that bad man up, chaps! Similarly, the gear change is a bit clunky and can’t be rushed, and the overwhelming impression is of being behind the wheel of an overgrown Range Rover Classic: initially it feels a bit ponderous, but as confidence grows you realize you can really punt this thing around quite effectively. It’s actually very easy to drive, thanks to the high seating position and power-assisted steering.

It’s actually very easy to drive, thanks to the high seating position and power-assisted steering.

As you would expect from a carb-fed Countach V12, there’s no lack of Power but, given that it’s propelling what is basically a four-wheel-drive truck, acceleration is strong rather than supercar-quick – and, of course, the heavy gear change slows you down a little. But speed is only one weapon in Rambo Lambo’s armory: it feels (and appears)unstoppable, even without the standard-spec winch that would normally be mounted up front. ‘We decided to leave that off,’ explains Graham. ‘It’s heavy and because of the way it projects, I’m not convinced about its legality…’

The view from the driver’s seat, gazing out over the twin power bulges necessary to clear the V12, is empowering, to say the least, and the roar from the twin exhausts (custom made by Modena) is glorious. The LM002 is not nearly as aristocratically refined as the Countach whose engine it shares but instead emits a macho, lower-pitched mechanical growl that leaves bystanders in no doubt they’re in the presence of something with lots of cylinders and lots of liters. And, indeed, lots of carburetors – there are six big Webers pouring fuel into the V12.

Perhaps this Goliath’s greatest weakness is its lousy turning circle, not helped by the 325-section Pirelli Scorpions that were, until recently , almost as hard to track down as some of the LM002’s more infamous owners. ‘It’s only in the last couple of years that people have started using their LM002s enough to make it worthwhile for Pirelli to produce new tires,’ explains Graham. ‘The result is that in the past each new tire cost $3300, whereas tires from the next batch will be more like $900.’

‘The result is that in the past each new tire cost $3300, whereas tires from the next batch will be more like $900.’

That dramatic price reduction is a good indication of the way LM002s are now starting to take off in a big way, after years of obscurity, says Graham. ‘Not long ago you could buy a good one for 25, 30 or 40 thousand,’ he says, ‘whereas now they’re $150,000 and more. All the classic Lamborghinis are going the same way and the V12 has a unique appeal. It can’t be long now before the last V12 is built.’

Even by the standards of its day, the LM002 was a dinosaur, a creature completely out of step with the closing years of the 20th century, and it's time for roaming free in the new millennium may be fast running out – hunted to extinction by men armed not with spears but with carbon dioxide meters. We’re indeed witnessing a privileged era, a time when dinosaurs ruled High Wycombe.