Who wants to go off-roading?
The LM002 is one of the lesser-known but legendary vehicles to come from Lamborghini. Not only did it stray from their usual range of sports cars and grand tourers, but it was the first model to use a four-wheel drive. When it was built, it had a big V-12, beefy tires and rims, and an exotic look that was unmatched by anything else on or off the road.
From 1986 to 1993, a total of 328 LM002 models were produced by Lamborghini, which makes them a special and rare vehicle. However, there’s an even rarer breed that was built for the legendary Paris-Dakar race. It had more power, even bigger tires and rims, and an unforgettable utilitarian look straight from the pages of ‘Mad Max’.
Talented driver, Sandro Munari, and his navigator, Mario Mannucci, were enlisted to drive this special Paris-Dakar LM002 racer. Lamborghini completely re-made the LM002 from the ground up. The V-12 engine saw its power increased to 600 horsepower while any kind of luxury and amenity was stripped out to save weight. In place was a roll cage, bucket seats with racing harnesses, and a state-of-the-art navigation system (for the time).
The notoriously difficult race almost always led to some kind of damage, so spare tires and rims were stored behind the cockpit. New plastic windows helped improve safety and cut down on weight as well. Under the lighter body sat a bigger fuel tank for the long journey.
In order to survive the treacherous terrain, the suspension was completely revamped and a bigger set of brakes were installed. New tires and rims that were designed for the sandy terrain were also fitted.
After everything was installed, the car was all set to race in the Paris-Dakar race, but was unable to due to a lack of sponsorship. After being forced to withdraw, it spend time racing off-road in Greece where it led until being forced to retire just a few miles from the finish line.
While it never took home the checkered flag, this hardcore Lamborghini LM002 will forever live on in our dreams.
Source: Lamborghini
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