With a V-12 engine from its cousin the Countach and a design aesthetic out of a Mad Max movie, the Lamborghini LM002 is simply an SUV like no other.

The name Lamborghini immediately conjures up images of sleek, sexy, luxury sports cars, the kind you see at the parties of the ultra-rich or a gala Hollywood opening. Well, get ready for a Lamborghini like no other before or since: meet the beastly Lamborghini LM002, produced between 1986 and 1993, and affectionately known as the Rambo Lambo.

If you’ve never heard of this short-lived rarity in the Lambo family, you’re not alone. Ride along as we take a spin through a unique detour on the road of Lamborghini history.

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What makes the Lamborghini LM002 special?

With the LM002, it’s easier to talk about what’s not special about it. This beastly off-road vehicle was an extreme departure for Lamborghini, a maker whose name is synonymous with sleek performance and sexy styling.

As part of the brand’s Lamborghini Militaria line (hence the LM), it was a fierce all-terrain vehicle intended for military use. However, it was not well-received and was deemed too complicated for actual field use, and only about 328 were made.

Despite its failure to catch on in the intended market, the LM002 is the pioneer of the luxury sport utility vehicles of today. Imagine an Italian Humvee with an attitude, and you’ve got the idea.

The Rambo Lambo wasn’t messing around—its all-wheel-drive handling was capable of climbing improbable inclines on its custom-made Pirelli tires that could be run virtually flat while still handling the stresses of the battlefield.

Let’s dig in a bit on the specs of this rare creature!

Engine

The designers of the LM002 did something that was unheard of at the time—they took a massive performance engine and essentially put it in a tank. The LM002’s four-cam, 48-valve V12 engine was taken from the iconic Countach and was capable of delivering up to 444 horsepower.

The transmission was a five-speed manual with what Car and Driver described as a “bear trap clutch.” Powering something as big as the LM002 doesn’t come cheaply, however, as the observed mpg registered in the single digits—eight, to be exact.

Styling

For the LM002, Lamborghini took its standard styling and threw it out the window. Gone are the aerodynamic and lightweight sensibilities of the sports car lines. The LM002 is heavy, brutish, and militaristic. No smooth lines here—just the industrial, boxy angles mounted on a set of tires worthy of a monster truck rally.

This is a vehicle you want to get out of the way of. The curb weight for the LM002 was a whopping 6,780 pounds. For perspective, that’s about 1,000 pounds heavier than the average Chevy Suburban. This Lambo wasn’t designed to produce envy or impress your date—it was designed to intimidate an enemy.

Speed

Massive speed is one of the hallmarks of any Lamborghini. The Countach’s mighty engine yields a top speed of 118 mph in the LM002’s immense frame, and it will go 0 to 60 in 7.2 seconds. While that’s slow for a Lamborghini, remember that it’s powering a vehicle that’s basically a piece of hardcore military equipment.

Features

The Lamborghini didn’t catch on with the US military, allegedly because it was considered too complicated for your average GI to be able to maintain in the field under real-world situations. While a few models were sold as status symbols to the rich and eccentric, Lamborghini primarily pivoted to a very niche market: sheiks and private militia commanders.

To appeal to this unique (and frankly, a bit sketchy) demographic, Lamborghini added such features as leather upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, a stereo system, and jump seats in the open rear deck where one could relax…when not on machine-gun duty.

The Lamborghini Militaria line: well, that happened

Most people are unaware that Lamborghini even made such an interesting departure in the late 80s and early 90s. In all, there were six vehicles in the LM series, but the LM002 was the only one that made it out of the prototype stage.

Car and Driver managed to get their hands on one for a review and road test in 1987, and they absolutely

loved it

with childlike glee, despite its brutish impracticality. However, the Rambo Lambo failed to catch on, and the line was discontinued in the early 90s. That being said, the LM002’s importance as a forerunner of the modern luxury behemoths of today can’t be overstated.

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How much does a Lamborghini LM002 cost?

When it was new, the LM002 had a sticker price of around $120,000. That’s about the equivalent of $303,000 today. Less than 50 were sold in the US market.

Used cost

The price for used LM002s has fluctuated wildly over the years since production stopped. Sold at auction, these rare giants have gone from anywhere from $95,000 to upwards of $500,000.

Parts are rare and expensive for the LM002, and finding a mechanic with the know-how to work on it is like finding a unicorn.

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How much does it cost to insure a Lamborghini LM002?

It’s tough to say, but one common feature of Lamborghinis is that they are expensive to insure. Once you get past the point of your agent saying “you have a what?” you can definitely expect to pay several thousands annually for insuring this unique specimen.

If you do manage to get your hands on a Rambo Lambo, it would be worth investigating insurance providers who specialize in exotic

classic cars

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How does the Lamborghini LM002 compare to other models?

The Lamborghini LM002 is truly in a class of its own, both among other Lambos and in the wider automotive world. Comparing it to its cousins is like comparing apples to oranges, but here’s how the basic specs break down:

Vehicle	Body types	2022 starting price	Engine	0 to 60	Top speed
Lamborghini LM002	SUV	n/a	5.12-liter V-12 w/44 hp	7.7 seconds	118 mph
Lamborghini Countach	Coupe	$2,640,000	Electrically-assisted 6.5-liter V-12 w/802 hp	2.8 seconds	221 mph
Lamborghini Huracán	Coupe or convertible	$213,104	5.2-liter V-10 w/631 hp	2.5 seconds	204 mph
Lamborghini Urus	SUV	$225,501	Twin-turbo V8 w/641 hp	3.2 seconds	109 mph
Bugatti Chiron	Coupe	$3,300,000	8.0-liter W-16 w/1,578 hp	2.2 seconds	261 mph
Ferrari SF90 Stradale	Coupe or convertible	$507,000	4.0-liter V8 w/three electric motors, combined 986 hp	2.3 seconds	211 mph

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Where you can buy a Lamborghini LM002

Your options for buying an LM002 are going to be extremely limited, so be ready to hunt online auctions and classic car websites. As of this writing, Classic Driver had two LM002s listed for sale—one in Luxembourg and one in Monaco. If you can pull it off, it would be an epic road trip like no other.

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