1986-1992 Lamborghini LM 002
Provided by Hemmings

It is not all that surprising that Lamborghini, most well known for its line of high-performance street-legal supercars (GT-350, 400, Miura, Countach, Diablo, etc.) once forayed into the realm of four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicles for, after all, the company's roots originated in the manufacture of farming tractors.

The progenitor of the LM 002, which was built from 1986 to 1992, was the Cheetah. This open-bodied off-roader was built at the behest of the U.S. government, which was searching for a successor to the Jeep, through Mobility Technology International. Powered by a 5.9-liter Chrysler V-8 and 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission, the only Cheetah built was destroyed during testing, and the military contract eventually went to AM General's Hummer. Rather than abandon the concept of producing an all-terrain vehicle, Lamborghini in 1981 released another prototype, this one targeted towards the civilian market, the LM 001. Similar in design and layout to the Cheetah, the LM 001 was plagued with the same problems. Because of its rear-engine configuration, its weight distribution was highly unfavorable in regards to traction and handling, and it had problems with the front end rising on acceleration with a resultant loss of front-wheel traction. Like the Cheetah, only one prototype was built.

The engineers finally got it right when they came out with the LMA-002, the first front-engine version of this odd offshoot from the Santa Agatha carmaker. Rather than having its power provided by American V-8s, a Lamborghini V-12 was chosen along with a ZF five-speed gearbox. Though the LMA-002s chassis warranted an extensive redesign based on the change in engine location, its overall exterior appearance remained true to the character established by the earlier prototypes; rather brutish, very squared-off body panels, wide tires, plenty of ground clearance and ruggedness. Again, a single prototype was built, this one making its debut before the public at the 1982 Geneva Auto Show.

Four years later, at the 1986 Brussels Auto Show, the wraps were lifted off of the LM-002. This time the response to the vehicle was immediate, and production was warranted. An ideal mode of transportation for Middle Eastern countries, it's no shock that the first one built went to the king of Morocco. And in the Italian tradition, the LM-002, despite its rugged looks, could be ordered with any and every option available, from full leather and power interiors to military specifications. With the change to a front-engine configuration, its weight distribution was close to 50/50 front and rear, with independent suspension and a tubular steel space-frame chassis further improving its handling traits. Powering the nearly 3-ton, 6-foot tall was Lamborghini's 60-degree aluminum V-12, rated at 450 horsepower at 6,800 rpm at the flywheel and 369 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm. Later versions of the V-12, enlarged to 5,707cc's upped power even further and, in some cases, LMN-002s were ordered with V-12's from Lamborghini's marine department, with 7,257cc displacement. Four-wheel drive was part time, its 17 x 11-inch steel rims were shod with massive 325/65VR/17 Pirelli Scorpion tires, and the entire package was claimed to be good for a top speed of 130 mph, while fuel consumption in miles-per-gallon was in the single-digit range, which necessitated a massive 73-gallon gas tank. If you could afford to fill that tank with premium with any regularity, you most likely had no qualms about owning the first luxury sport utility.

Inside was seating for four in quite comfortable confines, and an additional two passengers could ride along in the open rear section.

Purchasing a "Rambo-Lambo," as it became known in the U.S., was dependent upon just how drastically one craved ownership. Outfitted, prices ranged from just under $100,000 to $135,000. By the end of its production run, just over 300 LM-002s were built; and today, with its 6-foot, 2-inch height, 12 inches of ground clearance and V-12 powerplant, it remains capable of presenting an imposing countenance to even the biggest American SUV on the road. Off-road - it's in a league of its own.