The story of an early Diablo Prototipo built based on Gandini's design

Unique ONES - The Italian premium car manufacturer based in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. in the mid-1980s was known that he was preparing a replacement for the legendary Lamborghini Countach. For the such purpose, the Italian premium automaker contacted the famous designer Marcello Gandini, who is known also the designer of another famous models of raging bulls such as the Lamborghini Miura and Countach.

The Lamborghini P132 Diablo P2 (second prototype) which has applied a half design of Gandini and Chrysler. (Picture from: CarrozzieriItaliani)

As is well known, the development of this car project began in 1985, while the Italian premium automaker company was in dire financial straits, but the Gandini's design project was set. Then in 1987, Automobili Lamborghini was acquired by the American auto giant Chrysler, left much development works should be done regarding the P132 project, especially its funding matters.

First road test of the Lamborghini Diablo P132 Prototype. From the left: Patrick Mimran (shareholder in Lamborghini at the time), engineer Luigi Marmiroli, Emile Novaro (President), Ubaldo Sgarzi (Sales Manager). (Picture from: SpeedHolics)

And after the company's 25th anniversary in 1988, the Diablo (thus the car's name later) was supposed to be ready, it turned out that the design and testing process took longer than expected, and the result, the Countach was redesigned to make it more up to date and remained in production at that time.

The Lamborghini P132 Diablo (in pictured is the 2nd prototype) were lost sharp corners and edges, but retained a typical wedge-shaped profile if compared to the original Gandini's design. (Picture from: CarrozzieriItaliani)

As quoted from LamboCars, the initial prototype that was built from the development results of Marcello Gandini's design was known later as the Lamborghini P132 Diablo Prototipo, and the name is derived from the legend of the fierce bull El Diablo, protagonist in an epic bullfight and killed by the Duke of Veragua in 1869.

The Lamborghini P132 Diablo P1 (first prototype) was rest in peace somewhere in the corner of the bull cage after thousands of kilometers running. (Picture from: LamboCars)

It has very futuristic and aggressive looking which also said look like the Countach back in the 1970s, it's just that the engine cover is given a touch of glass. Unfortunately, in the early testing phase, this such arrangement did not provide optimal engine cooling, so the idea was abandoned.

One of early prototypes, known as the Lamborghini P132 Diablo P1 (first prototype) exhibited in the brand's museum. (Picture from: Motor.es)

At the time Lamborghini had been acquired by Chrysler, so that the refinement of this P132 car's design has become more complicated, because it had to involve Chrysler's designer. Seeing the fact, Marcello Gandini was dissatisfied and withdrew from the P132 project, so then management decided to hand over the design work to Tom Gale of the Chrysler Styling Center to revise the original concept completely.

When Chrysler decided to acquire Lamborghini in the 1987, development of the Lamborghini Diablo (in pictured is the 1st prototype) was already underway, but the new owners did not like the look of the 12-cylinder sports car. (Picture from: Motor.es)

As the result, many design revisions were made which were then poured into several earlier prototypes of Lambo P132 P1, P2 and P3 which looks like a half designed by Gandini and Chrysler. So Diablo lost sharp corners and edges, but retained a recognizable wedge-shaped profile.  

One of the final Lamborghini Diablo prototypes with the side inlets, probably as camouflage. (Picture from: Motor.es)

Apparently the such hybrid design that was applied to this car still failed to satisfy Chrysler officials, so the design was altered again, this time to something much closer to the Diablo that we've known today.

Could be said this was the Lamborghini Diablo-Cizeta Moroder prototype built based on the original Marcello Gandini's design. (Picture from: LamboCars)

Regarding to the whereabouts of the prototypes that apply hybrid design such as the dark gray P1 prototype known as the real P132 Diablo which is filled with various measuring equipments to then be used as a running test mule at the Nardi Circuit. And today, it has been retired after thousands of kilometers running and now sat on display at the Lamborghini's museum.

Giorgio Moroder posing in front of the original Lamborghini Diablo-Cizeta Moroder Concept. (Picture from: Drive2.ru)

Then the orange P2 prototype is known to be still located somewhere in the corner at the factory today. Under the same fate like two other siblings, the bright blue colored P3 prototype that built later to be used as a crash test mule, was also rest in peace somewhere in the bull cage. In opposite, the P132 prototype which was built based on Gandini's original design was unknown its whereabouts. 😢

In the end Marcello Gandini brough and offered his original P132 design to Claudio Zampolli of Cizeta Automobili. No need to wait for long, the design then implemented to the Cizeta V16T. This iconic supercar of the 1990s was the result of a collaboration between ex-Lamborghini engineer Claudio Zampolli and music producer Giorgio Moroder which is officially launched back in 1991. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LAMBOCARS | MOTOR.ES | CARROZZIERIITLIANI | AUTA5P.EU | DRIVE2.RU | AUTO-RETRO-PASSION.RO | SPEEDHOLICS ]

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