This Lamborghini LM002 Wagon from the Sultan of Brunei’s Collection Now Up for Auction

The Sultan converted the LM002 into an enclosed SUV body style, making it the first true Lamborghini SUV.

When it comes to the garages of the world’s wealthiest individuals, few are as captivating as that of the Sultan of Brunei. His collection, rumored to have contained between 3,000 and 7,000 cars at its peak, boasted an extraordinary array of 1980s and 90s dream cars, including 11 Ferrari F40s and 10 McLaren F1s. The true extent and current state of the collection remain a mystery, fueled by endless speculation. Our limited knowledge comes from photos, secondhand accounts, and the rare vehicles that have left the Sultan’s possession—like this unique 1986 Lamborghini LM002 SUV, which will be publicly auctioned for the first time by SBX Cars in August.

Produced from 1986 to 1993, the LM002 featured a military-derived chassis and a 5.2L V12 engine from the Countach, and is often regarded as Lamborghini’s first sport utility vehicle, particularly among Urus owners. However, it was originally a pickup with an open bed. This design didn’t suit Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who commissioned coachbuilder Salvatore Diomante to transform his LM002 into a closed wagon body style with a raised roof, thus creating the true first Lamborghini SUV. Reportedly, three such conversions were made, but the whereabouts of the other two remain unknown. This makes it likely you’ll be the only one showing up to Cars & Coffee with this unique vehicle. Additionally, the listing claims this is the only conversion officially sanctioned by Lamborghini. Provenance matters, right?

There’s some stiff competition, but I don’t think any vehicle embodies the 1980s more than the LM002. It’s pure irrational excess. No other era would see a canceled military concept truck from a major automaker reborn as a luxury plaything, complete with a leather and wood-lined interior, a supercar V12, a stick shift, and a claimed top speed of 130 mph. With 444 horsepower, it ranked among the top five most powerful production cars of the decade, despite weighing over 6,700 pounds.

This particular model is even heavier due to its SUV conversion, but the tradeoff is a more spacious and livable interior. The second row features a fancy center console with a TV, VCR, and a DVD player added later. The cargo area is equipped with a U-shaped bench and some inexpensive-looking speakers. The listing mentions some cracks on the leather seats, but overall, it’s in great shape. The exterior has also held up well, having been repainted in Argento Metallizzato and showing only minor scuffs and bubbles. It’s said to be in full driving condition and comes with an extensive service history, though it still rides on its original 345-width tires, which cost thousands of dollars each to replace. A new set is supposedly included.

One of the most fascinating and depressing aspects of the Sultan’s car collection is its reported deterioration over the years. Following a financial crisis in the late 1990s, the sultanate allegedly couldn’t afford to maintain the massive fleet properly. Since then, stories of garages filled with rotting Ferraris and Bugattis have emerged. The LM002 has remained in relatively good condition because the Sultan only drove it for a thousand miles before selling it to former BMW and Volkswagen CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder. He then sold it to its current owner in 2009, a Swedish woman who used it to drive her children to school. That’s a normal thing to do.

The Sultan’s old SUV goes up for auction on August 7th.

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  • Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...

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