When the Lamborghini Diablo was introduced, it had some major shoes to fill. The Countach was *the* poster car of the 1980s, and when the Diablo came onto the scene, it was a quantum leap past what its predecessor was. Did people love the cab-forward design? Well, I can remember more than a few young gearheads being disappointed by the Diablo when it was introduced, but that by and large changed over time and now it’s one of the fastest appreciating Lamborghinis out there. This 1997 Diablo VT is listed here on eBay f0r $440,000 or best offer, with around 7,000 miles on the clock.

Its shape and profile notwithstanding, the Diablo was instantly recognized as being both wildly different and exactly the same as the Countach. While the Countach was wild in all the best ways, it wasn’t a car you dreamt of driving cross-country in. While every car at this level forces you to make compromises related to driver comfort and amenities, the Diablo forced you to make fewer of them, but it was far from perfect. The Diablo was conceived at a time when resources were limited in the development budget, yet customers expected some additional civility for their hard-earned dollars – and Lamborghini agreed to make these changes at the cost of added weight.

Features like electric windows and air conditioning that actually worked were chief among them, while of course not skimping on performance. The Diablo was constructed from all manners of exotic materials and composites, yet it was still heavier than its rivals. It was also two inches wider than even the massive Ferrari Testarossa, so there’s little doubt the intimidation factor was strong when these supercars first appeared on the roads. And speaking of roads, keeping a Diablo in its lane was a challenge with its somewhat ancient underpinnings, nearly 500 horsepower, and no traction control.

The V12 was a touch easier to control in later models like this VT that introduced AWD, but no matter which version you chose, quick reflexes were a must. The Diablo came in a few different flavors, all of which have a distinct impact on the price you’ll pay. The SE30 and Jota editions command top dollar if you can find one, and given how prices for the entire Diablo line have been on a steady increase for years, expect those limited-release trims to stay near the top of the sports car pyramid for some time to come. The best time to buy a car like this is today, because it will likely be more expensive tomorrow.