Lamborghini LM001

[Vaigra]

After the Cheetah mishap, the idea of an off-road Lamborghini was still alive, and the new money that came with the entry of the Mimram brothers (which had unlimited funds according to their Swiss banks) made it possible to redesign the Cheetah into the LM-001.

The LM-001 took the Cheetah design one step further, the engine was kept in the back, but it was decided to use the Lamborghini V-12 unit, now with a 4754 cc piston displacement to increase the flexibility and handling of this heavy machine. However, the first LM-001 used a 5896 cc AMC V-8 engine, but the choice of the engine wasn't the problem, the location of it was the major problem.
The LM-001 was presented on the 1981 Geneva Auto Show, together with the new Jalpa, the body design used a lot of flat panels to make it easier to install armour-plated ones. It was still a four-seater, but now with four doors and two rectangular head lamps (some photo's show the Cheeath with doors installed, but it was mostly shown without doors or roof). Just behind the rear doors were big air intakes to cool the engine, but because it was placed in the back, the road holding capabilities weren't very good, while accelerating, the front became too light for best steering control, but this would be solved with a third car, which used the famous Lamborghini V-12 in the front, the LMA-002.


Lamborghini LM001

ENGINE
Type-AMC V8
Capacity-5900cc
Compression-8.4:1
Max power-180bhp @ 4,000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Make/Model-Chrysler A-727
Type-Automatic with torque converter

CONSTRUCTION
Chassis-Tubular
Layout-Mid-engine
Suspension-Independent, torsion bars and telescopic shock absorbers
Brakes-Countach ventilated discs
Wheels-Steel
Tires-14 front / 16 LT rear
Fuel Tank-190 L / 50 gal

DIMENSIONS
Overall Length-4790mm / 186.8 in
Overall Width-2000mm / 78 in
Overall Height-1790mm / 69.8 in
Wheelbase-2950mm / 115 in
Front Track-1615mm / 63 in
Rear Track-1615mm / 63 in
Weight-2100kg / 4620 lbs

PERFORMANCE
Top speed-160 kph / 99.2 mph