You could score this rare US-spec Lamborghini LM002 at RM Sotheby’s auction

On December 4, Lamborghini is scheduled to release the very much awaited Urus SUV, and a few days after that, an LM002 by the Italian automaker will be put up for auction by RM Sotheby’s at the New York Icons. The automaker says that the model will be sold by almost double the amount of the Urus, at $400,000 to $500,000.

Between 1986 and 1993, Lamborghini only produced 301 units of the LM002 production model, and only 48 of those were specifically made for the United States with the LM/American spec. This particular unit that will be auctioned off is actually one of them. Originally, it came with a price tag of $158,000, and it features a red interior and a black exterior.

Apart from this being a rare model, the LM002 also recently went through a restoration that lasted for five years - the whole package cost $325,000. One of the few things included in the package would be the new Pirelli Scorpion tires that are the same as those on the original SUVs. It had been installed with a modern Alpine stereo with Bluetooth as well. Even though the LM002 is decades old, it still has its original factory tool kit, as well as the assorted books and manuals.

If you had not known, the LM002 was actually built by Lamborghini to win the contract for a military vehicle. Though the model never made it to the military, the Italian automaker was able to adapt the SUV for it to appeal to the consumer market, and it worked. At that time, it came with a V12 engine from Countach. And for off-road capability, it had a four-wheel drive system with three self-locking differentials. After all the changes that it had been given, it turned out to be one of the first high-performance luxury SUVs. In today’s generation, the LM002 would be a good counterpart of the Porsche Cayenne and Bentley Bentayga.

The Urus will actually mark the first time that Lamborghini returns to the segment. Similar with the LM002, the SUV will be a combination of luxury, off-road capability and performance. The difference can be found under the hood, as the LM002 comes with a V12, and the SUV will have a 650 horsepower (484 kilowatts) 4.0 liter biturbo V8.

After its release, it will soon be offered as a plug-in hybrid version. The Italian automaker’s goal is to sell around 3,500 units of the Urus worldwide and annually. It definitely will not be as rare as the LM002 according to Lamborghini.

If you were to choose between the rare LM002 and the new high performance SUV that is the Urus, which one would you go for?