Before super SUVs were a category, Lamborghini built one to crush sand, snow, and stereotypes.

In 1986, Lamborghini unveiled something no one expected from the creators of the Countach: a V12-powered, four-wheel-drive monster with the soul of a supercar and the stance of an armoured vehicle.

It was called the LM002, and it was unlike anything on — or off — the road.

Now, decades later, Lamborghini Polo Storico has brought one of these icons back to life.

Chassis #12231, fully restored by the factory’s heritage division, stands once again in the Lamborghini Museum as a reminder of a wild chapter in Sant’Agata’s story. And with it comes a chance to reflect: how did the world’s most outrageous SUV come to be?

The LM002’s DNA can be traced back to the late 1970s, when Lamborghini began developing a high-performance off-road vehicle for military use. That prototype — named the Cheetah — placed the engine at the rear and was, predictably, a handful. It evolved into the LM001, then the LMA, with a front-mounted powertrain that paved the way for the production LM002.

When it debuted at the Brussels Auto Show in 1986, the world didn’t know what to make of it. Here was a 2.7-ton aluminium-and-fibreglass off-roader powered by the same 5.2-litre V12 used in the Countach Quattrovalvole, producing 450 horsepower at 6,800 rpm. It had a top speed of over 200 km/h, three locking differentials, and Pirelli Scorpion tyres developed specifically for sand and heat resistance.

It could climb gradients of over 120%. It could crush dunes. It could storm across frozen lakes. And it could do all this while pampering occupants in air-conditioned, leather-lined luxury.

This was not a utility vehicle. It was a rolling contradiction: a sand-slaying supercar in off-road disguise. And in hindsight, it was about 30 years ahead of its time.

Between 1986 and 1992, Lamborghini produced just 300 examples of the LM002. Each was hand-finished to suit the customer — many of whom were Middle Eastern royals, celebrities, and heads of state. The car’s immense size, bespoke interior, and near-mythical presence made it an instant symbol of power, wealth, and eccentricity.

But make no mistake: this wasn’t a novelty. The LM002 had true mechanical pedigree. It was designed to be driven — hard — across terrain that most luxury vehicles would never dream of touching. And it delivered, whether on desert rally stages, private ski resort roads, or even as a bizarre-but-effective military vehicle.

It’s no surprise, then, that the LM002 is now viewed as the spiritual predecessor to the Urus. But where the Urus is refined, digital, and engineered to be universally usable, the LM002 was something purer — a mechanical statement, unfiltered and unapologetic.

The black LM002 now displayed at the Lamborghini Museum is no static exhibit. Restored by Polo Storico, Lamborghini’s in-house heritage department, it represents not just preservation — but resurrection.

Every inch of the restoration was guided by historical documentation and factory specs. From the interior stitching to the powertrain assembly, the aim was total authenticity. And it’s that attention to truth — to originality — that makes Polo Storico’s work matter in today’s collector landscape.

These restorations don’t just revive metal. They protect value, prove provenance, and give collectors a standard they can rely on.

The LM002 wasn’t just a flash of madness. It set a precedent.

When Lamborghini launched the Urus in December 2017, they did so with the memory of the LM002 front of mind. While the Urus represents a new era — lighter, smarter, sharper — its spiritual backbone remains rooted in the LM002’s legacy: create a new category, don’t follow one.

And in many ways, that’s what Lamborghini has always done best.

At Engine Notes, we believe every great car has a moment — a context that made it more than just a machine.

The LM002 was one of those moments.

It was disruption on wheels. And today, it’s a blueprint for what happens when a brand refuses to compromise its DNA.

For collectors, few machines offer what the LM002 does: rarity, provenance, and unmatched charisma.

As more of these vehicles receive official Polo Storico certification and restoration, their position in the investment-grade landscape only strengthens.

Whether you’re drawn to its military roots, its Countach heart, or simply the sheer absurdity of a V12 SUV from the 1980s — the LM002 is a reminder that the wildest ideas often age the best.