The Lamborghini LM002, or 'Rambo Lambo', is a 4x4 launched in 1986. It's powered by the same 5.2-litreV12 as the Lamborghini Countach.

Over the decades Lamborghini has earned the reputation of being a rebellious spirit. The 350 GT born out of a row with Enzo Ferrari over dinner put the Prancing Horse in its place, its now legendary Miura was arguably the world’s first true supercar, and the Countach remains the ultimate four-wheeled poster. Given its past record for breaking the mould, we were a little surprised by the public uproar when Lamborghini decided it wanted to build the Urus super SUV. People may proclaim that the Raging Bull is just following a trend, but said trend is something it started way back in 1986 with the ‘Rambo Lambo’.

First, a quick history lesson. Back in the 1970s there was a lucrative US military contract on the table for any manufacturer who could build a rugged all-terrain vehicle for the army. Lamborghini with its agricultural background thought that winning the business of such a wealthy customer would secure the marque’s future, and so it set to work on creating Project Cheetah.

Cheetah was a rear-engine 4x4 initially powered by a Chrysler V8. It had plenty of potential, but the army passed on the vehicle on grounds of cost and the more fit-for-purpose Humvee being made available. Lamborghini had spent too much time developing Cheetah to let it go to waste, and so prototypes continued to evolve with the aim of selling a luxury 4x4 to those prospecting for oil in the desert. The Lamborghini LM002 was born, now sporting a Countach V12 in its nose.

Being confronted with an LM002 in the metal is as intimidating as staring down the barrel of a tank. It’s an assault on the eyes with its straight edges, blunt features, and menacing scale. It makes no apologies for the way it looks, a visage that’s about as graceful as falling down a spiral staircase. That said, its function over form attitude has a bullish charm.

On paper this Lamborghini sounds like it was concocted from a wish list drawn up by sugar-fuelled 8 year-olds. A 444bhp 5.2-litre V12 engine straight from Lamborghini’s flagship supercar of the time is hosted under the asymmetric bonnet. Bespoke Pirelli Scorpion tyres were design to help this 3-tonne monster climb sand dunes. It even has a hardy low-range gearbox and selectable all-wheel drive to allow owners to either climb mountains, or do doughnuts – whichever took their fancy. It is a crazed fantasy of a vehicle, and one that could only have made production at Lamborghini.

This particular LM002 has recently been returned to its former glory by Lamborghini’s in-house restoration service called Polo Storica. Just like it did when new, the interior presents a space trimmed in rich leathers and dark woods. It’s an opulent space that certainly clashes with the utilitarian external design. A huge central console divides the four individual bolstered seats, meaning that despite this car’s vast size, the interior is somewhat cramped. From the driver’s seat you get a commanding view through a near vertical windscreen. Its chunky three-spoke wheel sits ahead of aircraft-like gauges indicative of supercars from this era.

However, in true Italian fashion the cabin does have its ergonomic quirks. The dog-leg gear-lever is a bit of a stretch from the driver’s seat – inconvenient for those wanting to exploit 4th gear, the steering wheel’s position actually obscures the ignition, the windscreen wipers only clear half of the driver’s forward vision, and rear legroom is laughably tight considering the size of the interior. Ergonomics were more of an afterthought for Italian exotica of the 1980s.

Turning the key starts the audible electro-mechanical churning of the starter motor, before all 12 cylinders spark into life. The LM002 shudders and shakes as it settles down into a rich idling hum. The juxtaposition of that familiar V12 tone and the brute in which it now resides comes to define this Lamborghini.

Driving through small Italian villages, you are immediately aware of the intimidation factor that this LM002 carries. Passersby gasp, other drivers give you a wide birth, and cyclists pedal in fear of becoming a modern art sculpture carelessly crafted by the 325 / 65 tyres. As you can imagine, it is a manually laborious car to drive at low speeds with heavy steering and a large turning circle. Another reason the LM002 is far from the perfect urban commuter is its fuel consumption – something that would shame a jumbo jet. Six miles per gallon is a realistic prospect, but in the snow and using the low-range gearbox it will burn 1 litre of fuel for every 800 metres travelled.

Show the ‘Rambo Lambo’ some open road though, and it displays far more enthusiasm than a vehicle of this size and weight has any right to. The torque from its V12 pulls this beast along with an unyielding momentum. While not all that fast with a 0-62mph time of 8 seconds, there’s a real strength to the way this car builds pace. Entering a sequence of twisting mountain roads reveals the LM002 to be far more agile than you’d expect. Sure, there’s a notable delay between steering inputs and the car responding, but it corners flatter than most sizeable SUVs, and there’s a reasonable degree of accuracy to the whole drive. That orchestral soundtrack is nothing to complain about either.

The Lamborghini LM002’s on-road performance is only half of the story. Its handicaps are made all the more palatable when you see what the trade-offs grant it on less friendly terrain. Its high profile tyres absorb much of any impacts, and their sheer width helps spreads the car’s weight on snow or sand. There combination of a low range gearbox and the torque provided by the V12 makes for an effective – if thirsty – means of taking on steep inclines. Even its ugly duckling looks allow for impressively steep approach and departure angles.

It is fair to say that this 4x4 has its flaws, and objectively speaking it’s one of the least rational vehicles to ever be constructed. However, you can’t help but fall in love with this car that was clearly the result of a fevered dream. Back in 1986 there was nothing quite like the Lamborghini LM002, and I think it’s fair to say there still isn’t.

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