Vittorio Strosek’s enigmatic Diablo Strosek edition is one car deemed unsafe for the USA, as it is one extreme interpretation of the Diablo
The Lamborghini Diablo is one of the Italian brand’s most famous and special products, but the Strosek Diablo isn’t quite as well known. The Strosek was one of the most extreme versions of the famous Italian supercar, a redesign by Vittorio Strosek who did not feel that the original design of the Diablo went far enough. What he created was a truly extreme interpretation of the Lamborghini supercar. Yet it was also one that was ultimately banned in the United States.
Various factors such as the modifications to the car and the speed it produced contributed to the Strosek’s banning in the United States. Although that should not detract from just how exceptional this car actually is.
The 200 MPH Top Speed Was Too Much For American Authorities
Strosek himself wasn’t happy with the design of the Diablo. This is a car that features a crazy 5.7-liter V12 engine under the hood that would produce up to 595 hp in some iterations of the iconic supercar. It is little wonder many feel the Diablo is the ultimate 1990s supercar. This engine would power the Diablo to a remarkable 202 mph with the Diablo VT Roadster actually going quicker with a top speed of 208 mph. Strosek was actually a German auto tuner and design, and so he went to town redesigning the Diablo to best suit his own desires for the car.
Even as he undertook the design changes, the US authorities were not exactly happy. Even on the standard versions of the legendary Diablo, the 200 + mph top speed of the supercar didn’t sit well with the law. So for that reason in itself, the Diablo Strosek was quickly banned in the United States. However, if Strosek thought he could overcome these problems with the bodywork changes to the Diablo, he had another thing coming. The modifications to the Diablo’s exterior further upset US authorities, somehow making the Diablo even more of a problem.
Bodywork Modifications Made The Diablo Strosek Unacceptable In America
Strosek certainly went to town in modifying the appearance of the Italian supercar. His mindset on the car’s design wasn’t isolated, but he was one of the few that made big changes. The front and rear bumpers of the Diablo Strosek are new, with rounder versions creating a more modern look for the supercar. Compare the Strosek to a regular Diablo and we can see the massive change to the car’s appearance. The newer bumpers were actually of a higher quality than the ones originally on the Diablo. Strosek wasn’t happy with just the bumper changes though.
Strosek also replaced the headlamps on the Diablo for a fresher look. Lamborghini had already swapped out pop-up headlights on earlier Diablos for more conventional ones when Audi took over Lamborghin in the late 1990s. But Strosek replaced those with smaller, dual headlamps to create a cleaner and more seamless look to the front of the car. The high rear spoiler was also gone, with a new one combined with the trunk of the Diablo. This was adjustable too and hence it was tunable per the drag requirements. But the change that really didn’t sit well in the USA was the new mirrors on Strosek’s Diablo, which were understandably deemed unsafe.
Strosek’s Diablo Exterior Mirrors Were Too Impractical
via Vittorio Strosek
Strosek changed the position of the exterior side mirrors, placing them at the top of the doors rather than along the lower edge of the windscreen. From the front, these look incredible bizarre and give the Diablo quite the unusual stance. This positioning of the mirrors wasn’t viewed in the best light, with their safety very much called into question. The same applies to the smaller headlights, which would have had to have pretty powerful bulbs in them for the best nighttime visibility. It’s easy to see why the powers at be were not happy with the changes made to the Diablo by Strosek.
The Strosek Was An Incredible Interpretation Of The Diablo
It’s not often that custom reinterpretations of supercars leave us taking our breath away. But the Diablo Strosek is one such car. It’s astonishing how much just a few changes can drastically alter the appearance of a car and one that is already hugely dramatic in the form of the Diablo. Strosek Diablo’s are incredibly rare. It’s not clear how many were actually produced, nor is it clear how many are left with very little information on them actually available.
It is also unclear just what else Strosek did to Diablo. Strosek modified other cars too including Porsches, so whether he did anything else such as change the engine or up its power isn’t clear. His Diablo is something of an enigma, although the changes to the mirrors make it easy to see why it never had a happy relationship with authorities. As far as Diablo versions go, it’s one incredibly example.
Sources: Lambo Cars, Slash Gear
