Car lovers don’t just love cars for what they have to offer, but also for the stories behind them – case in point, this Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Prototype found in the Arctic Circle. On a recent episode of VINwiki, John Temerian, the founder of Curated (WeAreCurated), told an epic story about finding one of the rarest Lamborghinis in the world—the real prototype of the Lamborghini Diablo SE30.
This was a special-edition model developed to mark Lamborghini’s 30th anniversary. Special as it is rare, this one-off production from the ‘Raging Bull’, sometimes referred to as zero-series or 0000 P0, takes the top seat among the limited-edition SE30 line and features a host of design and engineering quirks that make it a highly sought-after collectible.
For those who don’t know, the production Lamborghini SE30 debuted in 1993-1994 to commemorate the Italian supercar maker’s three-decade run of manufacturing supercars. Only 150 units were built, and the Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Prototype predates these examples. The SE30 featured a 5.7-liter V12 capable of 525 hp.
According to Temerian, a former Lamborghini employee contacted him and revealed that a SE30 prototype existed—the first in the lineup, developed initially as the XL30 before the SE30 went into production. One of its unique identifiers was a gold fuel cap, an angled side window, and interior bits that were different from those in the production examples.
Their research trail discovered that the Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Prototype had spent some time in Sweden.
How the Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Prototype differed from the standard SE30
Temerian told VINwiki that after his research into Lamborghini’s first yearbook, he discovered some peculiarities between the Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Prototype and the standard version.
The prototype version featured several bespoke features, including carbon-fibre interior components on the center console. It also featured Lexan glass all around (production versions had Lexan glass on the small sliding side window only), and perhaps the most surprising realisation on the prototype was that the sideskirts were made of wood.
The Prototype was in the signature Viola SE30 purple finish, with a gold fuel cap and a slanted, smaller side window, a contrast to the production variant.
Inside the Arctic Circle
At first, Temerian didn’t know exactly where the car was in Sweden, but later, someone contacted them with information about the owner and the Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Prototype’s whereabouts. It wasn’t just in Sweden, but in the Arctic Circle, which meant another 16 – 18-hour drive for the supercar collector.
Once they got on the ground, the Curated inspector discovered that the prototype wasn’t just a lightly modified SE30, but it appeared to be two cars merged into one. The door stamps and hood castings pointed to one car (the XL30) that was published as the P0 prototype for the SE30. The carbon interior (seats, center console), full Lexan windows, and wooden side skirts revealed its prototype roots as the car’s factory demonstration unit. This Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Prototype was later sold to Stefan Ratel in 1997-1998, who at the time lived in Sweden.
Temerian of Curated and his team struck a deal with the owner, outbidding a famous football star who was after the rare prototype supercar. The team later brought it back to the United States.
