Footnotes

• After 17 years in production, the legendary Countach was replaced by the Diablo, which on its arrival was the fastest, most advanced, and most expensive Lamborghini ever built. First exhibited publicly at Monaco in January 1990, the Diablo improved on its illustrious predecessor in every way, setting a new benchmark in supercar design. Nobody can have been surprised to learn that it had been styled by Marcello Gandini, the man responsible for the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, for the family resemblance was obvious.
  
  Beneath the skin there was a steel spaceframe chassis, developed from the Countach's, but constructed of square-section rather than round tubing and incorporating 'crumple zones' at front and rear. The use of carbon-fibre composite panels, first seen in the Countach Evoluzione model, was extended in the Diablo, which also featured revised suspension capable of accommodating the envisaged future developments of four-wheel drive and active suspension. Stretched to 5.7 litres for the Diablo, Lamborghini's 48-valve V12 engine gained fuel injection for the first time, producing its maximum of 492bhp at 7,000rpm. Of equal, if not greater significance, maximum torque went up to 428lb/ft, an improvement of 55% over the Countach. Catalytic converters were standard, enabling the reworked V12 to meet emissions requirements worldwide.
  
  With more power and a lower drag coefficient than the Countach, the Diablo easily eclipsed its forebear, exceeding 200mph (322km/h) on test. More importantly, its acceleration and top speed figures were marginally better than those of the Ferrari F40. The Diablo though, was not a limited edition model like the latter, but a series production car with a luxuriously appointed interior reflecting its designers' intention to produce a civilised Gran Turismo as suited to city streets and motorways as the racetrack. Its UK launch price was pitched at just under £153,000, making the Diablo one the world's most expensive cars.
  
  This rare right-hand drive Diablo was first owned by singer/songwriter and global mega-star Sir Rod Stewart, who when he purchased it from Portman Lamborghini in 1991 had just finished working on his 16th studio album, 'Vagabond Heart'. The car's original leather pouch contains the warranty card in Rod Stewart's name, dated 1991 from Portman Lamborghini, London, which records servicing in 1994, 1996, 1999, and 2001. It also contains the Lamborghini Service Network book and Alpine radio instruction manual. The current (fourth) owner acquired the Diablo in 2001 (sales/purchase invoice available) and believes it to be the first of such model sold in the UK with two registered with H-prefixes, but displayed in the showroom and used by Alpine (sound systems) respectively. The first five cars available for sale are understood to be this one, 'J991 CYR', then 'J992 CYR','J993 CYR', 'J994 CYR' and 'J995 CYR'.
  
  The accompanying file contains numerous service/maintenance bills from recognised specialists - Portman, Shiltech, Intermarque, etc - showing that this Diablo has been cared for with no expense spared. The most recent paperwork includes a vehicle inspection report from Lamborghini Leicester (2016).
  
  The car is almost totally original but has just benefited from a £27,500 tidy up prior to auction, carried out by the renowned RH Classics. This included a full strip-down and respray of all panels before reassembly. ; a circa £10,000 bill for a repaint (2017); and various invoices from RH Classics (2017). Totalling circa £17,500, the latter includes itemised bills for the work include for final fit up and interior detailing; MoT; electrical work to lock system; work to body panels; works to fuel tank, pumps, and pipes; new oil cooler; refitting glass, lights, trim, mirrors, and bumpers; and restoring the dashboard. The file also contains numerous expired MoTs dating back to 1996.
  
  One of the finest Diablos currently available, this car represents an exciting opportunity to acquire a little used example of one of the defining supercars of its era, with the added cachet of 'A-List' celebrity first ownership.