lambodiecast

The final production version of the Lamborghini Diablo was the VT 6.0 model, sure we also had the Diablo GT at that time, but that was a limited edition run of only 80 cars (well 82 to be exact) and the Diablo VT 6.0 SE was a Special Edition … so in the end the original Diablo VT 6.0 was the swansong of that series and as a result a nice diecast model of it should be found in every decent collection out there.

When AutoArt released their 1/18 model on the Lamborghini Diablo VT 6.0 I decided to buy the orange metallic version which should be the Arancio Atlas shade if I'm not mistaking … a very nice, bright metallic flake orange tint, in the AutoArt rendition combined with a full black leather interior, but that Giallo Orion kept intriguing me ever since, so I actually added this yellow shade to the collection too … and I was set … well not for long.

I really like black Lamborghini, both in real life and in scaled down shape, and the third shade AutoArt released on the Diablo VT 6.0 model was Nero, it took me some years, but I finally added this last shade to our collection too, and managed to get a brand new in the box model with the straps still in place for a very nice price … sure it had been sitting on a shelve somewhere for a long time, but apart from some dust on the box this was still a new model.
Being the third Diablo VT 6.0 model to be added to the collection in 1/18 scale from AutoArt we knew what to expect naturally, the engine hood doesn't stay open, neither do the doors … but that's no news to us right?

If you take a look at the recent Murciélago releases from AutoArt you know they do make a very nice engine bay these days, well on the Diablo this wasn't their strongest effort, it is all a bit less complicated and a bit rougher around the edges … but then again we are talking about a model that is over a decade old by now, so keeping that in mind this is one stunning model of the Diablo nonetheless.

To get a good view of the interior we revert to using small pins to keep the door open long enough to photograph it, and this extra effort is worth it, the dashboard is just about perfect, and as it should be on the Diablo VT 6.0 the facia is carbon fiber, as is most part of the central console with that shiny gear lever standing proud … yep, the Diablo didn't have the nifty e-Gear we all know now in the Raging Bull models.

Even the stitching on the seats is correct, with the wide open V shape unlike the Diablo VT 6.0 SE version that had vertical stitching on the seat, and the seat belts that come from the inside and click on the outside of the seats … if you look very closely you can even detect the turning knobs for the inclination of the seat and the lumbar support … how's that for attention to detail.

This evolution of the Lamborghini Diablo naturally received the MY1999 fixed headlight clusters, however the VT 6.0 also got different turn lights … these were still housed in the front bumper, but because on this model the bumper was totally new the lights had to be redesigned too, on the real car we can normally see the amber light bulb … something that isn't visible on the scale model, a detail that surely would have been nice.

But AutoArt did put those round fog lights in the big air intakes of the front bumper, and just like on the real car those little spoilers at the corner are finished in carbon fiber … together with the side sills by the way. Being at the side we can now also admire those stunning looking wheels, especially at the rear the concave shape is breathtaking if you ask me. AutoArt did hit the nail on the head with the perforated look disk brakes and probably the best looking calipers they mounted back in those days … just perfect.

When taking the photos from the rear of this model it became apparent those two big exhaust pipes weren't aligned correctly, they were tilted a bit … tried to put them straight but couldn't without applying some serious bending, so we gave up on it, let's call it a classic model … even on the real deal they sometimes didn't align either. However later on when taking the group shot we did notice the orange car had the same issue, the yellow however was near perfect … metal fatigue right ?

By now you will understand we've been nitpicking to find something to flaw this model … well in all honesty this is probably the nicest 1/18 Diablo VT 6.0 model out there … sure APM and Versus made some sealed body resin versions … but I have resin models too, and I even own a 1/18 APM kit of the Diablo VT 6.0 SE model, unbuilt, and it is clear it would take a very skilled model car builder to come close to the AutoArt model … but in the end all these resin models aren't able to show the interior nor the engine as nothing opens on them while the AutoArt can be opened up.

As much as I like the orange and yellow shades on a Lamborghini I must admit this black Diablo VT 6.0 sure looks a lot more intimidating, even next to its counterparts in brighter shades the Nero one draws attention … like a bat from hell … she still is a devil right?

our RATING

Overall rating

8/10

Original price : € 59