www.QV500.com - Lamborghini LM Part 1: Cheetah
 
Lamborghini’s eccentric LM 002 came about as the result of a collaboration between the Sant’ Agata supercar manufacturer and Mobility Technology International (MTI) of California. MTI commissioned Lamborghini to produce a high performance military support vehicle during the late seventies, however, the Italian firm were almost broke. The development costs for this frankly ridiculous vehicle were covered by a loan secured from the Italian government, money originally earmarked to help Lamborghini secure the contract to develop and build BMW's M1.
   
The only criteria MTI laid down were for a rear-engined configuration and four-wheel, they wanted something capable of quickly transporting four soldiers, light weaponry and a driver over the worlds most demanding terrain. Codenamed Cheetah, development began in 1977 and it was decided early on that a 5.9-litre Chrysler V8 should be mated to a three-speed automatic gearbox. The choice of Chrysler power was made to increase the likelihood of a lucrative contract with the US armed forces, but it quickly became apparent that the engine and gearbox were the main cause of the Cheetah’s poor performance. MTI built the prototype and the Cheetah was shipped to Lamborghini who began development work prior to its public debut. Launched during 1977's Geneva Salon, the Cheetah was a commercial flop and to make matters worse, it used up the entire government funding that should have secured the BMW M1 deal. Lamborghini subsequently lost the German contract and the Cheetah brought Lamborghini to its knees, nothing more being heard of it until Patrick Mimram's arrival at the helm in 1980.