The Countach was quickly ageing, and nearing the later stages of its production life. Lamborghini was thinking very heavily about a replacement as early as 1985. Financial strife limited the extent to which Lamborghini could take for a proper replacement. Still, a new car was needed. With research studies in progress, a number of possibilities were explored, including everything from a restyled Countach to a totally different design. The final decision, determined that despite the great expense of the development costs of a new car, this was the only way.
The new design responsibilities fell once again into the hands of Marcello Gandini. His task was to produce a worthy successor to the outrageous Countach. Around this time Chrysler purchased Lamborghini and took an active role in the design sequence of the Diablo. Gandini’s first and second proposals were rejected and the third was taken by Chrysler where it underwent heavy refinement in their design studios in Detroit. The result was the Lamborghini Diablo.
