As far as vintage exotics go, perhaps none is more exciting than the Lamborghini LM002 of the late 1980s. Unlike most trucks, this Lamborghini featured a V12 engine and a manual transmission. With less than 330 examples ever made, chances are you’ll never see one in person.

With the arrival of the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor, it seems like the ideal time to revisit the world’s first true super truck. It might surprise you just how close this comparison actually is.

Why does the Lamborghini LM002 exist in the first place?

Lamborghini LM002’s story began back in 1977 with a prototype called the Cheetah. According to Classic Driver, the Cheetah was designed to be an all-terrain vehicle for the U.S. military. The goal here was to bring some much-needed cash to the struggling Italian carmaker.

The result was the creation of the “LM” or Lamborghini Militaria series of vehicles. Before the Lamborghini LM002, there was the LM001, which debuted originally during the 1981 Geneva Motor Show. Like the Cheetah, the LM001 was meant to be a military vehicle. However, since the LM001 was mid-engined, it had very unusual driving characteristics and subsequently failed as a project.

This was when the Lamborghini LM002 came in to play. The V12 out of the Countach was moved to the front, giving the truck greater capabilities. From there, the LM002 went into production. Unfortunately, only 328 examples of the “Rambo-Lambo” were ever produced. Since then, Lamborghini hasn’t gone back to offering a luxurious pickup truck again.

How does this unusual pickup truck stack up to an F-150 Raptor?

Aside from the wacky styling, part of what makes the Lamborghini LM002 so unusual is its powertrain. Under the hood lived a naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V12 engine developing 444 hp and 368 lb-ft. Power went to all four wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. According to Silodrome, the Rambo-Lambo could hit 60 mph in 7.8 seconds and continue to a top speed of 130 mph.

While these Lamborghini LM002 stats are wildly impressive for the 1980s, they’re still somewhat relevant today. Let’s take a Ford F-150 Raptor, for example. The 2020 model developed 450 hp and 510 lb-ft out of its twin-turbocharged V6 engine. According to Carindigo, the Raptor hits 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. While this seems like a massive leap forward, it is worth noting that the LM002 required you to shift it yourself.

However, the Lamborghini LM002 has an ace up its sleeve. If you were particularly wealthy, you could option the vintage truck with a 7.2-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine out of a speed boat. According to Car.info, the upgraded powertrain could bump the power output to 612 hp. As a result, we’ll have to wait for the upcoming V8-powered Raptor R to truly defeat the LM002.

How much is this vintage Lamborghini worth in 2021?

If you’re assuming that this ultra-rare Lamborghini LM002 is expensive in 2021, you’d be correct. According to DuPont Registry, the Rambo-Lambo had a base price of $120,000 in the U.S. or around $273,391 in today’s money. A quick search on DuPont Registry reveals two examples priced just under $350,000. However, RM Sotheby’s estimated that this 1988 example is worth between $250,000 and $300,000. As a result, you could seriously cross-shop a brand-new Urus and the world’s most interesting pickup truck.