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The Lamborghini brand has become synonymous with wild and crazy specifications. However, one Lamborghini has an extraordinary origin story. The green-on-green Diablo SE30 JOTA is a unicorn of a Lamborghini that was produced as a purpose-built race car for the road. In this article, we’ll explore the wild story of this one-of-one Lamborghini.

What is the difference between a Lamborghini SE30 and SE30 Jota?

A pink 1995 Lamborghini Diablo parked in the grass
1995 Lamborghini Diablo | Martyn Lucy via Getty Images

The Lamborghini Diablo SE30 and SE30 Jota are rare and highly sought-after versions of the iconic supercar. The SE30 was produced in limited numbers as a special edition model to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Lamborghini. It featured a lighter weight, a more powerful engine than the standard Diablo, and unique styling elements.

The SE30 Jota, on the other hand, was a further upgrade of the SE30 and was designed specifically for racing. It featured a more powerful engine, upgraded suspension and brakes, and a stripped-out interior. Unfortunately, only 19 SE30 Jotas were produced, making them even rarer and more valuable than the already rare SE30.

Where did the green SE30 JOTA come from?

One particular Diablo SE30 JOTA was stored in a kitchen as a piece of kitchen art. WeAreCurated, a vintage supercar dealership, discovered the car during a search trip to Germany to close a deal on a huge Ferrari collection. While waking up at a local contact’s house, an employee sent a picture of his breakfast table view, which included a rare 1995 Diablo SE30 JOTA.

This example arrived in the USA and sold in less than 24 hours for an undisclosed price of at least $1 Million. The exceptionally rare car had been delivered to a Lamborghini collector, Manfred Schmitt, via the concessionaire Auto Kremer in May 1995. Most importantly, it was one of 19 factory-designated JOTA models. Factory records show that only 19 Diablo SE30 JOTA examples were produced, and 11 kits were produced for select global dealers.

Why is the Lamborghini JOTA so valuable?

A black Lamborghini Diablo Engine bay
Lamborghini Diablo Engine | AFP via Getty Images

While it’s unlikely that you’ll find a car as unique and rare as this one, the Lamborghini Diablo is still an excellent investment. Driving-wise, it offers an analog experience like no other. Moreover, as the last pre-VW group Lamborghini, it is a significant piece of the brand’s history.

Clean examples of the Lamborghini Diablo are available for as little as $195,000 for a base model. Most examples get up to $800,000 for a SE30 JOTA. Lamborghini Diablo prices are trending upward, and it’s reasonable to expect some more of them to be million-dollar cars in future years.

Is the Lamborghini Diablo Jota collectible?

In summary, the Lamborghini Diablo SE30 JOTA is an ultra-rare and highly sought-after supercar. It is explicitly designed for racing, with only 19 examples ever produced. One of these exceptional cars ended up as a piece of kitchen art. The car was recently discovered and sold for at least $1 million. Despite the high price tag, the Diablo remains a valuable investment, with prices expected to continue to trend upward.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Joshua Brown

Joshua Brown joined MotorBiscuit as an Autos Writer in 2022. Having owned more than 30 vehicles, including several Japanese tuner cars, and tinkering with everything he could get his hands on, Joshua has developed a vast understanding of all things automotive.

Much of Joshua’s coverage focuses on Japanese vehicles, vintage cars, supercars, and hypercars. His previous work can be viewed on his website, Lucky Club, and VehicleHistory.com. Joshua is also greatly involved with the Kaido racer and Gentsuki scooter communities.

Joshua grew up reading the work of Speedhunters’ Larry Chen, an automotive journalist that ultimately influenced him to pursue automotive photography and journalism.