Lamborghini Cheetah Prototype Led to LM002 SUV
The 1977 Lamborghini Cheetah, a military prototype, was the direct ancestor of the 1986 LM002. Financial and legal troubles from the failed Cheetah project contributed to Lamborghini's 1978 bankruptcy.
The Lamborghini LM002, launched in 1986, evolved from a forgotten military prototype called the Cheetah. Lamborghini developed the Cheetah in the late 1970s in a bid to win a contract from the United States Army.
Lamborghini was in dire financial straits following the 1973 oil crisis. The company hoped a lucrative military contract would provide much-needed cash. It partnered with Mobility Technology International (MTI) on the project. The Cheetah prototype debuted in 1977.
Design and Specifications
The vehicle was a stark, utilitarian machine built for combat. It featured huge tires, high ground clearance, and flat fiberglass body panels. A tubular roll cage and a massive front skid plate were fitted. The Cheetah had neither doors nor a roof.
Power came from a rear-mounted 5.9-liter Chrysler V-8 engine. It produced about 183 horsepower and was linked to a three-speed automatic transmission. This setup sent power to all four wheels via a two-speed transfer case. The prototype weighed approximately 4,500 pounds.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 5.9-liter Chrysler V-8 |
| Horsepower | ~183 hp |
| Transmission | 3-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Four-wheel drive |
| Weight | ~4,500 lbs |
Development Troubles and Legal Woes
Testing quickly revealed the Cheetah's limitations. The 183-horsepower engine was underpowered for the heavy vehicle. Lamborghini's archives note engineers later experimented with a more powerful unit. A more fundamental flaw was the rear-heavy weight distribution. This layout reportedly led to unpredictable handling and dangerously haphazard steering.
Legal problems soon followed. MTI was founded by former employees of FMC Corporation. The Cheetah's design was influenced by an earlier FMC military prototype called the XR311. FMC sued both Lamborghini and MTI shortly after the Cheetah's debut. The outcome of that lawsuit is lost to history.
The combined cost of developing the failed prototype and defending it in court broke Lamborghini financially. BMW, which had a contract with Lamborghini to develop the M1 supercar, canceled the deal. Lamborghini filed for bankruptcy in 1978.
The Cheetah's Legacy and Path to the LM002
Contrary to some claims, Lamborghini states two Cheetah examples were built, not one. Only a single survivor remains, owned by a private collector who occasionally loans it to the factory. While the Cheetah project was scrapped, it laid the groundwork for Lamborghini's future off-roader.
The company built a second prototype called the LM001, shown at the 1981 Geneva auto show. It featured a closed body but retained the problematic rear-engine layout. The concept evolved again with the 1982 LMA002 prototype. This one-off finally moved the engine to the front, using a 4.8-liter V-12 sourced from the Countach.
That front-engined prototype directly spawned the production LM002. It launched in 1986 with a 5.2-liter V-12 from the Countach Quattrovalvole, producing 450 horsepower. Meanwhile, AM General secured the U.S. Army contract Lamborghini had sought, with the vehicle that became the Humvee.
