After speaking with various owners of Lamborghinis, there is little wonder that television shows like “Miami Vice” and “Magnum, P.I.” had a cerebral, if unintended, influence on the desires of young men who pined to live the fast life in the drivers’ seats of some of the world’s most exotic cars. So it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that Roger Connell drew his inspiration from this same well. While most police series remanded even their “cooler” detectives to the Crown Victoria or Taurus, the allure of owning a Lamborghini or a Ferrari like the one sported by Don Johnson, aka Sonny Crockett, has outlived those television series that first planted the thought.
| Specs: |
| Engine: 5.7-liter V-12, 492 horsepower and 428 foot-pounds of torque |
| Wheels: IForged 19-inch with 235/35 (front) and 355/25 (rear) tires |
| Performance: SP Engineering air intakes, gutted catalytic converters, Megs exhaust |
In July 2009, Connell found a 1991 Lamborghini Diablo on eBay and immediately sought to work out a trade with the seller. Connell was familiar with the look of the car and had always liked the particular style. He made the trip out to Oklahoma where the seller was located and because he felt the seller was honest, he bypassed doing a producer price index inquiry. Unfortunately, his honest look didn’t translate into the reality of the car he was advertising, and Connell was left with a Lamborghini that needed mechanical work before he ever put it on the street. And while Connell was told that the second owner of the car was none other than Charlie Sheen, he hoped that unlike the actor himself, the trouble with the car was something that could be addressed.
Twenty thousand dollars later, and the Diablo was meeting the performance metrics for which it was originally advertised. While there aren’t many Diablos zipping around the streets, Connell’s own has a few components that ensure its uniqueness. A previous owner had installed a paint matched skid plate on the front end. A lift system for his model year was installed that actually raises the front end when attempting to navigate inclines, a feature most commonly found on later models. The car also features a battery tender, which allows him to hook up directly to the wall garage outlet with an extension cord, while the red interior with white exterior is a fairly rare combination and helps the car to stand out.
The same marquee that used to drape the wall in his childhood room in the form of a six-foot long poster now sits pretty in his garage.
What do you drive? A 1991 Lamborghini Diablo.
Why do you drive it? The Lamborghini is great because it is a very raw car. Without power steering, air bags, anti-lock brakes, fancy gadgets, and being rear wheel drive, it is very much a driver’s car. I thought about the Gallardo, but the V-12 and iconic scissor doors of the Diablo are pretty tough to beat. My interest has always been in rare cars.
What makes your vehicle so special? This Diablo has a few upgrades that set it apart from other early (’91-93) Diablos.
What is the most memorable driving experience you had with your car? I would have to say after bringing the car back from out west on a trailer. Cruising in the center lane on I-95, everyone was pulling up next to me to take pictures and look at the car. So no one was able to pass, causing a bit of traffic!
What would you do differently if you could? Get a PPI! Never again will I trust a seller unless a car has a warranty on it. Also I will never buy a car like this again without having a nice chunk of change set aside in case there are large problems like that which I experienced.
What was the first vehicle you owned? First vehicle I owned was a 2001 Suzuki GSX-R 600 which I bought new while I was in college, but it ended up being completely impractical so I only kept it for a year. I did not buy my first true vehicle until the end of college and that was a 2005 Ford F-350 Turbo Diesel crew cab, which I ended up putting an 8-inch Fabtech lift on, 38-inch mud tires, a Banks monster exhaust, and a Diablo predator tuner. That was a fun truck!
What music are you currently listening to in your car? Usually I do not have music on, just the windows down listening to the fantastic sound of a Lamborghini V-12! But if anything, some type of mix CD with anything from Frank Sinatra to Nelly.
And your first ticket? What was it for? My first ticket was a speeding ticket and has been my only speeding ticket. It happened heading to college in an ’87 Volkswagen Cabriolet. The speedometer did not work correctly. I was clocked at 79 in a 65 by a state trooper.
