This year marks the 40th anniversary of one of Lamborghini's biggest risks the company ever took. Of course, we're talking about the Rambo Lambo itself, the V12-powered LM002 SUV.It launched in 1986, and well, it wasn't exactly a smashing success. But it was still a big deal, one that has since found the love it deserved, as the predecessor of the model that has made Lamborghini what it is today. So bust out the champagne, or possibly some Coors, and celebrate the LM002's 40th birthday. There Wouldn't Be Another V12 SUV For 20 Years Lamborghini The Lamborghini LM002 was the result of a series of failures. The company was trying to make money, something that was then a novel concept for it, so it wanted some of that Cold War military cash. It designed an off-roader with a Chrysler V8 that was eventually rejected in favor of the Hummvee, and so it tried again with a Countach-sourced V12.That, too, was a failure. The high-revving engine, while packing plenty of horsepower, didn't have much low-end torque to get the burly off-roader through rough, slow-speed terrain. But Lamborghini took the design, made with flat panels to make it easier to armor later, and tried to make the best of a bad situation with the production LM002.Lamborghini revealed this super-SUV at the Brussels Auto Show in 1986. It was fitted with a luxury interior and special Pirelli tires, and we can't imagine how much attention it got. That attention gradually resulted in 300 production units built over six years.A fast SUV is nothing today, and Lamborghini offers its own Urus with up to 799 horsepower. In 1986, though, you'd have been hard-pressed to find a traditional SUV at all, never mind one making much more than 200 hp. The LM002, making around 450 horsepower from its V12, was incredible.It wasn't just quick, it could climb 50-degree slopes. A five-speed manual and locking differentials front, rear, and center, could help it get through almost any terrain. It had 10 inches of suspension travel, matched today only by trucks like the Ford F-150 Raptor. LM002 Finally Gets Some Love Lamborghini Today, Lamborghini's Polo Storico will give your LM002 a complete and historically faithful restoration. But 20 years ago, the company probably hoped you'd forget about it and stop calling. At that point, the SUV had traction with celebrity owners like Pablo Escobar, Uday Hussein, and Muammar Gadafi. Now, the demand is so great that Pirelli has started remaking its bespoke Scorpion BK tires."The LM002 represents one of the roots of Lamborghini’s contemporary vision," said Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. "Far ahead of its time, it anticipated the concept of the Super SUV, inspiring not only our product philosophy but also design elements that can still be found today throughout the Urus family."Now Lamborghini is finally giving the LM002 the recognition it deserves. To mark the SUV's 40th anniversary, it is getting a dedicated installation at the company's museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese. There, it will sit among the brand's more well-received risks like the Miura and Countach.Today, now that super-SUVs are all the rage, Lamborghini wants you to know the Urus wasn't some come-lately to the party. The Lamborghini LM002 is the one that drew first blood. The 1980s weren't quite ready for it, but today's enthusiasts love it.Lamborghini LM002 (10)