This is the world’s first super SUV, created at a time when the world didn’t even know what the acronym SUV hadn’t been coined yet.

Imagine an off-roader initially designed for military use, then add the V12 from a Countach, and the result is the crazy Lamborghini LM002.

The automaker would like you to think of it as the predecessor of the Urus, but truth be told, these two have nothing to do with each other apart from the fact that they are both high-riding machines made by Lamborghini.

Born out of a failed military project, the LM002 was an excessive vehicle in every single way. The naturally aspirated 5.2-liter Quattrovalvole V12 produced the same 450hp as it did in the Countach, but the heavyweight nature of the LM002 resulted in more modest acceleration figures, with a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of 7.7 seconds. If you were feeling brave enough, you could take this brick up to speeds of 130mph (209km/h).

Other impressive figures include a massive fuel tank that can hold 63.7 gallons (290 lt), which was proven handy to the few lucky owners as fuel economy is as terrible as you might expect – and then some.

Lamborghini built just 300 examples of the LM002 up until 1990, when production ended. It was the ultimate off-roader of its time, being three times more expensive than a Range Rover Vogue of the same period, and in a way, it still is the ultimate off-roader.

Top Gear got its hands on Lamborghini’s own LM002 for a short drive, reminding us of the mad Italian off-roader.