Despite numerous issues such as being passed on by almost every movie studio in Hollywood, casting, and executives that hated the plot, Dumb and Dumber was one of the most successful movies of the 1990s. Over the years, the franchise gained a cult following that spawned a prequel and a sequel 20 years after the original movie was released.
But for keen-eyed fans of the movie, one of the coolest and perhaps most mysterious parts of the movie was the Lamborghini Diablo that made a brief cameo in the movie. Clad in classic red, the Diablo’s appearance in the movie was both unexpected and unsurprising.
Lamborghini had always been a big name but became a household name in the 1990s so it wasn’t a surprise when the expensive car showed up on set. The surprise came from the supercar appearing in a movie about two dimwits obliviously stumbling through an adventure. Where did the supercar come from, and where did it go? We trace what happened to the red-hot Lamborghini from Dumb and Dumber.
Updated August 2022: We give you more information of the Lamborghini Diablo that became a sensation in the 90s with two wacky dudes behind the wheel! The red Lambo from Dumb and Dumber is still as much an icon as it was almost two decades ago.
The cult classic, Dumb and Dumber, featured one of the most iconic 90s cars of all time. The classic Lamborghini Diablo had quite the journey from the movie set to its home today.
The Lamborghini Diablo From Dumb And Dumber
There was a lot of speculation on the Lamborghini from Dumb and Dumber. The car itself was certainly rented as they didn't have the budget to buy one, nor did they need to. Dumb and Dumber was a commercial success but as a comedy was not considered a classic and not much from production was saved.
Even the infamous Mutt Cutts van was simply sold off to a friend of the directors instead of being saved for posterity though it was eventually donated to a museum a decade later. There have been a fan-made Mutt Cutts that sold for good money proving there’s a market for Dumb and Dumber memorabilia.
The Diablo made its way through the Hollywood circuit making appearances throughout the 90s shows and movies and eventually found its way to a duPont Registry auction.
The buyer of that auction chose to remain private but auction sites and forums were on fire years later when the Diablo resurfaced and was put up for sale again.
It was eventually sold to a collector who has a garage full of original movie cars. We want to respect the privacy of the buyer, but we have found that it was sold under the original MSRP despite multiple bidders offering more due to the condition and fame of the car. It’s common for luxury cars, even supercars to lose much of their value over time but well-maintained or special cars can hold onto their value quite well.
It’s likely that the seller had or wanted a working relationship with a prolific car collector and was willing to forego some money to make a good impression. Whatever the reason, the classic red Diablo has found a home among many other famous movie cars where it will likely stay for the foreseeable future. And to date, it resides in good dramatic company!
Lamborghini In The 1990s
Lamborghini has not always been the brand it is today. Although they made fantastic cars their success has been mired by commercial failures and bankruptcy. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that Lamborghini started making money again commensurate with its broad following.
Lamborghini was in the public consciousness in songs, music videos, movies, and TV shows and became a symbol of celebrity and success hence why it was featured as one of the most prominent purchases for the Dumb and Dumber duo when they gained a small fortune implying even idiots know Lamborghini means wealth and taste.
The Diablo was especially recognizable as it was the only car to be updated and survive multiple ownership changes. Lamborghini’s success in motorsports was also thanks to the Diablo. Every effort was built on either the Diablo itself or its engine. Nipping at the heels of established companies like Ferrari, Lamborghini owes much of its success to the Diablo.
The Tale Of Movie Cars
Most movie cars are stunt cars or just bodies on frames. It's rare nowadays to see real supercars and hypercars on set due to the risk and expense. It would be all too easy for an accident or even just a rock to crack a windshield and the movie would be on the hook for tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Movies like the Fast and Furious franchise routinely have cars that look like expensive cars created for just a few thousand dollars since all they need are the looks and the ability to drive. They do also have hero cars which are actual supercars they use for short up-close scenes that pose little risk to the car but hero cars are usually reserved for big blockbuster movies that have robust insurance.
Dumb and Dumber only had a budget of $16 million, worth roughly $32 million today, for the entire movie. For comparison, Forrest Gump also released in 1994 had a budget of $55 million. A large portion of the Dumb and Dumber budget went to Jim Carrey, one of the biggest rising stars of the 1990s.
So it was very surprising when production team members confirmed that the Diablo featured on screen is indeed an actual Lamborghini Diablo. With an original price tag of $240,000 even renting the Diablo would have cost thousands not to mention the insurance of having a comedian drive it.
Sources: IMCDb, Dupontregistry, Lamborghini, YouTube