Key Facts:
- A 1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster previously owned by Rod Stewart is being auctioned online through Lloyds Auctions as part of The Darryn Lyons Collection, with bidding closing on 31st October 2026.
- The car was purchased by Australian businessman and media personality Darryn Lyons from a specialist dealer in England, who informed him that Stewart had only just dropped the vehicle off.
- Before buying the car, Lyons was taken on a high-speed test drive through the Oxfordshire countryside by a former racing driver turned salesman, which he described as one of the most frightening experiences of his life.
- Lyons has described the Lamborghini as one of his most treasured possessions, saying it fulfilled a childhood dream, and noted that despite numerous offers over the years, he had never previously been willing to sell it.
- The Lamborghini is one of the headline lots in a seven-part auction series featuring vehicles, luxury watches, designer fashion, antiques, wine, fine art and memorabilia collected by Lyons across decades in Australia and overseas.
A Lamborghini previously owned by Rod Stewart and later bought by businessman, media personality and global “Mr Paparazzi” Darryn Lyons is set to go under the hammer through Lloyds Auctions, with the celebrity-owned supercar to be offered online as part of The Darryn Lyons Collection.
The vehicle is one of the headline lots in the seven-part auction series and combines celebrity provenance with a deeply personal backstory for Lyons, who has long regarded the car as one of the most treasured possessions in his collection.
“This is the kind of car that captures immediate public attention because it brings together celebrity ownership, collector appeal and a very strong personal story,” said Lee Hames, Chief Operations Officer, Lloyds Auctions.
“It stands out not only because Rod Stewart previously owned it, but because of the way Darryn Lyons came to buy it and the significance it has carried for him since.”
Lyons acquired the Lamborghini through a specialist dealer in England, where he was told Stewart had just dropped the car off. Before completing the purchase, Lyons was taken on a high-speed test drive through the Oxfordshire countryside by a former racing driver turned salesman, an experience he later described as one of the most frightening of his life.
Lyons has described the Lamborghini as an unforgettable driving experience, saying the car felt incredibly planted, powerful and unlike anything else he had been in.
“It’s been one of the biggest thrills of my life. As a small boy, I dreamed of one day owning and driving a car like this, so when it goes, there will absolutely be a tear. It has given me a huge amount of fun over the years, and, in my view, it remains one of the greatest cars ever built,” Lyons said.
“Several people have offered to buy it over the years, but it was never for sale,” Lyons said. “This is the first time I’ve decided it should go with the rest of the collection.”
“The story behind this car gives it a different level of interest,” Hames said.
“It has celebrity ownership, it has Darryn Lyons’ own history attached to it, and it is exactly the kind of vehicle that attracts interest from collectors, enthusiasts and the wider public worldwide.”
The Lamborghini forms part of The Living Estate of Mr. Darryn Lyons Collection, a seven-part auction series featuring vehicles, luxury watches, designer fashion, antiques, wine, fine art and memorabilia collected across decades in Australia and overseas.
The 1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster is being offered online through www.lloydsauctions.com.au/mrpaparazzi, with bidding open now, ending on Saturday the 31st of October, 2026.
About us:
Lloyds Auctions is one of Australia’s leading and trusted auctioneering and valuation companies, operating for more than 20 years. Lloyds offers a wide range of auctions across vehicles, machinery, fine art, jewellery, antiques and more, including collectable cars and luxury vehicles.
