Original Lamborghini Countach And What Makes It So Special

10. History tells the Countach saved Lamborghini

As a result of his feud with Enzo Ferrari, Ferruccio Lamborghini founded “Lamborghini” in 1963. He did manage to grow it with the help of models like the Miura but in the 1970s due to various global factors, Lamborghini company went bankrupt.

Lamborghini Countach Side - Source- Lamborghini Media

Hence, Ferruccio Lamborghini was forced to sell the company to Georges-Henri Rossetti and René Leimer. However, before his retirement, Ferruccio Lamborghini did lay the foundation for the Countach which ended up becoming one of the most desired and popular cars from the 1970s and 1980s.

9. The birth of the original Lamborghini Countach

It is safe to say that Lamborghini initiated the era of supercars. Technically, there were high-performance cars with super specs before as well. However, it wasn’t until the launch of the Lamborghini Miura in 1967 that the term “supercars” started floating around more and more. After the discontinuation of Miura, the Countach became the superstar of Lamborghini. However, the Countach was not only widely different but superior to the Miura in terms of performance. However, the Miura also suffered from spinning due to mid-engine placement.

1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 - Source: Ralf Roletschek (talk) - Wissensmanagement mit Wikis (FAL or GFDL 1.2), via Wikimedia Commons

Hence, to overcome this issue and take the performance factor to the next level then Lamborghini Chief Engineer, Paolo Stanzani and the head of Lamborghini, Ferruccio Lamborghini started a new project named “LP112” which will produce a worthy successor of the Miura. It was eventually called the “Countach”. The name “Countach” is taken from the Piedmontese language. Marcello Gandini named it as a joke at first but his colleagues including test driver, Bob Wallace ended up agreeing on the name.

8. Captivating Design

Designed with the main collaboration of legendary designer, Marcello Gandini of Bertone and Paolo Stanzani, the Lamborghini Countach came out looking like a spaceship on the road that sealed its image in every onlooker's eyes for eternity.

Lamborghini Countach Interior - Source- Lamborghini Media

The Lamborghini Countach can be highlighted by its wedge-shaped design, low profile, and of course, who can forget those iconic scissor doors? Furthermore, the Lamborghini Countach was only offered in a 2-door coupe body style. Hence, there is no original Lamborghini Countach Convertible.

7. Iterations

Before production models hit the market, Lamborghini made three prototypes which were unveiled at the 1971, 1973, and 1974 Geneva Motor Shows respectively. That said, the Lamborghini Countach LP400 was the first production model which was introduced in 1974. It lasted till 1978 and the LP400 S received dramatic visual changes and a weaker engine.

Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition Rear - Source- Lamborghini Media

The Lamborghini Countach LP500 S succeeded the LP400 S in 1982 and it came with a 4.8L engine. In 1985, the LP5000 Quattrovalvole (QV) was offered to the world with a bigger engine. Finally, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Lamborghini, the 25th Anniversary Edition of Lamborghini Countach was launched in 1988, taking influence in design profile from the Lamborghini Countach 1974.

Meanwhile, there were many “special models” that saw the light of the day during the Lamborghini Countach production run from 1974 to 1990. The 1975 Walter Wolf Countach was the modified and more powerful version of the LP400 made by Gianpaolo Dallara for the owner of the Wolf F1 Racing team, Walter Wolf. Furthermore, the 1987 Countach Evoluzione was a one-off prototype by Lamborghini which became the lab rat for the upcoming Diablo which will eventually inherit new technologies through this experimentation. That said, some other variants or versions of the Lamborghini Countach include the Countach Turbo S, Countach QVX, F1 safety car, and Countach L150.

6. Powertrains

Unlike its predecessor, Miura whose engine was mounted transversely, the Countach received a longitudinal arrangement that fixed the weight distribution problem. It made Countach more stable on the road and less prone to fatal accidents. Having said that the Countach Protype was powered by a 5.0L V12 engine which made 440 horsepower. However, the LP400 was supported by a 3.9L V12 engine that put out 370 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. Later, the LP400 S made only 350 horsepower with the same engine.

Lamborghini Countach Engine - Source- Lamborghini Media

The LP500 S was the first Countach model with the 4.8L V12 that produced 370 horsepower and 308 lb-ft of torque. The 5000 QV featured a 5.2L V12 engine which churned out 449 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The same power figures were shared on the 25th Anniversary. However, the most powerful variant of the Countach was the LP500 Turbo S prototype which churned out 736 horsepower and 646 lb-ft of torque. That said, a 5-speed synchromesh manual transmission was given with all engine setups.

5. Performance of old Countach

The 25th Anniversary Edition is considered the fastest version of the Countach which accelerated from 0 to 60 MPH in just 4.5 seconds. On the other hand, the LP400 S is the slowest which managed to cross the 60 MPH target in 5.9 seconds.

Lamborghini Countach Front Headlights - Source- Lamborghini Media

At the same time, the LP 400 was 0.5 seconds faster than the LP400 S. Moreover, the 5000 QV and the 25th Anniversary Edition, both have a top speed of 185 MPH. However, it is the Countach LP500 Turbo S prototype that touched a top speed of 208 MPH as per Wikipedia.

4. Parking and handling Nightmare

Like modern Lamborghinis, the original and old Countach also suffered from negligible outward visibility, making it difficult to reverse the park. Although the Countach has a rearview mirror, the lack of complete rear glass makes it useless. What makes it more awkward is the Countach’s low standing height of just 42.13 inches. If you put that in perspective, the Ferrari Testarossa of that time stands 44.5 inches tall and the average height of cars nowadays ranges from 5 feet to 6 feet.

Lamborghini Countach Rear - Source Jörgens.mi via Wikimedia Commons

Furthermore, due to its lower center of gravity and small ground clearance, drivers had to be more than careful on the road as a simple bump can hurt the Countach severely.

3. Rarity

An estimated 1,983 units of the Lamborghini Countach out of which 157 examples were the LP400 and 237 units received LP400 S.

Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition - Source Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 321, 610, and 657 units of the LP500 S, 5000 QV, and 25 Anniversary models were produced respectively. Meanwhile, there is only one example of prototype LP500.

2. Auction Value and Price Tag

By production number, you can figure out how rare (1974-1990) Lamborghini Countachs are. The average auction of the Lamborghini Countach is $519,937. However, many models have been sold at record-setting prices. Meanwhile, the 1984 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S by Bertone was also sold by RM Sotheby's in Las Vegas for $8.3 Million. Depending on the model year and the exclusivity, the original Countach's value varies significantly.

Lamborghini Countach 5000QV - Source- Axion23, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition by Bertone which featured in the Hollywood movie "The Wolf Of Wall Street" was sold by RM Sotheby's for a whopping 1.6 Million. A total of 657 25th Anniversary Editions reportedly were made during its existence.

1. Rightful Successor of old Lamborghini Countach

Less than 1,983 units of the original Lamborghini Countach left the factory from 1974 to 1990. However, after decades, the new hybrid 2022 Lamborghini Countach has come back to tantalize the hearts of purists.

The Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 was introduced in 2022 which still carried the Countach nameplate. Lamborghini announced that it will make only 112 examples of the 2022 Lamborghini Countach which will have a starting price of $2.6 Mills.

The 2022 Countach has a 6.5L V12 engine which is assisted by an electric motor and is connected to a 7-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission. The total output is 802 horsepower. Lastly, the 2022 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 Coupe can do 0-60 MPH in 2.8 seconds and it has a top speed of 220 MPH.