Piedmont is a region in the north of Italy and lies at the foot of the Alps, bordering France and Switzerland. It is famous for its exquisite cuisine and wines such as the Barolo. But the region is also reason for the name of one of the most iconic Lamborghinis ever made – the Lamborghini Countach.
The name derives from an expression (“contacc”) in a dialect from Piedmont. It is an exclamation that unites astonishment and amazement and can be translated as “Wow!” or “Madness!”. Most previous and subsequent Lamborghini car names are associated with famous bulls and bullfighting but the Countach broke from this tradition. In my opinion, the name is well-chosen because this is exactly what the Countach triggers in me when I see it – a high level of admiration. Well done, Lamborghini.
The Countach was unveiled by Lamborghini in 1973 at the Geneva International Motor Show as the successor of the Lamborghini Miura and was produced for 16 years from 1974 until 1990. Together with the mid-engine version of the Ferrari 365, the Countach was the most important trendsetter in the sports car industry of the 1970s. The design of the Countach was different from Miura. The predecessor was known for its soft curves whereas the Countach’s angular design reflected wildness and masculinity.
The first version of the Countach, the LP400, had a V12 engine with a displacement of 3,929 cm³ and an engine power output of 375 PS. The top speed was reached with 309 km/h and the acceleration from 1-100 km/h was 5.4 seconds.
By the way, did you know that the description of the Lamborghinis with “LP” stands for “longitudinale posteriore” and means “lengthwise orientated” in Italian, referring to the position of the engine? The mid-engine of the Countach is not installed transversely, as in the predecessor Miura, but lengthways.
During the years of production Lamborghini slightly changed the Countach and introduced upgraded versions of the super car like the LP400S, the LP500S, LP5000S QV and the 25 Anniversary edition as the last version of the car. But of course, there have also been special editions and since The Collectors Circle is always dedicated about the rarest cars of the automotive world, here are two special editions we would love to mention.
The Special edition Countach Turbo S: In 1984 Ferruccio Lamborghini placed an order for the production of two prototypes with two turbochargers. The 12-cylinder 4. 8-litre engine delivered up to 748 PS (That’s 35 years ago!) and reached 876 Nm maximum torque, which was enough for a top speed of 333 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3. 6 seconds. Thus, the car was the fastest road vehicle at that time. The first red model based on an LP400S from 1980 was lost for a long time but was rediscovered in Nevada in 2018. The second car, a black Turbo S, was last known to be in the hands of a Swabian entrepreneur.
The Special edition Countach Walter Wolf: In 1975, the multimillionaire, Walter Wolf, asked the then Lamborghini chief engineer, Gian Paolo Dallara, to revise the Countach a bit. The bodywork was modified (similar to that of the LP 400 S available from 1978) including a greatly enlarged rear wing and a more powerful engine, the 5-litre V12 engine from the 448 PS study, the LP500. It reached over 315 km/h. According to various sources, three units were produced. The first one, painted red with the number 110148, is in Japan. Another, painted blue, is in Germany (number 1120202). Wolf himself owned a blue Countach as well (number 1121210) whose current ownership and whereabouts are unknown. The Walter Wolf version can be easily identified by the badge above the license plate, which features the lettering “Wolf Formula One” and a Canadian Flag.
Mr. Marcello Gandini, the chief designer of the Countach, we sincerely thank you for one of the most iconic bulls and I am sure for some collectors it is even the most beautiful bull that ever left the Lamborghini factory.
Summary
Brand:
Lamborghini
Model:
Countach LP400 (shown in the pictures below)
Price:
current market price is around EUR 400,000 up to EUR 600,000 depending on the condition of the car and the model. The special versions Walter Wolf and Turbo S would obviously cost significantly more.
Limitation:
Countach LP5000 (1 unit) as it was a Countach prototype (study car); Countach LP400 (157 units); Countach LP400 S (237 units); Countach LP500 S (321 units); Countach LP500 QV (units 610); Countach 25th Anniversary (657 units).
When to drive:
Somewhere, where people appreciate the beauty of the Countach. A city with a high number of car spotters such as London (Oxford Street), Paris (Avenue des Champs-Élysées) or Zürich (Quaibrücke).
What we love about the car:
While Miura was known for its soft curves, the Countach is known for its angular and aggressive design. The windscreen is extremely flat and the scissor doors open upwards and forwards in a semicircle. A design you had to love back then and still have to love.
Images: Instagram account: @davidclementephotography
IMPORTANT NOTE: The car shown in the pictures is NOT the one we are offering for sale.
