• The first and last version of the super sports car serve to document 27 years of serial production

This year, Automobili Lamborghini dedicates its presence at the Techno Classica (29 March – 1 April 2006) fully to the 35th anniversary of the Lamborghini Countach. During this fair, the largest in the world to focus on the theme of classic automobiles, the long-standing manufacturer of super sports cars presents two of its models: a Countach LP400 as well as the Lamborghini Countach 25°. Both vehicles are part of the Lamborghini Collection which can be seen at the factory museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese. At the fair, the cars are on display in hall 7, stand 509.

• The Lamborghini Countach LP400

When Lamborghini and the Turin-based design firm Bertone presented the latest results of their collaboration at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971, the visitors gasped in amazement. They did not just witness the first study for a new Lamborghini; the extremely wedge-shaped design they laid eyes on was in fact the most radical and futuristic concept of a sports car that had ever been developed. The silhouette and the wing-doors that opened upwards brought to mind a fighter plane rather than an automobile. Responsible for the revolutionary design was Bertone staff member Marcello Gandini, who also created the Miura. The name of the new car: Lamborghini Countach LP 500.

The abbreviation LP stood for “longitudinale posteriore”,

, and referred to the way the twelve-cylinder engine was installed: from rear to front. The number served to indicate the cylinder capacity of the V12 with a 60 degree cylinder angle: five liters. The name itself was an expression often used in the dialect of the Piemonte region and means something like magnificent, wonderful, incredible, which is what Bertone allegedly exclaimed when he first saw Gandini’s finished designs. Ferruccio Lamborghini, who was also present at the occasion, subsequently deemed that the right name for the car. The performance facts which were presented were indeed incredible: 440 hp and a maximum speed of 300 km/h. No sports car at the time could beat those numbers.

The study was so well received that the people in Sant’Agata decided to manufacture the Countach in series. During the test phase in the months following the Motor Show, it emerged that Gandini had been slightly overoptimistic with regard tot the thermal conditions of the engine. Also, the stability of the top level engine fell somewhat short of the expectations. Therefore, in 1972 the engineers resorted to the tried and tested 12-cylinder with 4 liter cylinder capacity. The name was changed correspondingly to LP 400. The cooling air mechanism was improved through cooling vents in the sides and through large scoops. They made the Countach look even more martial and provided the car with its clear-cut contours, which paved the way for its status of icon in the world of sports cars.

The finished version of the serially produced car wasn’t shown to the public until 1973 in Geneva. Contrary to the study presented in 1972, the frame consisted of round rather than square tubes. Instead of steel plate, aluminum was used for the body, which lowered the dry weight from 1130 kg to 1060 kg. The engine, which was spurred by six Weber 45 DCOE carburetors, generated 375 hp and took the Countach to a maximum speed of over 300 km/h. As a result, the Lamborghini Countach LP 400 was the fastest serially produced automobile of its time.

• The Lamborghini Countach 25°

Just how trail-blazing and modern Marcello Gandini’s designs by were, is illustrated by fact that the Countach continued to be built all the way until 1988. It was the year in which Lamborghini celebrated the 25th anniversary of its factory – an excellent opportunity to restyle the successful super sports car. The base consisted of the Countach LP 5000 4V, which has a 5,2 liter V12 engine with 455 hp performance. The wings were broadened substantially, in order to provide space for broader tires. The wheel housing at the front sheltered 225/50 ZR 15 tires instead of the 205/14 tires used in the original version. At the back, the increase in size was even more impressive: here, 345/35 ZR 15 tires were deployed, instead of the 215/14 tires found on the Countach LP 400. A special feature of the Countach 25° were the streaks on the side skirts and the scoops. It would turn out to be the last version of the Countach to be introduced by Lamborghini. In 1990, production came to an end after 657 units. Overall, 1997 Countachs left the factory in Sant’Agata during 27 years of manufacturing.