When the Lamborghini Countach was released, it had a way of instantly making every car previously released feel old and people didn’t really know what to think.
The prototype was first shown at Geneva in 1971, and it did not really look like the next step on from the Miura. It looked like somebody had skipped a few steps and gone straight to a car from another decade. This was a result of the need to create a car so good it was unlike anything they’d done before.
Over the next sixteen years, Lamborghini built 2,049 of them, which was purposefully minimal and surprising in today’s terms considering how big the Countach is in car culture.
LP500 prototype
The LP500 prototype used a longitudinal mid mounted V12 with the gearbox ahead of it, which was unusual and clever. It helped with weight distribution, and it became one of those layouts that later supercars borrowed from in one form or another. Gandini drew the shape around that idea and ended up with something incredibly low, angular, but clean. The scissor doors helped its status but even without them the car would have stopped people.
The original 5.0 litre engine did not make the jump into production as planned as it was a bit too ambitious at that stage, so Lamborghini backed off and used the more familiar 3.9 litre V12 instead. That probably helped the Countach become a real road car rather than just a famous prototype.
LP400
This is the one people usually mean when they talk about the pure Countach. The LP400 arrived in 1974 with the 3.9 litre quad cam V12, around 375bhp, and a body that still looked very close to the original idea. It also had that odd but brilliant periscopio roof channel, because rear visibility in a Countach was terrible and Lamborghini had to try something. Part of the appeal of the early cars now is the design first appeal. Some features were not the most practical by they certainly looked beautiful. Everything later on became more aggressive and more excessive, but the LP400 has a kind of restraint to it.
It was also very light, weighing just over a tonne, far less than the new versions. This made it not particularly comfortable but light on its feed and incredibly toey. It was also light, just over a tonne, which gave the car a different sort of energy from the later versions. Not easy, not friendly, not even especially comfortable. But lighter on its feet. There is a reason collectors keep circling back to it.
Only 157 were built.
LP400S
The LP400S arrived in 1978 and is where the Countach starts to look like what most people picture. The biggest change was the arches. They were pushed out to fit much wider tyres, specifically the Pirelli P7, which at the time were some of the widest ever used on a road car. The rear tyres in particular were huge.
The rear wing also became common around this time. It was optional, but most buyers added it. The wider body and wing did affect performance. The car was slightly slower in a straight line than the LP400 due to increased drag and a small drop in power, but what it gained was grip and stability, which made a difference when driving the car properly. Early LP400S models kept the lower ride height, while later ones were raised slightly for practicality.
LP500S
By the early 1980s, Lamborghini needed to improve the Countach without changing what made it what it was.
The engine was increased to 4.8 litres, bringing power back to around 375bhp, but more importantly adding torque. The car felt stronger across the rev range and less dependent on being driven hard all the time. There were also small usability improvements. The roofline was raised slightly, the interior was updated, and overall it became easier to live with compared to earlier cars. It still kept the same overall look and feel, just with a bit more usability.
LP5000 Quattrovalvole
The Quattrovalvole arrived in 1985 with a larger 5.2 litre V12 and four valves per cylinder with power increasing to around 455bhp. This was a noticeable step up from the earlier versions. The engine felt sharper and more responsive, with stronger performance overall.
The carburettors were repositioned on top of the engine, which led to the raised engine cover design. Rear visibility, which was already poor, became even worse. Other updates included larger brakes, improved chassis stiffness, and the use of lighter materials in some areas. This version is generally seen as the most complete mechanically.
25th Anniversary
The final version of the Countach was introduced in 1988. It was redesigned by Horacio Pagani, with significant changes to the exterior. Additional vents, larger intakes, and revised bodywork were added, mainly to improve cooling but also changing the overall look of the car.
Mechanically, it remained very similar to the Quattrovalvole, with the same engine and performance. A total of 657 were built before production ended in 1990.
The Countach stayed in production for a long time considering how extreme it was when first released. It was never an easy car to drive. Visibility is poor, the driving position is awkward, and it requires effort to use properly. But that is part of what defines it.
Modern supercars are faster and more refined, but they are also much easier to drive. The Countach feels different because it demands more from the driver.
That is why it still stands out.