Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary

With the Countach, Lamborghini successfully inherited the first mid-engine sports car in the brand’s history in 1974, which at the same time heralded the international era of supercars. Of course we are talking about the legendary Miura. The wedge-shaped design by Marcello Gandini, who was now working for Bertone, was shown as design study LP500 at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971. The legend of the later model name was already created at the preview in the Sant’Agata factory yard. ‘Countach’ is an exclamation of astonishment from the Piedmont region and, according to some rumors, slipped out of the mouth of one of the employees when the cloth was pulled off the vehicle. Originally, this concept car was only intended to show the new tubular frame, on the basis of which some new products should arrive later. However, the shape of the bodywork aroused great interest and prompted Lamborghini to consider series production. In the end, this became the model series produced for the longest time. Less than 2,000 units were manufactured between 1974 and 1990. This was mainly due to the financial difficulties in which the sports car brand found itself time and again.

From its original form with a centrally lowered roof, in which a small window for the interior mirror was integrated, the Countach developed steadily over time. In 1978 the LP400S was introduced, whose engine output had to be reduced by 20 to 355 hp due to stricter emission regulations in the USA. In addition, the fenders were widened with special attachments and a new front spoiler was installed. For a surcharge, Lamborghini delivered a striking rear wing to the respective dealer with the car, which was then assembled for the customer on site. From 1982 to 1985, the Countach LP500S increased the displacement from four to 4.75 liters, thus restoring the original power of the LP400. In the Countach LP5000 QV (Quattrovalvole) produced from 1985 onwards, the displacement increased to 5.2 liters and the power to 455 hp. In 1988, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Lamborghini brand, the Countach 25th Anniversary was introduced with the same power output but a modified bodywork. The front spoiler, side skirts, rear lights and rear fascia were in a modified design. In this form, 657 units were produced until 1990, before production was switched to the new Diablo.

At Silverstone Auctions, a very special Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary will be under the hammer at the Race Retro Classic & Competition Car Sales from 21 to 23 February. The car was originally ordered by an owner of a 1975 Countach LP400, so one can assume that he wanted to add another Countach to his collection at the end of the series. When he was invited by Lamborghini to visit the production in Sant’Agata while his car was going into production, he asked on site for a spontaneous change of color of his car. To match his other Countach he wanted to have it painted in the same color ‘Arancio Miura’ (orange), which wasn’t officially available for the 25th Anniversary. Lamborghini actually agreed and with that the only specimen of the final model variant in this color was created.

Until 1995 this Countach only accumulated 6,390 kilometers of mileage, then it was stored. In June 2017, the first owner took it out of storage again and had it extensively refurbished by Lamborghini specialist Colin Clarke Engineering, resulting in an invoice total of £ 17,600. The car comes with all the original documents, purchase and registration papers, invoices for all services including the aforementioned refurbishment, original Lamborghini driver’s gloves and a tailored car cover by Portman. Silverstone Auctions hasn’t yet given any information on the expected estimate of this sports car.

Images: Silverstone Auctions