Following the legendary Miura, the Countach had big shoes to fill, and it did so spectacularly. Unveiled at the 1971 Geneva Salon, the Countach was designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, like its predecessor.
The Countach retained Lamborghini’s four-cam V12 engine from the Miura but mounted it longitudinally. To optimize weight distribution, designer Paolo Stanzani placed the five-speed gearbox ahead of the engine and the differential at the rear.
This arrangement provided a delightful gear change and a better-balanced car than the Miura. Upon production in 1974, the Countach featured an enhanced spaceframe chassis and a 4.0-litre engine producing 375bhp. Despite the smaller engine, the aerodynamic Countach could reach 170mph and offered exceptional racetrack handling.
In 1978, the ‘LP400S‘ upgrade introduced major chassis and suspension improvements, with a rear aerofoil becoming a popular option. The Countach entered the US market in 1982 with the emissions-friendly LP500S (5000 S), which, while not more powerful, featured a 4,754cc engine with increased torque.
Photos by Peter Singhof courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
