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Lamborghini Countach LP400 1975.

After the success of the presentation at the Geneva motor show of 1971 Lamborghini Countach LP500 prototype, the first Countach built, the brand launched in 1974, the first series of the model, the Countach LP400. This had a V12 engine of 4.0-liter in place of the engine of 5.0 liters that was mounted on the prototype, but had the same image and breaking the specimen shown in Geneva 3 years before.

The Countach was not a mere replacement of the Miura, its launch managed to mark a turning point not only in the history of the brand, but the industry itself. His figure was unique in the market and laid the foundation of aesthetics on which they would base all of its successors. Unlike the Miura, this had the engine in a longitudinal position, hence the LP400 inauguraran the nomenclature LP (longitudinale posteriore) that today are still using Aventador and Huracán.

The first series of the model is the easiest to recognize at a glance, because it does not account with the huge wheel arches, nor the huge rear spoiler optional enjoyed all his successors. In addition to a unique roof, with a slit and a small window that served to reflect the area back in the rear view mirror, central, hence its nickname, “Periscope”.

On the roof of the cleft through which is extended the rear view.

engine maximum power of 12 cylinders had 3.929 c. c. and delivered 375 HP and 361 Nm of torque, was only available with a manual transmission and had the tires more narrow, that rode any other model of the series. From his successor, the Countach has always had the wider tires available on the market, in an attempt to grab him to the ground.

faster than its successor

His own successor, the Countach LP400S, despite seeming more aggressive by their wide aerodynamic devices, had less power and lower performance, which contributed without a doubt that the LP400 had lower weight and better aerodynamics, precisely by having a body more clear.

Its construction was very light, had a complex tubular frame on which is mounted the body panels, manufactured from aluminium. This is precisely the main reason of the peculiar opening doors vertical or scissor, because with a few doors conventional occupants could be trapped inside the vehicle. As with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “gullwing”, the height of the own frame in the access zone prevented such a maneuver natural access and therefore, a standard door.

doors vertical opening, sign of identity of the brand.

Its designer, a young Marcello Gandini, had already designed doors with this solution, in the Alfa Romeo Carabo, so that before the inconvenience of access it was decided to include this system as spectacular, and has served as a hallmark of the brand for all the models of V12 engine central.

Between 1974 and 1978 were made to a total of 157 copies of the Countach LP400, a short production that assumes the spin short of the model, which had 5 versions with a figure of total production of 2.042 units, between 1974 and 1990, year in which was replaced by the Lamborghini Diablo.

For many, the LP400 “Periscope” are the samples most desired model. Clean bodywork, with the original design of the model and without the excessive steps of wheel and the giant rear spoiler (an option on the other hand very expensive), is the one that represents the pure form of the Countach, however, for many others it is precisely this simplicity aesthetic is the one that makes the release less attractive.

The versions listed for many.

Currently, the latest versions of listed model are precisely the first and the last, the LP400 and 25th Anniversary, in this last case we find the V12 to be raised to 5.2 litres with 455 HP and 500 Nm of torque, and a body full of air tickets.

The most quoted of all

For years, the only versions of the Countach that we could find in the big auctions of the year corresponded precisely with these, although were very rare to find. However, in this last decade, the saga Countach has once again gained prominence, and in recent years have already begun to receive copies of the intermediate versions, as the 5000 QV, in addition to suffering from a significant revaluation.

A LP400 1974 in a state of competition rarely reached a million dollars, but as of 2014, its stock has explotador and now can reach up to 2.0 million dollars.

This exemplary yellow 1975 only has 6,000 kms of use.

The exemplary red color that appears in the images corresponds with the LP400 no. 86, was auctioned off in 2015 and is one of the few copies that we can find with the steering wheel to the right, while the yellow drive is the LP400 no. 31, and was delivered to the Prince Mansour Bin khaled Mashaal in Saudi Arabia in 1975, although in the decade of the eighties was repatriated to Italy. After more than 40 years and 4 owners only and has travelled 6,000 kilometres, so there is no wonder its been flawless.

This is shown on your outline of original color, yellow, Giallo Fly with the inside brown tobacco, although recently received a restoration of the interior, where they recovered the upholstery’s brown the original, and an in-depth review of the mechanics, who included modifications in the cooling system, with new fans to increase the reliability of the mechanical, and the air conditioning system which was mounted on the later version Countach Quattrovalvole.

the origin of The name

Since the Miura, all the Lamborghini, or at least the majority of them, have had a name related to bullfighting. The reason is not another that the fans that felt its founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, with the world of the bull and the affinity that he felt for Spain, where he maintained numerous friendships.

Lamborghini Countach LP500, first prototype of 1971.

however, the Countach was a real exception, in that the does not have a name of its own real. The word Countach comes from the dialect piamontese, and is an expression of awe that does not have a literal translation into our language. We can translate it as the expression “ heavens!”, although also we can find other sources that say that the expression really is a bad word.

The reason we have chosen this expression is a whole history, as it is
note that when Nuccio Bertone saw for the first time the prototype LP500 finish
released this expression of wonder. How they came to being finally
as a denomination not known for certain, but the story of
Bertone, the owner of the design house responsible for the Miura and the
own Countach, is the explanation commonly accepted by many
historians.

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