Supercars.net

In 1965, only a year after Lamborghini launched its very first car, the 350GT, the automotive world was shocked by the presentation of the Lamborghini Miura chassis. When the completed car was unveiled the following year with a mid-mounted four-cam V-12 engine and low, sleek, dramatic styling, it set a new standard for an Italian supercar. Many felt Lamborghini had invented the modern supercar with the Miura, but the fledgling manufacturer had only begun to make its mark. The March 1971 Geneva Show saw the unveiling of a car that, to some, made even the Miura look commonplace. Marcello Gandini had designed a shape for the LP500 that resembled a flying wedge on wheels which the technical team at Lamborghini had transformed into a functioning automobile.

It is believed the origin of the name came from someone who, upon seeing it, exclaimed “countach!” Certainly , the Piedmontese dialect expression, being the verbal equivalent of a wolf-whistle, was apt. By the time the original five-liter prototype was prepared for production, the four-liter, four-cam V-12 engine still delivered 375 hp and 266 ft/lbs of torque to propel the car to a top speed of almost 180 mph, making it just as fast as it looked. With the Countach, Lamborghini had truly created the new age of the supercar.

Chassis & Sales

1120154 - Blu Tahiti exterior complemented by Bianco and Blu upholstery. Subject of a two-year comprehensive restoration by highly experienced Lamborghini Specialists Ultimate Motor Works in Longwood, Florida. At the time of restoration, the various components indicated that the car was an extremely low-mileage example and the project reportedly spared no expense in order to produce the most correctly-detailed end result possible. Today, the car shows less than 16,000 kilometers and displays the benefits of careful, long-term ownership. Sold for $330,000 USD at Gooding & Companies 2010 Amelia Island Sale.

Story by Gooding & Company