BUYER’S GUIDE

Classic Lamborghini Countach Review

Named after a swear word and no less shocking now, the Countach is a worthy dream car for a generation of petrolheads…

What Is It?

After the groundbreaking Miura, the Countach could well have been a case of ‘difficult second album’ for a breakthrough act like Lamborghini. Nothing of the sort, as it turns out. Revealed at the 1971 Geneva show, the Countach was actually unveiled on the Bertone stand so as not to distract from the Miura’s SV swansong on Lamborghini’s own display.

But all eyes were on Marcello Gandini’s pure slice of 70s wedge, the LP 500’s brutalist, edgy look and dramatic scissor doors a huge break from the voluptuous curves of the Miura. Launched in 1974, over its 16 years on sale it evolved from svelte design study into a pumped-up parody of 80s excess, earning its reputation as a beast of a car to drive along the way. None of which has harmed its legend for a generation of car nuts growing up with VHS copies of The Cannonball Run and dog-eared Athena posters on their bedroom walls. A lucky few of whom are now making the dream a reality.

Corrosive Areas

Spaceframe around rear suspension and driveshafts

Spare wheel well

Headlamp pods

Checklist

Countach evolution can be split into five main stages, beginning with the original LP 400 ‘Periscopo’ of 1974 through to the uprated 1978 LP 400 S and its introduction of signature wide arches and fat tyres; from there the LP 500 S (aka 5000 S) increased engine capacity before the arrival of serious power with the 5.2-litre Quattrovalvole in 1984, which then gained carbon garnish to become the 25^th Anniversary in 1989
Figures differ, but overall production according to Lamborghini was just shy of 2,000 by the time the last one left the line in 1990, with the QV and 25^th Anniversary accounting for well over half that figure
LP 500 prototype’s engine reduced to a 4.0-litre V12 for the LP 400, the production Countach’s wild looks and unusual configuration in fact based on more traditional tubular spaceframe foundations and hand-beaten aluminium panels with more modern bonded in fibreglass elements
2-litre four-valve engine in QV and 25^th Anniversary obvious for the large hump on the rear deck and significant boost in power over the previous models
Optional rear wing adds essential 80s pose value but little more, the increased drag reducing the top speed significantly – opinions differ on its worth
Corrosion on tubular steel chassis can be hard to spot and even more difficult to rectify, while electrolytic reaction between this and aluminium panels can also be an issue
Suspension uses a large number of bushings, all of which can wear and result in sloppy handling
Engine and gearbox considered tough when looked after properly, but specialist care is recommended – even a relatively straightforward valve clearance check requires removal of the six Weber carbs
Misfires and fluid leaks are obvious warning signs of issues, the former often attributed to faulty electrics and ignition
Check the air-conditioning works correctly
Crash damage is an important consideration and difficult to repair properly given handbuilt bodywork – check alignment and panels carefully
A passionate and tight-knit community of owners and specialists means most cars will be known quantities, so research and networking will help unearth the good ones and avoid the stinkers
In this league, a fully documented history will be worth its weight in gold
Maintenance is obviously critical but a Countach thrives on regular use, and one that’s been driven may prove more dependable than one that’s just been stored under a sheet in a collection

How does it drive?

A reputation as being a pig to drive helps the Countach legend but isn’t entirely fair. For sure, the unassisted steering, the clutch and the brakes all require serious muscle, especially at low speeds, and the ergonomics and visibility have their quirks. But the carb-fuelled V12 is glorious, the weight distribution much better than the Miura thanks to the switch to a longitudinal engine and the chassis set up with a race-car mentality by legendary test driver Bob Wallace. A certain Tiff Needell, then moonlighting from his day job racing in Group C to drive a red QV for a famous roadtest in the 1986 edition of High Performance, praised the reach of the engine, the potency of the performance and the balance of the handling once beyond the famous low-speed truculence. His conclusion, “a day in a Countach is the experience of a lifetime” rings as true now as it did then.

What’s good?

In all its forms, the impact of the Countach’s looks remain as powerful as they ever were, the wedged shape as appealing in its unadorned earlier state as it is wearing the full 80s bodykit, depending on your tastes. Iconic is an overused superlative in this league but, truly, the Countach is just that and will still turn more heads than any more modern equivalent. The rawness of its carb-fed V12 and relative mechanical simplicity make it a properly involving experience as well, and the fact it makes demands of its driver only adds to the magic. Relative rarity and that enduring style mean values will only ever go one way as well, and while running costs will be suitably epic, it should see you right once you’ve finished living the dream.

What’s bad?

We’ve covered the driving manners but the simple solution to that is to find the roads that play to its talents and leave the Knightsbridge posing to younger supercars. The cost of ownership is less easy to swerve, though, the Countach now as expensive to buy as it is to restore or even just keep running. By modern standards, nor will it feel especially fast, while even regular maintenance jobs will likely run into five figures before you’ve even started. Make no mistake, while likely inspired by the heart, a Countach is a committed purchase and potentially even more challenging ownership proposition. But, hey, that all adds to the myth, right?

Which model to choose?

American sales meant the QVs and 25^th Anniversary models were by far the most numerous models, and many reckon the extra power of the four-valve 5.2-litre engine necessary to do justice to the looks and reputation. Even with Horacio Pagani’s hand the Anniversary’s carbon embellishments look gaudy, though, and while aficionados think it’s the best to drive, the QV’s butch looks remain peak Lamborghini for many. Significantly lighter and much purer in looks, the early LP 400 Periscopos are meanwhile seriously valuable and collectable, with just 152 built.

You might save a little with an LP 400 S or 5000 S, a wingless example of the former with the wide arches and signature wheels possibly the aesthetic sweetspot between Gandini’s vision and the monster it eventually spawned. But at the end of the day, the advice is the same as for any classic – do your research, check the history and buy the best one you can afford.

Specifications – Countach Quattrovalvole

Engine

5.2-litre V12 petrol

Power

455PS (355kW) @ 7,000rpm

Torque

500Nm (368lb ft) @ 5,200rpm

Transmission

Five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive

Kerb weight

1,490g

0-62mph

c.5.0 seconds

Top speed

c.185mph

Production dates

1974-1990 (all Countach variants)