RE: Lamborghini Countach
Discussion
I thought the first countach's looked really smart, but once they sprouted thier skirts and wheel arch extensions the car looked like it had been tarted up by a boy racer.I have heard some folk refer to the later models as a caricature of the original car. People always thought I was boring back in the early eighties when I said that the Lotus esprite was in the same catagory as Lambo and Ferrarri , especially in the looks department. Also the addition of air scoops and air dams was a bit more subtle on the Lotus. It was styled by an Italian, so I would argue that it has similar pedigree. I think I would have liked the countach when I was younger, but I always prefered the slightly more subtle styling of the Lotus.
gnomesmith said:
I can confirm both Basil's pronunciation and translation.
On a similar note I understand that the Pajero is called Shogun over here as Pajero is Spanish for W~#ker.
I've never thought of the Countach as being anything other than an ugly pig of a car, prefer an E Type or a Muira anyday.
On a similar note I understand that the Pajero is called Shogun over here as Pajero is Spanish for W~#ker.
I've never thought of the Countach as being anything other than an ugly pig of a car, prefer an E Type or a Muira anyday.
May well have confirmed the pronounciation and transalation of the Countach, shame about the spelling of the Miura.
mat205125 said:
gnomesmith said:
I can confirm both Basil's pronunciation and translation.
On a similar note I understand that the Pajero is called Shogun over here as Pajero is Spanish for W~#ker.
I've never thought of the Countach as being anything other than an ugly pig of a car, prefer an E Type or a Muira anyday.
On a similar note I understand that the Pajero is called Shogun over here as Pajero is Spanish for W~#ker.
I've never thought of the Countach as being anything other than an ugly pig of a car, prefer an E Type or a Muira anyday.
May well have confirmed the pronounciation and transalation of the Countach, shame about the spelling of the Miura.
And whilst we're being pedantic, you can't spell either 'pronunciation' and 'translation', which the OP got right
cyberface said:
mat205125 said:
gnomesmith said:
I can confirm both Basil's pronunciation and translation.
On a similar note I understand that the Pajero is called Shogun over here as Pajero is Spanish for W~#ker.
I've never thought of the Countach as being anything other than an ugly pig of a car, prefer an E Type or a Muira anyday.
On a similar note I understand that the Pajero is called Shogun over here as Pajero is Spanish for W~#ker.
I've never thought of the Countach as being anything other than an ugly pig of a car, prefer an E Type or a Muira anyday.
May well have confirmed the pronounciation and transalation of the Countach, shame about the spelling of the Miura.
And whilst we're being pedantic, you can't spell either 'pronunciation' and 'translation', which the OP got right
Fell in love with the countach as soon as i saw cannonball run, back when i was barely old enough to walk.
Last year i went to MPH 06, and on walking into the classic car show next door, passed four of these beasts next to each other! The missus had to literally drag me away.
Still think they look great on the outside, so it was a bit of a shock to see how dated the interior looked. That old cassette player, with the 80's style twisty knobs just looked so out of place in such a fantastic body.
As for the sound:
www.dailymotion.com/cluster/auto/video/x1trxa_lamborgini-racing-super-car
Love the LP400's above, but have to say that my faves are the later cars with the arches and the V shaped spoiler on the back.
Could be that I am too yound to recall the release of the LP400, and that my first and main memories of the car would be the Cannonball Betamax and the Athena poster of the white car.
Hate the last of the Anniversery cars when the scoops sprouted testarossa style grills and the car looked like it had eaten too many pies.
Yummy:
Could be that I am too yound to recall the release of the LP400, and that my first and main memories of the car would be the Cannonball Betamax and the Athena poster of the white car.
Hate the last of the Anniversery cars when the scoops sprouted testarossa style grills and the car looked like it had eaten too many pies.
Yummy:
mat205125 said:
Love the LP400's above, but have to say that my faves are the later cars with the arches and the V shaped spoiler on the back.
Could be that I am too yound to recall the release of the LP400, and that my first and main memories of the car would be the Cannonball Betamax and the Athena poster of the white car.
Hate the last of the Anniversery cars when the scoops sprouted testarossa style grills and the car looked like it had eaten too many pies.
Could be that I am too yound to recall the release of the LP400, and that my first and main memories of the car would be the Cannonball Betamax and the Athena poster of the white car.
Hate the last of the Anniversery cars when the scoops sprouted testarossa style grills and the car looked like it had eaten too many pies.
You mean like these:
www.netcarshow.com/lamborghini/1998-countach_25th_anniversary/
www.netcarshow.com/lamborghini/1973-countach_lp_400/
Wasn't the reason for the bulging arches due to the fact that the very first low-profile tyres were available then? Low profile tyres weren't made when the LP400 was built, so the flat sides and fat sidewalls were what you got. Pirelli then produced the low profile wide rubber and the arches had to be extended.
I bet the LP400 on those skinny high-sidewall tyres was a bit flighty to say the least.
It's definitely a purer design, but there was no way you'd get proper modern tyres under one. Looking at the photos now (and I had the Athena poster on my wall 20 years ago or so), the be-winged and arched later cars (especially in red) look chavved up. The spoiler by the rear bumper on the photo above looks ridiculous. They're much better in black.
Then again, if I had to choose... pure shape, crap tyres OR steroid shape, proper tyres. Hard decision if you're going to try to drive it hard and not just pose....
I bet the LP400 on those skinny high-sidewall tyres was a bit flighty to say the least.
It's definitely a purer design, but there was no way you'd get proper modern tyres under one. Looking at the photos now (and I had the Athena poster on my wall 20 years ago or so), the be-winged and arched later cars (especially in red) look chavved up. The spoiler by the rear bumper on the photo above looks ridiculous. They're much better in black.
Then again, if I had to choose... pure shape, crap tyres OR steroid shape, proper tyres. Hard decision if you're going to try to drive it hard and not just pose....
Agree with Cyber face about the spoiler on the rear behind the engine looking a little excessive, and that black being a great colour for them.
Incidently, was the fog light / bull bar thing on the front of the Cannonball car required due to some federal minimum bumper height regulations or something?
Incidently, was the fog light / bull bar thing on the front of the Cannonball car required due to some federal minimum bumper height regulations or something?
castex said:
I've never driven a Countach of any era. Unfortunately.
Neither have I, and I think that this car is likely to be a prime example of the "don't meet your heroes" analogy. I think that Capt Slow said as much when he drove a blue example with white leather on Top Gear, that they dream of how they drove and the reality is a very different experience.
MOTOGUZZIMAN said:
I thought the first countach's looked really smart, but once they sprouted thier skirts and wheel arch extensions the car looked like it had been tarted up by a boy racer.I have heard some folk refer to the later models as a caricature of the original car. People always thought I was boring back in the early eighties when I said that the Lotus esprite was in the same catagory as Lambo and Ferrarri , especially in the looks department. Also the addition of air scoops and air dams was a bit more subtle on the Lotus. It was styled by an Italian, so I would argue that it has similar pedigree. I think I would have liked the countach when I was younger, but I always prefered the slightly more subtle styling of the Lotus.
5 YEARS MAN!!!!!
nigelbasson said:
One of the main reasons I begain to become interested in cars as a kid was watching the start of "The Cannonball Run" and seeing the black Countach flying along.
Same here, Nige! That movie had such a huge effect on me when I was younger (still does,actually - Farrah Fawcett smuggling peanuts!?)
I'd heard of the Countach before, but this was the first time I'd seen one in action - wow!
It was in this film that I first came across a rather good martial arts type who went by the name of Jackie Chan! Methinks The Cannonball Run had quite a formative effect on me as a kid!
mat205125 said:
castex said:
I've never driven a Countach of any era. Unfortunately.
Neither have I, and I think that this car is likely to be a prime example of the "don't meet your heroes" analogy. I think that Capt Slow said as much when he drove a blue example with white leather on Top Gear
With due respect: That’s B#llocks!
I wanted a Countach since I was 7. After seeing Cannonball Run I knew there was no option. I absolutely had to have one and it had to be black.
It took me 25 years but I got one in February.
They are very intimidating to drive if you’re used to a eurobox: No power steering, heavy clutch, heavy accelerator, 1980’s brakes, very noisy. Rear visibility to the sides is pretty poor, rear visibility directly behind you is adequate. The road presence is massive and makes other drivers to do stupid things to get a better look – or just drive along looking at you instead of where they’re going which is almost as scary.
It takes time and familiarity to learn to drive a Countach properly. The first few long journeys are you do are mentally and physically draining, but you get used to it. Yesterday I spent most of the day in mine and used it pretty much like a normal car.
It is very, very rewarding when you begin to get it right and start working with the car rather than fighting it. That is part of the appeal. It is such a capable car with massive levels of grip and performance accessible when you learn how to extract it. Yesterday I spent most of the day in mine and used it pretty much like a normal car. If it were not for the running costs I think I could almost use it as everyday transport. For a 1989 car mine is surprisingly quick, certainly faster than my Sagaris above 120. On a private test track I’ve seen 153 on the GPS and it was still accelerating very quickly.
And I will never forget the first time I gave it maximum beans in 2nd gear past a 40mph dawdler and left some numpty coming the other in a people carrier way flashing his headlights at empty tarmac. The noise in simply unbelievable. It really does sound like that black LP400S in Cannonball Run howling across the American desert with highway patrol in pursuit!
IMHO Cyberface is correct, the later model cars do look a little excessive in any colour other than black. The extra skirts and spoilers are not so evident with black paintwork. However, 1980’s cheese is to an extent part of the appeal – and if you’re driving one in the manner its makers intended, I assure you that you won’t care what anybody else thinks anyway!
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff