RE: Lamborghini Countach
Discussion
Another Cannonballer here - I was already into cars but films like that, Smokey and the Bandit and Hooper and all the 80s shows like A-Team, Street Hawk, etc, etc, etc really put the petrol in my veins. I can still hear the sound of that Countach in CB in my head.
I like all the Countaches, even the very last ones because of their over-the-top 80s-ness. Cheese to the max, but the Lamborghini name and sound saves it. It's a car that would stop a whole town when you drive through.
I think it was the only car of which I had a poster in my bedroom as a kid.
I'd have a Miura before I had a Countach though. My respect to the people who own and run one though - I remember reading a story in a car magazine back in the late 80s about a bloke who remortgaged his house to buy one and on the form it said "Reason for remortgage:" and he'd written "LAMBORGHINI!". Class.
I like all the Countaches, even the very last ones because of their over-the-top 80s-ness. Cheese to the max, but the Lamborghini name and sound saves it. It's a car that would stop a whole town when you drive through.
I think it was the only car of which I had a poster in my bedroom as a kid.
I'd have a Miura before I had a Countach though. My respect to the people who own and run one though - I remember reading a story in a car magazine back in the late 80s about a bloke who remortgaged his house to buy one and on the form it said "Reason for remortgage:" and he'd written "LAMBORGHINI!". Class.
I admit I always used to prefer the pre-Anniversary QV. But I've just bought an Anniversary in a Candy Red finish with no rear wing. Say what you like, but I fell in love with it on sight, and in all honesty I've actually started to prefer the Anniversary, or at least like it as much. It never looks so good in pics, but in the metal it's still a real eyeful. It's my personal ultimate dream car, and having to wait another week or so before I can pick it up is agony - but it'll be worth it.
Coutach is such a true supercar, Ferrari really got there with F40, to that shocking appearance. It's not only about the speed, it's the looks that drop the jaw.
Long nites, slow days, until.. Maybe some pics/video of your first moments whit the beauty, or just some of the car
yellowvette said:
I've just bought an Anniversary in a Candy Red finish with no rear wing. Having to wait another week or so before I can pick it up is agony - but it'll be worth it.
Long nites, slow days, until.. Maybe some pics/video of your first moments whit the beauty, or just some of the car
Edited by SamuliS on Sunday 13th May 20:28
mat205125 said:
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.
90% of his disappointment was the fact that he had to spend a day in Letchworth filming it!
TSS said:
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!
Well done mate..
The Countach is the kinda car that would and will always split opinion. A real love it or hate it car..
Me? I just think it is the definitive supercar to me. Totally OTT even 30 years after its birth..
Now i know a Murciealago is an awesome car but its definitely been 'Audi'd' compared to the Countach.
I have just followed a beautiful pearlescent white 5000 QV from Knockhill for 25 miles. Great roads, beautiful weather and the howl of the Countach ringing in my ears - it was one of my defining motoring moments.
The fact that I could hear the Countach was particularly amazing as I was driving the Koenigsegg at the time.
Quick for an old car too.....
The fact that I could hear the Countach was particularly amazing as I was driving the Koenigsegg at the time.
Quick for an old car too.....
northo said:
I have just followed a beautiful pearlescent white 5000 QV from Knockhill for 25 miles. Great roads, beautiful weather and the howl of the Countach ringing in my ears - it was one of my defining motoring moments.
The fact that I could hear the Countach was particularly amazing as I was driving the Koenigsegg at the time.
Quick for an old car too.....
The fact that I could hear the Countach was particularly amazing as I was driving the Koenigsegg at the time.
Quick for an old car too.....
you see....I knew Scotland had something going for it!
I'm sure Christian von K will even admit his car isn't as visually dramatic as the Gandini masterpiece???
cyberface said:
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.
It's definitely a purer design, but there was no way you'd get proper modern tyres under one.
yes the arches were fitted to enable the use of wider tyres, however id argue your statement that modern low profiles couldnt fit under the standard arches - the wheels/tyres fitted didnt come out as far as they could have and also pls remember that the original rims fitted to the LP400 were actually 9.5" and that wider tyres could easily have fitted rims of that size (though 15" would have been a better bet than the 14's) ive posted some pics below of an actual car with wider tyres fitted.It's definitely a purer design, but there was no way you'd get proper modern tyres under one.
LP400 with split rims and wider tyres
Look at a picture of an LP400S and you can see that the front tyres were not sitting nice and wide, but instead sat quite deep inside the arch (changed again on later cars) so the arches certainly werent needed on the front. As for the rears well yes they wouldnt fit under the original arches but who in all honesty needs 345 section rear tyres.
LP400S showing front wheels deep into the arch
LP500S showing front wheels spaced out wider
in my opinion the factory always went for the dramatic - they could have fitted low profile P7's without the flared arches but that wasnt their style they wanted to make the car even more dramatic.
Edited by holbrooknr on Wednesday 4th July 03:41
Edited by holbrooknr on Wednesday 4th July 03:48
Edited by holbrooknr on Wednesday 4th July 14:28
I first saw a Countach on 4th August 1986 and I've lusted after one ever since! I of course whole hartedly agree with TSS and Yellowvette ( I thought you changed your name?). I wish I had bought my years ago! I have been fortunate enough to own some lovely cars but nothing has ever made me smile as much as my Countach! You just gotta have the wing though!!!!!!!
Hi all, thought I'd add some pics of my girl. We travelled 3500 miles around Europe in summer 2011 visiting Le Mans, Florence, Factories and Alps. Quite a lot of work for the old girl so she is now having a new clutch fitted.
V12 powered trolly
V12 powered trolly
V8S said:
Another Cannonballer here - I was already into cars but films like that, Smokey and the Bandit and Hooper and all the 80s shows like A-Team, Street Hawk, etc, etc, etc really put the petrol in my veins. I can still hear the sound of that Countach in CB in my head.
P.s. I'm clearly a 70s child as i was well into cannonball run. Actually chose a 308 and dressed as a priest (as per Dean Martin) for Gumball in 05 and chose Burt in 08 with a 79 bandit trans-am in the states. Shows how much of an impression these things have on you as a kid.
HarryW said:
Looking back at it now, it highlights to me how radical the design was in the early 70's. No wonder I wanted one then, even the E-types looked pre war against it.
I dare say someone will pipe up "it drove like a truck though", I say to you, but it looks a million dollars and you'd feel like a million dollars driving it, road presence is king for exotica.
Surely, as our country cousins across the pond would say "it should be in the hall of fame"
Harry
Agreed, i can't imagine how radical this looked in the 70's. If it were only released this year it would still look like nothing else on the planet.I dare say someone will pipe up "it drove like a truck though", I say to you, but it looks a million dollars and you'd feel like a million dollars driving it, road presence is king for exotica.
Surely, as our country cousins across the pond would say "it should be in the hall of fame"
Harry
I don't care how hard they are to drive, they are just automotive porn from a looks and sound perspective. If I won the lottery i would have one in a heartbeat, probably sat in a big empty room with a single chair and a beer fridge, it would be my zen place
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff