RE: Showpiece of the Week: Lamborghini Countach
Monday 19th March 2018
Phwoarrr, bloody hell! Was there ever a car more glorious to behold than the early Countach?
Admittedly, if one were being picky, it isn't quite as dramatic or as eye-wateringly pure as Gandini's original LP500 prototype, but it's also true that all the later Countachs after this one were undoubtedly faster but visually debased, which leaves this model as the one to choose if you just want to park the thing in your living room and stare at it.
Of course that misty-eyed look might actually be real tears, as he's probably also recalling the pain caused by the compromised driving position, the limited visibility, the huge running costs and the excessive steering weight. Oh, and that hefty gearchange. But consider this game old Lambo can still polish off the 0 to 62mph sprint in just 5.6 seconds, and top out at 176mph, and all the time behind your head there's the wail of that wonderful 375hp 4.0-litre V12.
Showpiece of the Week: Lamborghini Countach
Looks a million dollars; now costs that, too...
Okay so it became the rather cliched poster-boy pin-up of a million teenage boys' bedroom walls back in the 80s, but this 1977 LP400 'Periscopio' still looks superb, and surely its wondrous looks are enough to justify this car's tremendous price tag of nigh on a million pounds? After all, it looks a million dollars and, allowing for a little give and take in the exchange rate, that sounds like a pretty fair return to me.
And yes, yes, yes, we all know by now that successive generations of new motoring journalists have driven the car and pronounced it to be a very bad thing indeed, but those who drove it back in the day had no such complaints - they ruddy loved the thing! I can't remember a test in which a contemporary Ferrari ever beat it, and even our man Cropley, he of Autocar, veteran of many Countach runs and not a man to wallow in unseemly nostalgia, gets quite misty-eyed recalling the cut, the thrust and the glorious noise.
Anyway, who cares if it wouldn't see which way a modern supercar went? This beauty is one of only 150 LP400 Periscopio models - so named for the tiny periscope mirror they mounted in the top of the prototype's bodywork in an effort to overcome those poor visibility issues - and it's still utterly gorgeous. It's had sympathetic and quite proper upgrading work, to LP400 S spec, with the option to return it to its original state if so desired; it also has an interesting history and it's been immaculately kept. Good God, what's stopping you?
Mark Pearson
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Discussion
I believe this car was originally blue.
the LP400S modifications have all been reversed except the rear suspension (dual shock absorbers) is says in the advert text - not sure the article words align with that.
Perscopio was never part of the original name, just a moniker that everyone seems to add on.
the LP400S modifications have all been reversed except the rear suspension (dual shock absorbers) is says in the advert text - not sure the article words align with that.
Perscopio was never part of the original name, just a moniker that everyone seems to add on.
Never meet your heros.
Had the poster on the bedroom wal as a kid.
Finally got the chance to sit in one 5 years ago in Dubai
I didn't fit!
Just over 6 foot. Got in the thing eventually but left the door open as it would have cut my head off.
Good thing that car had an fuel leak at the time or I may have tried to drive it anyway
Had the poster on the bedroom wal as a kid.
Finally got the chance to sit in one 5 years ago in Dubai
I didn't fit! Just over 6 foot. Got in the thing eventually but left the door open as it would have cut my head off.
Good thing that car had an fuel leak at the time or I may have tried to drive it anyway
Rode in one of the original Countach in the country in '75 when I was a lot smaller then I am now. It's owner was a mate of mine's father who loved cars and also had a '72 Camaro Z28, Aston Martin DB6 and an Espada.
I still remember the Countach ride along Wembley High Road, feeling like all my Christmas's and birthdays had come at once!
It was a yellow LP400 with tan seats that were incredibly uncomfortable, even for my 11 year old frame! But the experience has stayed with me and probably started my life long love of cars!
Wonderful and if I had a spare million lying around.....
)))
I still remember the Countach ride along Wembley High Road, feeling like all my Christmas's and birthdays had come at once!
It was a yellow LP400 with tan seats that were incredibly uncomfortable, even for my 11 year old frame! But the experience has stayed with me and probably started my life long love of cars!
Wonderful and if I had a spare million lying around.....
)))Neil1300r said:
Never meet your heros.
Had the poster on the bedroom wal as a kid.
Finally got the chance to sit in one 5 years ago in Dubai
I didn't fit!
Just over 6 foot. Got in the thing eventually but left the door open as it would have cut my head off.
Good thing that car had an fuel leak at the time or I may have tried to drive it anyway
DittoHad the poster on the bedroom wal as a kid.
Finally got the chance to sit in one 5 years ago in Dubai
I didn't fit! Just over 6 foot. Got in the thing eventually but left the door open as it would have cut my head off.
Good thing that car had an fuel leak at the time or I may have tried to drive it anyway
My friend has one & I just cannot fit behind the wheel despite trying!
I worked for a hire company back in the day , we had the later QV500 models , a red one and a white one .
I used to collect and deliver them around West London ,
As others have said never meet your heroes, the first few times of driving them it was all excitement but that soon faded , certainly not the best thing to drive in traffic .
I used to collect and deliver them around West London ,
As others have said never meet your heroes, the first few times of driving them it was all excitement but that soon faded , certainly not the best thing to drive in traffic .
grumpy52 said:
I worked for a hire company back in the day , we had the later QV500 models , a red one and a white one .
I used to collect and deliver them around West London ,
As others have said never meet your heroes, the first few times of driving them it was all excitement but that soon faded , certainly not the best thing to drive in traffic .
I don't care. When i win the lottery my living room will have a glass wall into a garage with that sitting there. Its pure art. I used to collect and deliver them around West London ,
As others have said never meet your heroes, the first few times of driving them it was all excitement but that soon faded , certainly not the best thing to drive in traffic .
Edited by 98elise on Monday 19th March 13:05
Lovely no doubt, but a million quid for an old supercar?
If speed is what you are after that are far cheaper and faster modern cars that won't require near as much maintenance, Nissan GTR or Ferrari 488?
If classic supercar looks it what you are after then there are no end of classic options De Tomaso Pantera and Maserati Ghibli spring to mind.
You could pick one good classic and one lovely quick modern and still only be at half this cars asking price. With 500,000 for maintenance. I know the buyer will probably be a billionaire who won't care, but this really is silly money for what you actually get.
If speed is what you are after that are far cheaper and faster modern cars that won't require near as much maintenance, Nissan GTR or Ferrari 488?
If classic supercar looks it what you are after then there are no end of classic options De Tomaso Pantera and Maserati Ghibli spring to mind.
You could pick one good classic and one lovely quick modern and still only be at half this cars asking price. With 500,000 for maintenance. I know the buyer will probably be a billionaire who won't care, but this really is silly money for what you actually get.
Will just leave this link... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AQLbxAhg1UM
dc2rr07 said:
Will just leave this link... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AQLbxAhg1UM
Wonderful. Would love to slip into either one of those. 
patmahe said:
Lovely no doubt, but a million quid for an old supercar?
If speed is what you are after that are far cheaper and faster modern cars that won't require near as much maintenance, Nissan GTR or Ferrari 488?
If classic supercar looks it what you are after then there are no end of classic options De Tomaso Pantera and Maserati Ghibli spring to mind.
You could pick one good classic and one lovely quick modern and still only be at half this cars asking price. With 500,000 for maintenance. I know the buyer will probably be a billionaire who won't care, but this really is silly money for what you actually get.
But none of those other things you mention is a Countach, and if you grew up in the 70s/80s idolising the Countach then only a Countach will do.If speed is what you are after that are far cheaper and faster modern cars that won't require near as much maintenance, Nissan GTR or Ferrari 488?
If classic supercar looks it what you are after then there are no end of classic options De Tomaso Pantera and Maserati Ghibli spring to mind.
You could pick one good classic and one lovely quick modern and still only be at half this cars asking price. With 500,000 for maintenance. I know the buyer will probably be a billionaire who won't care, but this really is silly money for what you actually get.
grumpy52 said:
I worked for a hire company back in the day , we had the later QV500 models , a red one and a white one .
I remember reading about these when they became a rental option, they would occasionally be hired for a few days and then be returned with only a few additional miles on the clock, but with slight scuff marks to the paintwork......Chancers were hiring them only to stash them away in a workshop for a couple of days and make bodywork moulds out of them to sell as fibre-glass replicas! It saved them the cost of having to buy their own car!
thegreenhell said:
patmahe said:
Lovely no doubt, but a million quid for an old supercar?
If speed is what you are after that are far cheaper and faster modern cars that won't require near as much maintenance, Nissan GTR or Ferrari 488?
If classic supercar looks it what you are after then there are no end of classic options De Tomaso Pantera and Maserati Ghibli spring to mind.
You could pick one good classic and one lovely quick modern and still only be at half this cars asking price. With 500,000 for maintenance. I know the buyer will probably be a billionaire who won't care, but this really is silly money for what you actually get.
But none of those other things you mention is a Countach, and if you grew up in the 70s/80s idolising the Countach then only a Countach will do.If speed is what you are after that are far cheaper and faster modern cars that won't require near as much maintenance, Nissan GTR or Ferrari 488?
If classic supercar looks it what you are after then there are no end of classic options De Tomaso Pantera and Maserati Ghibli spring to mind.
You could pick one good classic and one lovely quick modern and still only be at half this cars asking price. With 500,000 for maintenance. I know the buyer will probably be a billionaire who won't care, but this really is silly money for what you actually get.
Like many children of the late 70's/early 80's, this was my poster car. Also like many, I remember looking at them longingly when they were £40k - £50k and just out of reach. Now they will forever be out of reach. Still, I would happily have a kit version of the Countach. very few cars I would happily have the replica of but to just look at in the garage and driving down to Le Mans and the like..
thegreenhell said:
But none of those other things you mention is a Countach, and if you grew up in the 70s/80s idolising the Countach then only a Countach will do.
Yes indeedy , nothing came close to it . Not a Pantera , BB 512 , Bora , Vantage , 911 Turbo . The Countach stood alone . Magnifico !
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