Lamborghini Countach
The Lamborghini Countach is a sports car. Lamborghini built it from from 1974 to 1990. The Countach came after the Miura. Gruppo Bertone designed the Countach. The car used several different V12 engines by the time Lamborghini stopped making it in 1990.
| Lamborghini Countach | |
|---|---|
 Lamborghini Countach | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Lamborghini |
| Production | 1974–1990 (1,983 produced) |
| Assembly | Italy: Sant'Agata Bolognese |
| Designer | Marcello Gandini at Bertone (LP500 prototype) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car (S) |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | Longitudinal rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Related | Lamborghini LM002 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Lamborghini V12 LP400, LP400 S: 3,929 cc (3.9 L) |
History
Lamborghini first showed the Countach to the public at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. The car was known as the Lamborghini LP500 back then.[1] The Countach was put into production in 1974. The first Countach model was called the Countach LP400.
Production models
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Lamborghini made several different Countach models between 1974 and 1990.
LP400
The first Countach model was the LP400. Lamborghini started making the LP400 in 1974. The car used a 3,929 cc (3.9 L) Lamborghini V12 engine. This engine was based on the one used in the Lamborghini Miura. In the LP400, it made 276 kW (375 PS; 370 hp). By the end of 1977, Lamborghini had made 158 Countach LP400s.[2]
LP400 S
Lamborghini started making the Countach LP400 S in 1978. This model replaced the Countach LP400. The LP400 S’s engine was a little less powerful than the LP400’s. The LP400 S made 261 kW (355 PS; 350 hp). There were some changes made to the exterior. These included fender flares and a rear wing. These changes stayed until Lamborghini stopped making the Countach in 1990.[3][4][4][4][5][6][7]
LP500 S and LP5000 QV
Lamborghini made the Countach LP500 S in 1982. The LP500 S had a larger (4,754 cc (4.8 L)) V12 engine than the Countach LP400 and LP400 S. Lamborghini built 321 Countach LP500 S cars.
Lamborghini made the Countach LP5000 QV in 1985. The engine was bigger in the 5000 QV. It had a size of 5,167 cc (5.2 L). The Countach LP5000 QV had either a fuel injected engine, or an engine with a carburetor. The fuel injected version made 309 kW (420 PS; 414 hp). The carbureted version made 335 kW (455 PS; 449 hp) at 7,000 rpm and 500 N·m (369 lbf·ft) of torque at 5,200 rpm. Lamborghini made 610 Countach LP5000 QVs. 66 of them had the fuel injection system.
U.S. version
Lamborghini made a version of the Countach for the United States.[8][9] The US version of the Countach had larger impact bumpers than the European version. Many owners removed the bumpers. This was because many people said that the bumpers ruined the look of the Countach.[10]
25th Anniversary model
Lamborghini made the Countach 25th Anniversary in 1988. The car got its name from the fact that Lamborghini was founded in 1963. Horacio Pagani designed the Countach 25th Anniversary. The car had a different style from the other Countach models (see picture). The Countach 25th Anniversary was made until 1990.
The Countach 25th Anniversary was the fastest version of the Countach. It was able to accelerate from 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) in 4.7 seconds. The car could also reach a top speed of 295 km/h (183 mph).[11]
Engine and transmission
The table below shows what engines the different Countach models had. All Countach models had a five-speed manual transmission paired to the engine. The engine was mid-mounted in the Countach.
| Model | Displacement | Power | Torque | Compr. ratio | Fuel and induction systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LP500 prototype | 4,971 cc (303.3 cu in) | 328 kW (446 PS; 440 hp) | 448 N·m (330 lbf·ft) at 5,750 rpm | 10.5:1 | Carburetor |
| LP400 | 3,929 cc (239.8 cu in) | 276 kW (375 PS; 370 hp) | 361 N·m (266 lb·ft) at 5,000 rpm | 10.5:1 | Carburetor |
| LP400 S | 3,929 cc (239.8 cu in) | 261 kW (355 PS; 350 hp) | 356 N·m (263 lb·ft) at 5,000 rpm | 10.5:1 | Carburetor |
| LP500 S | 4,754 cc (290.1 cu in) | 276 kW (375 PS; 370 hp) | 418 N·m (308 lb·ft) at 4,500 rpm | 9.2:1 | Carburetor |
| LP500 Turbo S prototype | 4,754 cc (290.1 cu in) | 549 kW (746 PS; 736 hp) | 876 N·m (646 lb·ft) at 4,500 rpm | N/A | Twin turbochargers, carburetor |
| 5000 QV | 5,167 cc (315.3 cu in) | 335 kW (455 PS; 449 hp) | 500 N·m (369 lb·ft) at 5,200 rpm | 9.5:1 | 6X2 44 DCNF Weber carburetors |
| 25th Anniversary | |||||
| Evoluzione prototype | 5,167 cc (315.3 cu in)[12] | 335 kW (455 PS; 449 hp) at 7,000 rpm[12] | N/A | 9.5:1 | Motronic fuel injection[12] |
Performance
The table below shows the performance of the various Countach models.
| Model | Top speed | Acceleration 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) | Dry weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| LP500 prototype | 1,130 kg (2,491 lb) | ||
| LP400 | 288 km/h (179 mph)[13] | 5.4 s[13] | 1,065 kg (2,348 lb) |
| LP400 S | 254 km/h (158 mph)[14] | 5.9 s | 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) |
| LP500 S | 293 km/h (182 mph)[15] | 5.2 s[15] | 1,480 kg (3,263 lb) |
| 5000 QV | 298 km/h (185 mph)[16] | 4.8 s[16] | 1,490 kg (3,285 lb) |
| 25th Anniversary | 298 km/h (185 mph) | 4.5 s | 1,590 kg (3,505 lb) |
| Evoluzione prototype | 330 km/h (205 mph)[17] | 4.5 s[12] | 1,050 kg (2,315 lb)[12] |
| LP500 Turbo S prototype | 335 km/h (208 mph)[18] | 1,515 kg (3,340 lb)[18] |
Lamborghini Countach Media
Countach LP500 S, viewed from above, showing the rear spoiler and fender flares added to 1978–1988 Countach models
The Countach LP400 was the initial production model
The Countach was the first production car to incorporate scissor doors
Engine compartment of a Countach
LP500 prototype recreation at Rétromobile 2022
Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4
References
- ↑ "This Lamborghini Countach stole the show". www.classicdriver.com. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ↑ "Nachtschicht im Schloss: A report on a concours d'elegance at Schloss Bensberg". Auto Motor u. Sport. Heft 25 2010: 38. 18 November 2010.
- ↑ Marchet, Jean-François; Coltrin, Peter (1981). Lamborghini Countach : LP 500, LP400, Countach & S ; V12 mid-engine. Osprey. ISBN 978-0850453904. OCLC 8553450.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Lamborghini Countach LP400S". International Lamborghini Registry. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ↑ "RM Sotheby's - 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400S Series I | Monterey 2014" (in en). RM Sotheby's. 20 July 2017. https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO14/Monterey/lots/r114-1979-lamborghini-countach-lp400s-series-i/181109. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ↑ "RM Sotheby's - 1981 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S Series II by Bertone | Monterey 2018" (in en). RM Sotheby's. 24 September 2018. https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo18/auction/lots/r0111-1981-lamborghini-countach-lp400-s-series-ii-by-bertone. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ↑ "RM Sotheby's - 1981 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S Series III by Bertone | New York - Driven By Disruption 2015" (in en). RM Sotheby's. 13 April 2018. https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/ny15/auction/lots/r102-1981-lamborghini-countach-lp400-s-series-iii-by-bertone. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ↑ Peter Valdes-Dapena (5 February 2014). "Lamborghini - Exotic car sales surge to record high - except Ferrari - CNNMoney". money.cnn.com. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ↑ Lamborghini Signals Luxury Shift From China to U.S., Japan: Cars. 30 September 2013. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-30/lamborghini-signals-luxury-shift-from-china-to-u-s-japan-cars.
- ↑ "Importing a Motor Vehicle". United States Customs and Border Protection. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ↑ "Lamborghini Countach - HowStuffWorks". HowStuffWorks. 31 May 2007.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 "Countach Evoluzione". AutoCapital: 15–16, 19–20. November 1987.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Auto, Motor und Sport 9/1978 p.54
- ↑ Anthony Kodack (14 February 2007). "1973 - 1990 Lamborghini Countach". topspeed.com.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Auto, Motor und Sport 22/1984 p.108
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Auto, Motor und Sport 12/1987 p.11
- ↑ "Lamborghini Countach Evoluzione". Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Paulokat, Mathias (12 November 2009). "Lamborghini Countach Turbo S". Classic Driver (in German). Retrieved 7 May 2015.
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