In an effort to ‘one-up’ previous Lamborghini models, Marcello Gandini began conceptualizing today’s Lamborghini Countach. In particular with Lamborghini in the late 1970s, it was something more of a challenge – and based off the finished Countach model, he was up to the test. And in December, one will be up for auction through RM Sotheby's Driven By Disruption auction event.
Gandini had redrawn the modern supercar for the Miura, almost from the ground up, creating a template for every ‘supercar’ that would follow. The new car was essentially a flying wedge, in the style of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s prototypes of the early 1950s, with a sloping snout that descends directly out of its windshield in a single plane. The unusual shape of the body—wide and flat—necessitated a new door arrangement; they would pivot up from the front hinge, similar to scissors, hence known as “scissor doors” that we see on lots of sports cars today.
The most difficult part for Gandini might have been coming up with the name. That was quickly solved when someone saw the car, and exclaimed ‘Countach!’, which is the vulgar Piedmontese equivalent to ‘Wow!’.
Nearly every important supercar built since, anywhere in the world, has been wide, flat, wedge-shaped, mid-engined, and had those “crazy doors”—and it all began here.
One of these historic Lamborghini’s – a 1981 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S Series III – is up for auction via RM Auctions. The specs of the model include:
Nearly every important supercar built since, anywhere in the world, has been wide, flat, wedge-shaped, mid-engined, and had those “crazy doors”—and it all began here.
- Finished in the unique color of Verde Metallizzato
- The first customer-delivered Series III LP400 S
- Only 6,031 km (3,748 miles) from new; powered by its original engine
- An exquisite restoration by former Lamborghini artisans
- Accompanied by a report from Valentino Balboni
