Countach LP400
Countach LP400
Specifications
Notable facts
Reviews
About the Lamborghini Countach LP400
The Countach LP400 (1974-1978) was the first production Countach, developed from the 1971 LP500 show car that Marcello Gandini drew at Bertone. It set the template Lamborghini would run for sixteen years: a longitudinally mid-mounted quad-cam V12, scissor doors, and a sharply wedged aluminum-alloy body over a tubular spaceframe engineered under Paolo Stanzani. The narrow early body and the roof channel that routed the rear-view mirror earned it the "Periscopio" nickname.
It's the purest and lightest of the line. At roughly 2,348 lb (~1,065 kg) dry it's about 1,100 lb (~500 kg) lighter than the final 25th Anniversary, so it feels lighter on its feet than the wide-body cars that followed, without their tire and downforce grip. It's the one collectors chase for its clean, unadorned shape.
Pros & cons
What’s great
- Lightest, purest Countach
- Narrow Gandini body, cleanest lines
- First production scissor doors
Watch-outs
- Runs hot in traffic
- Heavy unassisted steering and clutch
- Poor rearward visibility
Buying notes
- Confirm the cooling system is healthy and has been sorted. The mid-mounted V12 in a tight bay runs hot in traffic, and a marginal radiator, fan, or coolant setup shows up quickly.
- The six Weber carburetors need expert synchronization. A poorly tuned car runs badly and hotter still; budget for specialist attention.
- Originality matters on the narrow-body Periscopio cars. Check that the shape, trim, and mechanicals are unmolested rather than updated to later-car spec.
Frequently asked
Where does the name "Countach" come from?
It's a Piedmontese exclamation of astonishment. As the team prepped the prototype for the 1971 Geneva show, a Bertone worker from Piedmont used the word on seeing the car, and it stuck. Gandini himself later told the story.
Why do collectors single out the LP400?
It's the original narrow-body car, the lightest and least adorned Countach, and the closest to Gandini's clean 1971 concept before the wide arches, wings, and bigger bumpers arrived. It was also the lowest-volume classic Countach, which adds to the appeal.
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