Few automobiles define an era as completely as the Lamborghini Countach. Introduced as a prototype in 1971 and produced from 1974 through 1990, the Countach established the basic template for the modern Lamborghini supercar: a mid-mounted V12, outrageous wedge-shaped bodywork, dramatic scissor doors and performance intended to challenge the fastest road cars in the world.
Yet “Countach” encompasses several distinctly different automobiles. The extraordinarily clean LP400 that began production in 1974 is visually and dynamically quite different from the wide-bodied, wing-equipped cars that came to define the Countach during the 1980s. Engine displacement grew from 3.9 liters to 4.8 and ultimately 5.2 liters, while wider tires, fender flares, spoilers, emissions equipment and increasingly luxurious interiors progressively transformed the car.
The principal production variants are the LP400, LP400 S, LP500 S/5000 S, 5000 Quattrovalvole (QV) and 25th Anniversary. Within those groups are important distinctions involving wheels, suspension, roof design, carburetor placement, bumpers and market specifications.
1971–73: The LP500 Prototype
The Countach story began at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, where Lamborghini unveiled the yellow LP500 prototype.
Marcello Gandini of Bertone designed the radically angular bodywork. It represented a dramatic departure from the flowing curves of Lamborghini’s Miura and helped establish the wedge-shaped supercar aesthetic that dominated exotic-car design during the 1970s and 1980s.
“LP” referred to Longitudinale Posteriore, describing the longitudinal placement of the engine behind the passenger compartment. The prototype’s “500” designation referred to its intended approximately 5-liter V12.
One of the Countach’s defining features was its unusual drivetrain arrangement. The engine sat longitudinally but with the transmission ahead of it, between the seats. A driveshaft then ran rearward through the engine’s sump to the differential. This arrangement helped concentrate mass near the center of the car and allowed the gear lever to connect relatively directly to the transmission.
The prototype differed considerably from the production Countach. Development brought major changes to the chassis, cooling system, bodywork and engine before customer cars appeared.
1974: LP400 Production Begins
The first production version was the Countach LP400, which entered production in 1974.
Instead of the prototype’s intended 5-liter engine, the LP400 used Lamborghini’s proven 3,929-cc DOHC V12, fed by six Weber carburetors. Output was approximately 375 horsepower in European specification, although quoted figures vary depending on measurement standards.
The LP400 is the purest expression of Gandini’s original Countach design. Its body lacked the fender flares, spoilers and enormous rear tires that characterized later cars. Relatively narrow wheels sat within clean wheel openings, giving the original Countach a remarkably delicate appearance compared with its successors.
The first production cars also featured the famous “Periscopio” roof arrangement, associated with a recessed channel in the roof originally conceived to improve rearward visibility through a periscope-style mirror system. The production execution did not function quite as originally envisioned, but the distinctive roof treatment became one of the most recognizable features of early Countachs.
The LP400 rode on a tubular spaceframe chassis and used independent suspension, ventilated disc brakes and a five-speed manual gearbox.
1975: The LP400 Establishes the Countach Formula
Production remained limited in 1975, and Countachs were still essentially hand-built automobiles.
Mechanically, the LP400 continued with the 3.9-liter V12 and five-speed transmission. The car was capable of extraordinary performance for the period, with a top speed around 180 mph often claimed, although actual performance depended on gearing, testing conditions and individual specification.
The LP400’s relatively narrow tires and lighter body gave it a different driving character from later Countachs. Steering effort was lower, particularly at moderate speeds, and the car lacked the enormous aerodynamic appendages that would eventually become synonymous with the model.
Early LP400s are consequently prized not simply because they are old, but because they represent a fundamentally purer version of the Countach concept.
1976: Continued LP400 Production
The 1976 Countach remained an LP400, with only detail changes resulting from Lamborghini’s low-volume production methods.
The Countach was still an extraordinarily uncompromising automobile. Visibility was poor, the cabin was tight, the clutch was heavy and rearward vision was sufficiently limited that the famous Countach reversing technique — sitting on the door sill with the scissor door raised while looking backward — became part of the car’s mythology.
Air conditioning was available but struggled in hot climates, and the huge windshield admitted substantial solar heat into the cabin.
These shortcomings mattered little to the Countach’s image. Few road cars looked remotely as exotic.
1977: Final LP400 Development
LP400 production continued through 1977, with the basic specification still remarkably close to the original production cars.
Approximately 150 LP400s were ultimately built, making the original narrow-body Countach one of the rarest regular-production versions.
As production continued, however, Lamborghini was developing a substantially more aggressive Countach inspired in part by customer and competition-oriented modifications.
The transformation would produce the car most people visualize when they hear the name Countach.
1978: LP400 S — The Wide-Body Countach
The LP400 S arrived for 1978 and dramatically changed the Countach’s appearance.
Lamborghini added large bolt-on wheel-arch extensions and much wider wheels and tires. The extraordinary Campagnolo “telephone-dial” wheels became a defining visual feature.
At the rear were enormous 345-section Pirelli P7 tires, among the widest fitted to any production automobile of the era. The suspension was revised to accommodate the new tire package, and the car sat lower.
Ironically, the engine remained essentially the 3.9-liter V12, and quoted output was generally lower than that of the original LP400, at approximately 350–355 horsepower in many specifications.
The increased tire width provided considerably more grip but also made steering heavier.
An enormous optional rear wing soon became one of the Countach’s most recognizable features. Although visually spectacular, it added drag and could actually reduce maximum speed.
1979: LP400 S Production Continues
For 1979, Lamborghini continued producing the LP400 S with its flared bodywork, wide Pirelli tires and optional rear wing.
Collectors divide LP400 S production into several informal series based on chassis, suspension, wheels and ride height.
The earliest Series One LP400 S cars are particularly desirable. They retained certain features closely related to the LP400 and generally sat extremely low on their suspension.
Later cars received revisions that increased ride height and altered other details.
Because Lamborghini implemented changes gradually rather than according to rigid model-year boundaries, chassis number and production specification are often more useful than registration year when determining exactly which type of LP400 S a particular car represents.
1980: Evolution of the LP400 S
The LP400 S continued through 1980 with incremental changes.
Later LP400 S cars generally rode higher than the earliest examples, improving practicality at the expense of some of the extreme stance of the Series One cars.
Interior details and equipment also evolved as Lamborghini attempted to make the Countach slightly more accommodating without compromising its exotic character.
Mechanically, however, the basic formula remained unchanged: carbureted 3.9-liter V12, five-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive and extraordinarily wide rear tires.
1981: The Final 3.9-Liter Countachs
By 1981, the Countach’s dramatic bodywork was beginning to outpace its engine development.
Competitors were becoming faster, while tightening emissions requirements made selling the Countach in some markets increasingly difficult.
Lamborghini needed more displacement and torque.
The solution was an enlarged version of the V12, which would arrive as the LP500 S.
1982: LP500 S / 5000 S
The LP500 S, often called the 5000 S, arrived for 1982.
Despite the “5000” designation, displacement was actually 4,754 cc, not a full five liters. The enlarged V12 provided substantially more torque than the 3.9-liter engine and improved drivability.
European cars continued to use six Weber carburetors, and output was generally quoted around 375 horsepower.
Externally, the LP500 S closely resembled the late LP400 S. It retained the wide fender flares, huge Pirelli tires and available rear wing, making engine displacement and detail differences more useful for identification than basic body shape.
The enlarged engine made the Countach more flexible on the road and restored some of the performance lost as the car became heavier and wider.
1983: The 5000 S Matures
The 5000 S continued through 1983 with few major changes.
By this point, the Countach had become one of the definitive status symbols of the 1980s. Posters of winged Countachs appeared on bedroom walls around the world, and the car’s cultural impact far exceeded its tiny production numbers.
American customers presented a particular challenge. The Countach was not originally engineered around U.S. emissions and bumper regulations, so federalization could involve additional equipment and modifications.
As a result, U.S.-market Countachs can differ substantially depending on when and how they were imported and converted.
1984: Final Development of the 5000 S
The 5000 S continued into 1984 and early 1985.
The basic Countach architecture was now more than a decade old, but the car’s appearance remained remarkably futuristic.
Competition from Ferrari and other manufacturers was increasing, however, and Lamborghini again sought additional performance from its V12.
The next development would provide not only greater displacement but a new cylinder-head design.
1985: 5000 Quattrovalvole
The Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole, commonly abbreviated 5000 QV or simply QV, represented the most important engine development in Countach history.
Displacement increased to 5,167 cc, and new cylinder heads incorporated four valves per cylinder, explaining the Quattrovalvole name.
European-specification QVs used six large Weber carburetors mounted on top of the engine. Output was approximately 455 horsepower, making the QV substantially more powerful than previous Countachs.
The carburetors’ new position required a prominent raised engine cover, which further reduced already-poor rearward visibility.
Performance improved accordingly, returning the Countach to the front rank of the world’s fastest production automobiles.
1986: The Fuel-Injected U.S. Quattrovalvole
The QV continued for 1986, but an important distinction developed between European and U.S.-market cars.
To satisfy American emissions requirements, U.S.-specification QVs received Bosch fuel injection rather than the six Weber carburetors used on European cars.
The injected engines generally produced less power than the carbureted European specification, making the distinction important to collectors.
American cars also acquired substantial federally required bumper equipment. The large black bumpers, particularly the protruding front assembly, dramatically altered Gandini’s original styling.
Consequently, European-style carbureted QVs generally provide the cleanest combination of the later Countach body and maximum factory performance.
1987: The QV in Full Production
The 1987 Countach remained fundamentally a 5000 QV.
The car now combined the mature wide-body Countach appearance with the most powerful version yet of Lamborghini’s traditional carbureted V12.
By contemporary standards, the Countach remained brutally physical to drive. There was no power steering, clutch effort was substantial and the enormous rear tires demanded considerable steering effort at parking speeds.
Yet those characteristics are now a major part of its appeal. Unlike later electronically managed supercars, the Countach offers an intensely mechanical driving experience.
1988: Final QVs and the Coming Anniversary Model
QV production continued into 1988 while Lamborghini prepared a heavily revised Countach to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary.
By this point, Lamborghini was under Chrysler ownership, and the Countach was approaching the end of its unusually long production run.
Rather than replace it immediately, Lamborghini commissioned a substantial update.
The resulting car became the highest-production Countach variant.
1988–89: The 25th Anniversary Countach
Introduced in 1988, the 25th Anniversary Countach commemorated Lamborghini’s founding in 1963.
The mechanical basis remained the 5.2-liter Quattrovalvole, but the body received extensive revisions. Development work was overseen by Horacio Pagani, then working at Lamborghini.
The Anniversary model gained redesigned front and side air intakes, revised rocker-panel treatment and numerous additional cooling vents. The body-color strakes around the side intakes are among the easiest ways to identify the model.
The interior was also substantially revised, with improved seats, power windows and other comfort upgrades.
The aerodynamic and cooling changes made the Anniversary Countach more refined and usable, although some enthusiasts prefer the cleaner surfaces of earlier cars.
1990: The Final Countach
Production of the 25th Anniversary model continued into 1990.
Mechanically, the final cars retained the 5,167-cc V12, with specification varying according to market. European cars continued to represent the highest-output carbureted configuration, while emissions-controlled versions were sold in markets requiring them.
By the end of production, Lamborghini had built approximately 2,000 Countachs across all variants — tiny numbers by normal production-car standards, but enough to make the Countach one of the most recognizable automobiles ever created.
The final Countach was completed in 1990, clearing the way for its successor, the Lamborghini Diablo.
Understanding the Major Countach Variants
The Countach’s history is easiest to understand by separating it into its principal collector categories.
LP400, 1974–78: The original narrow-body Countach. Powered by a 3.9-liter carbureted V12 and distinguished by its clean bodywork and early Periscopio roof treatment. Approximately 150 were built. Generally regarded as the purest expression of Marcello Gandini’s original design.
LP400 “Periscopio”: Early LP400s featuring the distinctive recessed roof channel associated with the original periscope-style rear-visibility concept. These early cars are particularly prized by collectors.
LP400 S, 1978–82: Introduced the wide fender flares, enormous Pirelli P7 rear tires and telephone-dial wheels that established the classic 1980s Countach appearance. The optional rear wing became an iconic feature despite adding aerodynamic drag.
LP400 S Series One: Early, low-production LP400 S variant distinguished by its particularly low stance and early equipment. These cars have become especially desirable among collectors.
LP500 S / 5000 S, 1982–85: Engine displacement increased from 3.9 to 4.75 liters, improving torque and drivability while retaining the wide-body styling of the LP400 S.
5000 Quattrovalvole, 1985–88: Displacement increased to 5.2 liters and four-valve cylinder heads substantially raised power. European carbureted cars produced approximately 455 horsepower.
U.S.-specification 5000 QV: Uses Bosch fuel injection rather than the six Weber carburetors of European QVs and incorporates U.S.-mandated emissions and bumper equipment. These differences can significantly affect appearance, performance and collector desirability.
25th Anniversary, 1988–90: Final and most extensively developed Countach, featuring numerous aerodynamic, cooling and interior revisions. It was also the most numerous individual Countach version.
Over its approximately 16-year production life, the Countach evolved more dramatically than its basic silhouette suggests. The LP400 is a relatively delicate, narrow-bodied sports car whose clean styling is remarkably close to Gandini’s original concept. The LP400 S transformed that shape into the wide, aggressively flared Countach that became a cultural icon. The LP500 S added badly needed torque, while the Quattrovalvole finally delivered the engine output necessary to match the increasingly dramatic bodywork. The 25th Anniversary refined the package further, improving cooling and comfort while adding still more visual complexity.
For collectors, those distinctions are critical. An early LP400 Periscopio, low-body LP400 S Series One, carbureted European QV and U.S.-specification fuel-injected Anniversary car may all be Countachs, but they differ significantly in rarity, appearance, performance and value.
Original configuration is also particularly important. Many Countachs were modified when new or later in life with rear wings, skirts, wheels, bumpers and other components, and some cars have subsequently been converted back toward European specification. Market-specific emissions equipment can further complicate identification. Chassis number, engine number, production records and documentation of original delivery specification therefore matter considerably when evaluating an individual car.
The LP400 generally appeals most strongly to collectors seeking rarity and design purity. The LP400 S captures the emergence of the archetypal wide-body Countach. The 5000 QV provides the most potent version of the original Gandini-era design, particularly in European carbureted form. And the 25th Anniversary offers the most developed and usable interpretation of the Countach before Lamborghini replaced it with the Diablo.
Regardless of variant, the Countach’s importance extends well beyond performance figures. Its longitudinal V12 layout, cab-forward proportions, scissor doors, outrageous width and uncompromising ergonomics established an identity Lamborghini continues to exploit decades later. The Diablo, Murciélago, Aventador and subsequent Lamborghini V12 flagships all owe a substantial part of their basic formula to the Countach.
What began in 1974 as a startlingly clean wedge-shaped successor to the Miura ended in 1990 as one of the most flamboyant automobiles ever sold. The remarkable difference between an early narrow-body LP400 and a winged 25th Anniversary car is precisely what makes understanding the individual Countach variants so important to enthusiasts and collectors today.
Important Sales Reviewed by SCM Experts
Each month for the past 38 years, SCM’s analysts have reviewed 5 to 7 significant cars sold at auction, and discuss what options, history, or details made that particular more or less valuable. They give their expert opinion on the market for these cars, and whether this car was well bought or well sold. If you’re thinking of purchasing a Lamborghini Countach, you’ll likely find these profiles critical in helping you make the right decision.
1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S Series IThis 1979 Countach is a Series I LP400 S, and it is noteworthy for its optional V-shaped rear wing and its engine upgrades. Lamborghini had experienced reliability issues with early Countach prototypes, and the original intention to launch the car with a 5.0-liter version of the V12 was scrapped in favor of using the same […]Read more
1984 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 SComprehensive restoration with extensive receipt file $23,000 paint by Stuart’s Paint & Body Specialists of Dallas, TX $80,000-plus in mechanicals by Norwood Auto Italia of Carrollton, TX New leather interior panels and carpet from marque specialists Factory tools and manual includedRead more
1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th AnniversaryIn 1989, to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Lamborghini Automobili S.p.A., the company owners at that time — the Chrysler Corporation — drafted in no less than Horatio Pagani to restyle and relaunch the amazing Countach for the final time. Featuring carbon and Kevlar panels, bespoke wheelarch extensions, extended air-intake ducts and a new rear […]Read more
1988 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary CoupeThe teenagers who had Farrah Fawcett posters have grown up and (loud groan) have started to collect 1980s cars The sensation of the 1971 Geneva Salon, the Countach was styled, like its predecessor, by Bertone’s Marcello Gandini. Lamborghini’s four-cam V12 was retained, though this time installed longitudinally. To achieve optimum weight distribution, designer Paolo […]Read more- 1989 Lamborghini Countach AnniversaryThe Countach debuted at the Geneva Auto Salon as a show car in 1971 and was introduced to the European market in 1974. In polite terms, the name Countach is Italian slang for “Good Lord!” or simply, “Wow!” This exclamation aptly describes most car lovers’ response on seeing the car for the first time. Wildly […]Read more
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Past Auction Sales – Lamborghini Countach
Average Lamborghini Countach Sale Price by Year from SCM’s Platinum Auction Database:
Lamborghini Countach Sales from SCM’s Platinum Auction Database:
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 1-
Aug 7, 2026
$945,500
Broad Arrow Auctions
Condition: 1-
May 16, 2026
$1,838,678
Broad Arrow Auctions
Condition: 2-
May 16, 2026
$609,017
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 2+
Mar 12, 2026
$712,500
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
Feb 27, 2026
$841,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2-
Jan 28, 2026
$679,525
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2-
Jan 23, 2026
$885,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2-
Jan 23, 2026
$417,500
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 2
Dec 11, 2025
$731,205
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2-
Nov 1, 2025
$817,469
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2-
Oct 18, 2025
$584,050
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2
May 22, 2025
$1,277,917
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 2
Apr 7, 2025
$573,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2
Feb 28, 2025
$577,000
Artcurial
Condition: 2-
Feb 7, 2025
$420,559
Artcurial
Condition: 2-
Feb 7, 2025
$575,176
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
Feb 4, 2025
$855,255
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 3+
Dec 12, 2024
$497,644
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 2-
Dec 3, 2024
$607,500
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 2
Oct 6, 2024
$583,434
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 2
Sep 4, 2024
$752,500
Broad Arrow Auctions
Condition: 2-
Aug 14, 2024
$802,500
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 2+
Jul 12, 2024
$362,875
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 2
Jun 24, 2024
$721,944
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3
May 11, 2024
$490,445
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
May 11, 2024
$2,157,821
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 3+
Feb 1, 2024
$671,549
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
Jan 25, 2024
$478,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
Dec 8, 2023
$1,655,000
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 2-
Aug 31, 2023
$516,500
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 2-
Aug 31, 2023
$472,500
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2
May 20, 2023
$1,069,317
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 1-
May 10, 2023
$670,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
Mar 3, 2023
$560,000
Artcurial
Condition: 2+
Feb 3, 2023
$641,787
Artcurial
Condition: 3+
Feb 3, 2023
$1,047,816
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2
Feb 1, 2023
$556,956
Bonhams
Condition: 3+
Dec 16, 2022
$559,965
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2-
Dec 10, 2022
$555,000
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 2-
Nov 14, 2022
$588,226
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
Nov 5, 2022
$538,864
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
Sep 9, 2022
$431,846
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 2-
Sep 1, 2022
$439,500
Silverstone
Condition: 2+
Aug 26, 2022
$326,064
Bring a Trailer
Condition: 2+
Jun 19, 2022
$743,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 3+
May 14, 2022
$449,151
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2
Mar 25, 2022
$632,500
Silverstone
Condition: 2-
Mar 5, 2022
$344,897
Bonhams
Condition: 4+
Dec 11, 2021
$10,400
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2
Nov 19, 2021
$1,020,026
See all 126 sales of Lamborghini Countach cars from SCM’s Platinum auction database.