Lamborghini Countach was a bomb! You know what happened?

In the early 1970s, this space-age design wowed the automotive scene and essentially became the blueprint for supercar engineering to this day. The Lamborghini Countach prototype first arrived in 1971, and the production model debuted in 1974 with slight cosmetic changes. It inherited the mid-mounted V12 engine from its predecessor, the Miura, but the styling was completely original.

Lamborghini Countach was a bomb! You know what happened?

For engineers and sports car enthusiasts, this new wedge-shaped Countach was a revelation. After its launch, rival Ferrari focused on its own mid-engine designs and less on its antiquated front-engined V12 cars. In the decades that followed, everyone from BMW to Porsche, Fiat, Toyota and Honda tried to create their own mid-engine sports car. Today, almost all high-speed, high-value machines adhere to this design language, including the latest Chevy Corvette. The groundwork that Lamborghini has laid cannot be underestimated.

The Countach was also more than just looks. The four-liter V12 with dual overhead camshafts had 375 horsepower in 1974. Capable of reaching 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds, with a top speed of over 180 km/h it was fast enough to keep up many of today’s modern sports cars.

The fate of this car

The Countach had more than a decade of sales, with the final version being released in 1990. Over that time, the car had some power increases, as well as many appearance updates.

Throughout the 80s, the design underwent changes, with large spoilers and exaggerated fenders joining the bodywork. Although there is a lot of debate about which design is the most “attractive” or “purest”, the mid-80s version of the car is probably the most recognizable. However, as a real car, the Countach was often ridiculed for its uncomfortable seats, poor visibility and heavy clutch pedal. But sometimes, these sacrifices have to be made in the name of style!

However after 1990, the mid-engine V12 layout continued with the Diablo, Murcielago and Aventador. In 2021, Lamborghini announced that it would officially revive the Countach, with a limited edition model with retro-futuristic styling.