Thirty-five years ago today, the final Lamborghini Countach—a Pearl Red 25th Anniversary Edition—emerged from the gates of Sant’Agata Bolognese, bringing to a close one of the most flamboyant and influential chapters in automotive history. On May 7, 1990, after more than two decades of defying convention and redefining the supercar, production of the Countach ceased, but its legacy had already transcended sheet metal and V12s. It became a poster on every bedroom wall, a statement of power and rebellion, and an icon that still fuels dreams.
Born From a Dream, Designed for Shock
The Countach made its first public appearance as the Lamborghini LP500 prototype at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. Designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, it stunned the world with a wedge-shaped silhouette that looked like it had crash-landed from a distant, faster future. The scissor doors, sharp angles, and cab-forward stance broke every styling convention of the day.
While its predecessor, the Miura, was sensuous and flowing, the Countach was pure aggression—raw geometry in motion. Gandini envisioned something utterly different from anything else on the road, and with engineering led by Paolo Stanzani and Giampaolo Dallara, the Countach’s radical form met equally daring function.
Performance That Backed the Posture
The production Lamborghini Countach LP400 debuted in 1974, powered by a 3.9-liter V12 engine mounted longitudinally, producing 375 horsepower and pushing the car to a top speed of around 179 mph (288 km/h). It was among the first cars to widely adopt mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layouts for production sports cars, a setup now ubiquitous in high-performance exotics.
As the years passed, Lamborghini escalated the Countach’s capabilities:
- LP400S (1978) introduced flared wheel arches and Pirelli P7 tires, giving it the menacing look most people associate with the car.
- LP500S (1982) featured a 4.8L engine with 375 hp.
- LP5000 Quattrovalvole (QV) (1985) upped displacement to 5.2 liters, added four-valve heads, and cranked out 455 hp.
- The 25th Anniversary Edition (1988–1990)—refined by none other than Horacio Pagani—offered improved cooling, updated aerodynamics, and a more luxurious interior.
Acceleration figures hovered around 0–60 mph in 4.9 seconds, which was blistering for the era, and the top speed crept over 180 mph in later variants. But more than stats, it was the experience—the thunderous roar of the V12, the unassisted steering, and the impossibly low seating position—that made it unforgettable.
Limited Production, Unlimited Impact
Between 1974 and 1990, Lamborghini produced just 1,983 Countach models:
- LP400: 158 units
- LP400S: 235 units
- LP500S: 321 units
- LP5000 QV: 610 units
- 25th Anniversary Edition: 657 units
These were not mass-produced machines; each Countach was hand-built, and often varied subtly from car to car. Early versions lacked power steering or air conditioning, making them beastly to operate—but also thrillingly analog. The Countach was never about comfort; it was about presence.
Cultural Conquest
In an era when cars were becoming increasingly homogenized, the Countach was a Molotov cocktail thrown into the mainstream. It starred in music videos, adorned Trapper Keepers and arcade cabinets, and appeared in movies like Cannonball Run—where it famously tore up the screen in the opening scene.
It was the dream car of a generation raised on excess and aspiration. For many, it wasn’t just a car; it was the car.
A Legacy of the Lamborghini Countach
The Countach laid the design and performance groundwork for every Lamborghini that followed—from the Diablo to the Murciélago, Aventador, and even the controversial Countach LPI 800-4 homage revealed in 2021. While some purists balked at that hybridized reinterpretation, it proves one thing: the Countach refuses to be forgotten.
Its influence can be seen not only in Lamborghinis but in the entire genre of supercars that aim to be as theatrical as they are fast. Even today, a Countach turning onto a street stops time. There’s no mistaking it, no replicating it.
Final Thoughts
On this day in 1990, the final Countach exited the factory and entered legend. It wasn’t the most comfortable, practical, or easy car to drive—but it wasn’t supposed to be. The Countach was built to disrupt, to excite, and to look fast even when parked. It set the mold for what a modern supercar could and should be.
Thirty-five years later, it still makes our hearts race. And it always will, especially now thanks to the new Lamborghini Countach.
