This is a true-to-life copy of the Lamborghini Countach prototype, as presented at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. The car was built by the Lamborghini classics department on behalf of a wealthy collector. But what actually happened to the real Lamborghini Countach LP 500?
The Lamborghini Countach turned 50 this year. To celebrate, Lamborghini is launching a limited super sports car based on the Aventador and Sián: the Countach LPI 800-4. The manufacturer also uses the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to unveil the Lamborghini Countach LP 500: a true-to-life replica of the original Countach prototype.
Nothing is left of the original Lamborghini Countach LP 500
The car was built for a wealthy collector. One that had to spend a lot of money, because Polo Storico – the classics department of Lamborghini – needed no less than 25,000 man hours to recreate the classic study model. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the original Countach LP 500. So Lamborghini Polo Storico had to rely on old photos, drawings, documents, minutes and the memories of those involved.
Prototype chassis is completely different from Countach LP 400
The Countach LP 500 prototype – presented at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show – is quite different from the final production version, so it was difficult for Lamborghini to use as a reference point. The chassis is different and so is the body in many respects. To get the volume of the car right, Polo Storico made a 3D scan of the very first Countach LP 400 from 1974 (chassis 001).
Countach LP 500 study model has been used for crash testing
Photos of the original Countach LP 500 went around the world in 1971. Bertone designer Marcello Gandini’s radical design shocked the car industry and the public. The prototype did not survive the Countach’s development process. In March 1974, the orange-yellow supercoupé was used for a crash test. The wreckage is gone. No one seems to know what happened to it.