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The legendary Miura was always going to be a hard act to follow,so the extent to which its successor eclipsed the greatest of 1960ssupercars came as something of a shock to all. The sensation of the1971 Geneva Salon, the Countach was styled, like its predecessor, byBertone’s Marcello Gandini. The production version would not be seenfor another two years, with deliveries commencing in 1974.As used in the Miura, Lamborghini’s four-cam V12 engine was retainedfor the Countach, though this time installed longitudinally. To achieveoptimum weight distribution, designer Paolo Stanzani placed thefive-speed gearbox ahead of the engine between the seats, and thedifferential - driven by a shaft passing through the sump - at the rear.The result was a delightful gearchange and a better-balanced car thanthe Miura. When production began in 1974, the Countach sportedan improved spaceframe chassis and the standard 4.0-litre - insteadof the prototype’s 5.0-litre - engine. Even with the smaller engineproducing ‘only’ 375bhp, the aerodynamically efficient Countachcould attain 170mph and, as one would expect, came with racetrackroadholding to match.The first upgrade appeared in 1978 as the ‘LP400S’, the majorchanges being confined to the chassis and suspension. A rear aerofoilbecame available, making the Countach look even more outrageousand, not surprisingly, was the choice of most customers. TheCountach’s potentially largest market - the USA - remained closed to ituntil the arrival of the ‘emissions friendly’ LP500S in 1982.Although no more powerful than before, the newcomer’s 4,754ccengine brought with it a useful increase in torque. The finaldevelopment saw the engine enlarged to 5,167cc and new fourvalves-per-cylinder‘heads adopted for the Countach Quattrovalvole in1985, the latter’s 300km/h (186mph) top speed making it – at the time- the world’s fastest car.A rare, right-hand drive UK-delivered LP500S, only 25 of which weremade, chassis number ‘12550’ was tested by Car magazine while itwas owned by racing driver, demolition contractor and Lamborghiniaficionado, Barry Robinson, and carried the registration ‘BR 33’. Acopy of the article, which appeared in Car’s April 1984 edition, ison file. The Lamborghini’s first owner, Robinson had had the engineblueprinted, its output being estimated by the factory at around425bhp, some 50 horsepower more than standard. Car revealed thatRobinson had recently set a series of British speed and endurancerecords with his Countach, lapping Vauxhall’s Millbrook test track at180mph for extended periods. The car was subsequently reregistered‘LAM 80P’ and was acquired by the present registered keeper inMarch 2007.Kept in storage for the last ten-plus years, the Countach is describedby the vendor as generally sound and in good condition, thoughit would benefit from light cosmetic refurbishment. Freshly MoT’dand offered with V5 registration document, it represents an excitingopportunity to acquire one of these iconic Italian supercars.£90,000 - 110,000€110,000 - 140,000Motor Cars | 247