Countach, the ultimate supercar | Page 34 | FerrariChat

Countach, the ultimate supercar

Discussion in 'LamborghiniChat.com' started by joe sackey, Aug 21, 2007.

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  1. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Joe Sackey
    As an owner of multiple LP400 "Periscopa" I agree that original design has unparalleled purity.

    However, let me assure you that some aficionados of that first variant also want & appreciate an LP400S S1, with flairs/spats, wide wheels & tires and big original 'moody' wing! Remember what the Periscopa's original designer Marcello Gandini said of the newly-launched LP400S after he re-designed its wheels, flairs/spats and nose: "At last, the Countach looks complete"..... Ferruccio Lamborghini himself chose one of these to keep.

    Joe
    www.joesackey.com
     
  2. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    MP in UK i think

    the car has been repainted in a purple like color and silver wheels

    i loved the original colors though and i think it was the only S1 in luci del bosco: i find this color suits the S1 design

    i have seen a periscopio in luci del bosco but i am not sure it looks so good
     
  3. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    +1 (with and without the wing)
    from some angles i find the LP400 just awesome, from other the early S look better (IMO)

    Ferruccio had an S2 in white with wing so he was probably a fan of the big tyres-low body countach to :)
     
  4. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    1121016? just 2 cars before mine
     
  5. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    #830 EMILIO, May 11, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  6. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    thinking about this i got a funny idea

    i am sure if we could put the 3 miura variants in front of designers, engineers and former S Agata testers-worckers 90% would choose the SV as favourite/best

    if we could do the same with 3-4 countach variants (let's say for example :LP, S1, DD QV and a 25th) we would have much more splitted results
     
  7. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

    Dec 11, 2006
    12,545
    Left Coast


    Of course the designer is going to say this, he is being paid to update the design. Sell the sizzle!! Ferruccio probably took a car when one was available, the first lots all being spoken for by paying customers.


    I vote LP
     
  8. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    couldn't be they both like the S cars more ?

    and i would consider some other things:

    -we should not forget that when the S came out the LP looked somewhat "dated" and many updated LP to S lookalike

    -and when the S came out Ferruccio was no more owner of the factory so he could have bought whatever he liked without thinking about any other lamborghini customer
     
  9. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

    Dec 11, 2006
    12,545
    Left Coast


    I wonder if he paid retail? Did he still own the tractor factory?
     
  10. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    i am not sure about it ....
     
  11. LC3929

    LC3929 Formula Junior

    Dec 16, 2007
    786
    I also vote LP, but it wasn't Marcello Gandini who updated the design.

    Joe is right, many LP400 enthusiasts also love the LP400 S1. These cars look so much better than the later cars (400 S3, 5000S, QV, Anniversario).
     
  12. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    so who was?
    i heard Gandini or Guerra designed the S
     
  13. alberto

    alberto Formula 3

    Aug 25, 2001
    2,404
    San Diego
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    Alberto
    Not sure I agree with this. The SV may out peform the P400 and the S, but it is not the purest form of the variants. I think it just depends on your cup of tea. This is precisely why I agree with the second part of your statement regarding the Countach. I think you will get a lot of different view on its styling as well. For me, I like the purest to the prototype, the LP400.
     
  14. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Joe Sackey
  15. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Joe Sackey
    Yes!

    Joe
    www.joesackey.com
     
  16. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
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    Real shame the colors were changed...

    Joe
    www.joesackey.com
     
  17. LC3929

    LC3929 Formula Junior

    Dec 16, 2007
    786
    My information is that the redesign was done by the factory, but I do not know whether the design can be credited to a single person. Maybe other F-chatters have more or other information?
     
  18. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
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    Joe Sackey
    On Sunday June the 1st 2003 on the occasion of the "California Concours D'Automobile" in Long Beach California, upon comparing an LP400 (1120110) to an LP400S S1 (1121056) Marcello Gandini told me personally that he did it, and that is the occasion he remarked that "at last the Countch design was complete" (or words to that effect). The interpreter from Italian to English was my mechanic and ex-factory Ingenere Claudio Zampolli.

    Gandini then proceeded to autograph both 1120110 and 1121056....

    Thats all I know.

    Joe
    www.joesackey.com
     
  19. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    No I don't think so...

    Joe
    www.joesackey.com
     
  20. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
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    #845 joe sackey, May 11, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  21. Carsleuth

    Carsleuth F1 Rookie

    Dec 22, 2006
    4,331
    Chicago/NYC
    Full Name:
    Dan C.
    The Countach is gorgeous but it is such an inconvenient uncomfortable car to drive.
     
  22. ken qv

    ken qv Formula 3

    Oct 25, 2006
    1,925
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Ken Roberson
    If you have enough Passion for it, it is neither uncomfortable nor inconvenient. I'm just over 6 feet 3inches tall and since I
    have never Really fit correctly in any car, I guess to me it's no big deal to have a tight fit... as far as the visibility (another common complaint)
    I never really give that much thought either. Out the front it's great, and that's the direction I'm going (quickly). Out the back is great too, because
    when I'm going that direction I'm looking over the back of the roof.
     
  23. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Personally, I would ascribe the word "gorgeous" to the Miura, while "stunning" would be my choice for the Countach.

    As for convenience, I'm not sure the designer of any Supercar had that notion cross their mind. I know Gandini wasn't thus influenced...

    But I must protest about the Countach being uncomfortable. I have owned far more uncomfortable Supercars and in fact I find the Countach downright COMFORTABLE myself - perhaps Ill make an exception for the Annivesario's standard seats but all the other models Ive kept have been good therapy for a sensitive back. The usual gripes about visibility come with Supercar territory's (this aint your Auntie's VW bug) and to me the complaints about driving a Countach nowadays sound oh-so 1980's journalist with copy to fill :)

    Im sure there are Countach owners and those who have simply driven one who will report that piloting one is pure pleasure to them. I suppose its all a question of: have you mastered the bull?

    Joe
    www.joesackey.com
     
  24. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
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    #849 joe sackey, May 12, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    OK Countach fans, which one is this German-registered "CO-W777" car? Note the rear valance above the exhausts in the specification of the 1974 - 1975 Countach LP400 Periscopa....

    Joe
    ww.joesackey.com
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  25. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    what VIN is that one so?

    i think that S1 was in UK Portman brochure (i have one at home somewhere LOL :) )
     

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