Would you say the Countach, or the 308 is the more recognizable car:

Countach, no question. Countach or Testarossa? Still the Countach, IMO. That doesn't mean I would prefer it, I just believe it is more recognizable.

 

Agreed on all counts.

 

The 308, well known as the Magnum P.I. car. Many still think 'Magnum' is its actual name!

Also the Testarossa as it was used in the Miami Vice series. Most people will identify with what they see on TV or in the movies. Not many Countachs used in TV series or movies!

 

Countach.

 

The Countach was the poster car of the kids in the 1970's. Every kid had one of those in his bedroom. The 308 did not make the same initail reaction, probably because it was not as radical as the Countach.

 

Gimme' a break; I'm old!

 

Yeah, Lambo without a doubt.

 

The Lambo wasn't splashed across TV screens nation wide every week for 6 or 7 years, which more than cancels out the 'poster factor.' And....there were probably one or two Magnum PI influenced posters on kids walls too.

 

The Magnum.

He, he, he.

 

...most people have never seen a Countach ---- in real life.

 

In my opinion, from the sample of random people, more people would recognize the 308 as a Ferrari, than the Countach as a Lamborghini. But I also believe that, from the random sample of people, more people would recognize the Lamborghini as a Countach, than the Ferrari as a 308...

 

I thought magnum drove a 328?

3x8 I would think are more well known as a Ferrari than the Lambos even being known. I agree wth the post that most have never seen a Countach.

That being said the 67 Shelby gt500 cobra mustang would be recognized 30 to 1 over either of them in the US

mark

 

Is the 308 red?

I'm a Countach fan, but the Countach is now 20 years gone and sadly, among the great unwashed, it is probably more likely to be questioned as a kit car than anything else.

A red 308 is instantly recognizable as a Ferrari. A blue one might have the Norms asking what it is, but they'll probably think it's a Ferrari before they ask.

The Magnum Effect is indeed a part of that. The fact that you can see the 308 in the 360, the 430 and the 458 is another part of it.

 

The Magnum PI series ended in the mid '80s, so I doubt many people under 40 are all that familiar with it.

As to which is more recognizable, I'd still give a slight edge to the 308/328 due its distinctive signature styling elements (tail lights, air intakes, fender curve, targa top). Young kids always picked my 328 out as a Ferrari, even though it was black metallic and older than they were.

A Countach with a wing is also pretty iconic (even if you think it's an '80s coke dealer's car). Without the wing, doors closed... edge probably goes to the 308.

 

For people over 35 or so I would say the Countach is more recognizable, even by people not normally interested in cars. It was on every "supercar" calendar from 1980 to 1988. The car is an icon from that time period.

For those under 35 and not car buffs neither is likely to be that familiar to them.

 

Interesting question. I'm voting the Lambo on this one. The Countach had a production run much longer than the 308 and its over all design never changed THAT much. Besides, it was SO distinctive when released, that it gained amazing status simply because of its novelty and extreme.

_J

 

I would have to say the 308, simply because of Magnum. Even if you never watched the show, you would know about it from hearing so much about it from everyone else who did watch the show. I am a perfect example - I never watched a single episode, but knew of it from everyone saying "I just saw the Magnum PI Ferrari downtown today..."

 

Countach has so many vents and wings as to be the clear winner. Duh. Ok, which would be capable of time travel at a glance? Countach looks so much nore extreem. Sorry Enzo.

 

So, most people are idiots ---- in real life.

 

Or they lived in Cleveland, where I was lucky to see anything exotic on the road before I went off to college.

 

Two years ago I fueled my 328 at a SHELL station. There were Ferrari SF shields all over the place pushing theIr relationship with Ferrari for their V-Power gasoline.

Clerk asks me if that's my Lamborghini out at the pump. WTF??? I just said yes and laughed.

Moral of this story... most people don't have a clue... PERIOD

 

Push that into the 1980's and I would agree, but I'd bet almost no kids in the US had even heard of the Countach in the 70's, much less had a poster.