Countach, the ultimate supercar

tks Tony

i had seen lowbodies and later cars side by side and honestly the difference is quite visible at least from some angles

 

It is amazing how well the design hides the changes from certain angles and elevations.

 

Wow, that is a big difference! Thanks!

I think so as well.

 

I want this put to rest once and for all so if there is anyone out there that needs a measurement while I have both body cars here please ask and I will do my best to get them.

More door differences…
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I just got in from taking pics of the S2 and the DD together and I would agree, by just the eye with no measuring 2" sounds right on. When you look over the roof from the front of the cars the S2 wing is seen just about 100%, on the DD the roof blocks about 2" of the wing. I will post pics later today if anyone is still interested in seeing them.

 

Tony... that black S2, that wouldn't be a certain movie star would it?

 

Yes, the Cannonball car is back for a brief visit

A little AC work and back to its home.

 

I would really like to know what kind of measuring tool Tony uses.
Sitting in 1982 LP400S serial 1121448 measuring from ash tray depresion in fiberglass console straight up to roof panel 27 in +/-1/16th. Sitting in 1987 5000 QV car 12118 measuring from the exact same place, 27 in +/- 1/16

Measuring the bottom of the door 25 7/8 +/- 1/16. Top of door 25 3/4,this is the same for the LP400 S and the 87 QV car.

Top of QV 1/4 panel inside of air scoop Left side 68 1/16 right side 68 1/16
LP400S L 68 1/16 right side 68 5/16, all depends on where you place tape.

Outer crease on QV 69 Left side 68 5/16 right side. The LP400S 69 1/16 left side and 69 1/16 right side. Again the same thing, tape placement.

Measuring from at the rear of the door where it closes at the bottom to the roof gutter 30 3/4 plus or minus 1/4 in. just depends where you place your tape.

Measuring from bottom of door to the first crase near the mirror 15 3/4 in +/- 1/16, THE SAME FOR THE 1982 LP400S and the 1987 5000QV

Measuring the 1/4 panel on the LP400S and the 87 5000QV car, just picking a spot to measure, I measured from the joining crease between the 1/4 panel and the rocker panel and found the 1982 LP400S and the the 1987 5000QV measured 37 7/8 +/- 1/8.

DO Keep in mind all measuring depends where you place your tape to start with.
But I have NEVER found a 2 inch difference between these cars. These cars being the LP400S up to the 25th Anv cars.

You must take into consideration when taking measurements, that you are working with a HAND built car, really NO TWO cars are alike. You would not hit a panel the same as I would hit it, therefore the differences in the cars.

I will say it again, there ain't no such thing as a low body or hi body Countach, not when all the panels and ALL the glass is EXACTLY THE SAME. Before you get upset,use a little bit of LOGIC, before you scream. You know darn well you cannot put a 14 in tire on a 15 in rim, the same applies to this, think about it.
All the Low and Hi body stuff is done with bigger/smaller tyres and where the front shocks spring seats are set..There also may be a stronger front spring, that would also account for the higher front end.

If you want to, and insist that your pecker is bigger than the next guys, go ahead, because no amount of talking is going to get you to use logic anyway.

Besides this is a BIG SELLING POINT, more money for a low body vs a hi body, and you would hate to lose money because you could not say you have a low body Countach.
Chadbourn Bolles
[email protected]
803 532 6257 h
803 798 3044 cell


This morning I measured between a LP400 S2, S3 & 5000QV all here in my shop.

The measurement was taken from the top of the ashtray to the bottom of the roof frame as well as from the center console behind the ashtray to the roof just behind the frame. The difference… right at 2” taller on the S3 & QV compared to the S2.[/QUOTE]
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Just because the glass is all the same (remains to be seen conclusively) doesn't mean that the body panels below the glass can't be changed a bit.

 

Mr. Bolles,

I admire your knowledge base ("Countach King")and tenacity with which you hold your viewpoint. However, given the notoriety of the Countach as "libido on wheels", the two inch difference would be highly valued by some of our less genetically endowed members' member. Please be more gentle in your discourse. We are ALL countach owners, in spite of the individual differences our models/members may have.

 

Chad,

your 1982 LP 400 S car is a hi body countach! this is the reason the body is the same as a 5000 QV

not all 400S are low bodies, from 1981 car with VIN 1121312 on wards all countach have the hi-body, including your 1121448

mistery solved

 

Tim, you forget that ALL the body panels are the same, wth the exception of the LP400 and the 25th Anv cars.

Part number for door glass for LP400-25th anv car- 7017005 different pn for other door
The 1/4 lite glass 7017001, all
Rear glass, behind your head 7018001, all
Rear 1/4 lite glass to the left of drivers head rear 7017007, all
Upper door glass 7017003, all
All these numbers are for one side
The Windshield for the LP400 up to the 5000S same part number 7015001,this glass had the radio antenna in it, replaced by 7015017 in later cars, but no radio antenna.

Chadbourn Bolles
[email protected]
803 532 6257 h
803 798 3044 cell



Just because the glass is all the same (remains to be seen conclusively) doesn't mean that the body panels below the glass can't be changed a bit.[/QUOTE]

 

[/QUOTE]

Chad
the body panels of LP400 and early LP400S (till VIN 1121310) are the same

p.s. owning one late LP400S i am talking against my own interest here

 

Yes, Chad is measuring a LP400S3 and a 5000 which have the same body.

He does not have a LP400 S1 or S2 “Lowbody” to compare it to.

 

Emilio, if you are so sure, then explain to me and others how ALL the part numbers for the glass AND the body panels ARE THE SAME.

Like I said my 87 car ONLY sits 4 inches from the gound the EXACT same 4 inches as the LP400.
Chad

your 1982 LP 400 S car is a hi body countach! this is the reason the body is the same as a 5000 QV

not all 400S are low bodies, from 1981 car with VIN 1121312 on wards all countach have the hi-body, including your 1121448

mistery solved [/QUOTE]

 

OK Tony, then YOU tell me how it can be, when ALL the part numbers for the LP400S up to the 1988 cars are the SAME.
Also ALL the glass part numbers are the SAME up through the 25th Anv car.



Yes, Chad is measuring a LP400S3 and a 5000 which have the same body.

He does not have a LP400 S1 or S2 “Lowbody” to compare it to.[/QUOTE]

 

[/QUOTE]

Chad,

i am not sure but i have an idea:
it looks to me the uprights have a slightly different angle, also it is possible the roof is longer or shorter depending on models

i am pretty much sure there is a mistake on part numbers:
you can put body panels from an LP400 to a LP400S S1 and S2
but not to a 400S S3 -5000S - QV

there are some S that have the same body as the LP400 while the later ones (like yours) have the same one as the 5000S
factrory states all LP400S has the same body? i believe this is not correct
how many times we have seen wrong things from factory? i am not so much surprised

aniway take a early S side by side with your 1982 S and i think you will be surprised to see they are not the same

 

Chad like Emilio states the parts info was never updated by Lamborghini.

Like the fact thet the Countach S owners manual shows a Miura triple carburetor.

As production changes were made they did not all make their way into the parts book.

 

Chad, please take a look at this pic:
1978 S and QV

do the body panels look the same? i do not think so
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Emilio, remove the front tyres from the 78 car and install them on the QV, do the same with the front shocks, then see how the car sits.
Or you can install the tyres from the QV on the 78 and the shocks and see the difference.
The spring seat on the QV is, I believe 13 mm higher than the 78 car seat. If you install the spring in the lower location you will drop the front of the car around 26 mm, maybe more, which over here means around 2 inches. Then you install 205x50x15 tyres in place of the 225x50x15 tyres and you drop around 3/4 inch. So doing both to the QV car will drop the front end almost 3 inches. Drop the front end of the QV car 3 inches and see what it looks like then.
Chad

Chad, please take a look at this pic:
1978 S and QV

do the body panels look the same? i do not think so[/QUOTE]

 

Love your car Emilio... doesn't fill the gap left now that we don't get photos of 036 as often as we used to, but it helps.

 

all this said,
i think we are all (myself included!!) again giving too much importance to variants...and small differences

all countach are great cars and automotive icons: hi body or low body, 400 to anniversary

each version has pro and cons and i consider plain crazy the fact that a LP400 is worth 3 times a 5000S ( just as an example )
yes, this is what the market says, but this does not make it any less crazy imo

the lowbody is a dream car: has the perfect look, they are perfect for perfect roads and small owners but...in real life , the later cars are MUCH more "usable"

most people can fit in them and you can drive them without fear of damaging the car on first speed bumps, pot hole etc..

 

Too much importance or not, there's a difference. I don't understand the resistance to the proof offered here. It's akin to saying "the Earth is flat because my yard isn't round."

 

[/QUOTE]

Chad,
i respect your knowledge on countach matter

sure the QV can be lowered but i am talking about just the bodies: you can lower the car but the body panels on red and yellow car look different from this pic imo (please take a look at doors height for example)

 

Yes, the high-body is the factory 'upgrade'! The low body was an evolution of the lp400 so the body is the same but with (thicker aluminum). The 'upgrade' makes them much more user friendly. I am 6'2" and low-body or lp400 is good for a quick thrilling dash (more than an hour is very tiring and claustrophobic), and you have to make sure you don't rip off the front spoiler at every juncture. High-body on up to Anniversary and comfortable, and I can drive for about four hours before getting tired as they are roomier, and no stress at every juncture of ripping off the front spoiler. So it really is an upgrade in terms of usability, at the price of a slightly different look, and the market has put a high price on that look (or maybe also the rarity of that variant) as well.