Countach, the ultimate supercar

Fantastic pictures!

How does their driving experience compare if I may ask?

 

Who`s gonna win the battle?

Park them on a market place and wait, watching the people....!
I always parked my LP400 in a sea of red Ferraris during the various ol`Ferrari-/Maserati Challenge events here in EU. While all Ferrari owners were searching their (then allways red!) cars on the parking lot it was very easy for me. My car whas there where the biggest crowd people was...! Hah!
Gee...I miss it today...

 

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Countach front wheel, BB rear.

 

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The Ferrari is a much more nimble car for everyday use. I once made a 7.000 kms long trip from Sweden down to the south of Spain and back in a Testarossa, which is an updated version of the BB, and it was really fast and comfortable. I have not taken any of them to the limit, even if I tried to go sideways in a LP400 with no success. That was before I read that "if you are going sideways in a Countach you are either very skilled or you trying to commit suicide".
Back in the seventies when the BB and the Countach were introduced, they were the absolute stars of the road, two unattainable speed monsters that you just drawled over. But today, forty years later, the BB seems a little tame while the Countach LP400 gives an even more outrageos and spectacular impression. Parking it after an hours hard drive an early Sunday morning you feel that you have done a day's work. The Countach is the hardcore one, no doubt.

 

After driving 500 miles in an LP400 you need a good, cozy hotel room...

 

Thanks for sharing this!

I can understand easily about comfort, practicality and even aesthetics impressions. But what about the engine, the tractability, the roadholding of these two early iterations of these iconic cars? I would be interested in knowing the differences between the driving impressions after let’s say a sunday morning spririted drive!

Must be great to be able to make such a comparison!

Great that both are from 1975, what a pair!

 

I am very curious to get the LP400 on a long trip.

I did that several times in the 5000S and it was much more enjoyable than I thought. Actually, comfort was not a problem. The only downturn was getting caught in traffic jams. Even though it didn’t overheat at all, the clutch is really heavy in these conditions! And there is the fear of getting touched by the cars around.

On the other hand, I could instantly feel the difference in terms of inside space when I entered for the first time in an LP400. What a difference it makes with a later model! I am not tall, but it made it for a snug fit. My head almost touches the headlining. But all in all the impression is very nice, you feel connected to the car in an even more pronounced way than with the later cars.

Let’s see how it feels after 500 miles!

 

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My experience, having had two 365 BBs and two Periscopio is that the engine in the Ferrari are much smoother. It delivers power from low rpms all the way to 7500 in a linear way. Both my Countaches had that significant hesitating at 3.500 to 4.000 rpms which is blaimed on the proportionately big Webers. I believe they got rid of this problem on the 400S which had 40 mm carbs instead of the 45. This means you are forced to keep the revs up at 4000 all the time to get a "smooth" ride in the Countach. This makes you tired. On the other hand over 4000 it is extremely powerful all the way up to 8000 and I think the gearbox has perfect ratios and is great to manoeuvre. Other old 4 litre Lamborghinis are turbin like in their smoothness, but not the LP400. Maybe you can adjust the engine more proper than I.
My first LP400, #1120022, was, as you may know, built as a W.W. Countach with parallell linked rear suspension and 345 tires on Bravo wheels. When I brought it back to its narrow form I just removed the Bravos and put on a set of 14 inches standard wheels. Maybe due to that I did no compensation on the wheel alignment the car felt very nervous. I did some 1.000 kms trip with it in normal speeds but once trying to have a little extra fun and with power give it some oversteer I lost control. My #1120142 gives me a safer feeling and I tested it on the race track a couple of times. As been said I havn't taken either the BB.s nor the Countaches to their limits but with the right driver behind the wheel I would be surpriced if the BB would be the faster one.

And back to the question "who's gonna win the battle".
The Countach , all the time. You don't even have to start it, it's the winner.

 

Perhaps I am too late here - but I much like the rear lights of your LP400. Were they on the car from the beginning or are they -sorry for this- "aftermarket? Can not believe this...! But they look much like those on the prototype and fit perfectly to the stunning design of this early, magic version of the Countach.

 

Thanks a lot to share these first hand impressions! They are so valuable! They underline well the importance of setting, especially on a car like that.

The other 4 liter V12 that I experienced were indeed very smooth, and I haven't driven the LP400 enough to feel what you are mentioning. But if I remember correctly, some period tests also mentioned it.
By the way, I also very much like your tail lights!

 

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They are aftermarket!
Done by myself in the garage. And what is good is that I have done no harm to the body and can turn it back to original look in less than an hour.

 

40mm in the S3s

 

S1 had 45 DCOE
S2 had 45 or 40 DCOE (and i am not sure it depends on VIN or markets)
S3 had 40 DCOE

some 5000S also had 40 DCOE (i think Swiss and few other markets)

the esitation at 3500 rpm was the same on all 4000 cc cars with 45 Webers: engine internals are the same
i had the same esitation on my 1978 S1 for the first 1 or 2 years of driving, then i had a very good mechanic tuning carbs, timing etc and it was gone almost completely.
i have to say it was not terrible, it was somewhat in line with the carachter of the car

the S3 has no esitation with the 40mm and, in all honestly i cannot almost feel any difference in power between the S1 and S3 engines
but the S3 engine was totally overhauled before i could drive it for the first time ....so i do not know if is due to the worck done on it

 

they look fantastic!
best ever mod on an LP400 to me

 

Had to share this with everyone... Exciting week for CURATED. After months of negotiating we FINALLY closed on the rumored "Last Countach" produced, obviously prior to the 25th Anniversary cars. One off in "Bleu Miura" over an incredible unique factory White and Blue interior. We will be publishing a great story on this car very SOON.

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I do not believe the hesitation is inherent to the design. The design makes it more difficult to tune out but not un- solvable. All cars with Webers and a high power to weight ratio have a propenesity to have this flat spot. I have tuned it out of many cars including a S1 Countach (w 45 DCOEs), a 289 Cobra, 246 Dino, several D-type and C- type Jags. If the car is set up right, high powered Weber carbed cars are extremely trackable and easy to drive. Of course the opposite is true if they are not set up right. I have seen some people try to bandaid the tuning by messing with the accelerator pump system. If someone proposes that as a fix, I recommend trying someone else.

Cheers Jim

 

I had the opportunity to purchase that car from the original owner several years ago. Should have jumped on it.....Love the color combos....and it is injected the ultimate QV

 

So sweet looking I got a cavity

 

Jesus Joe, I can't believe you've owned three LP400 let alone all the other Lambos! If you're still working on that "Countach Bible" then please put me down for one definite pre-order! I need that sitting next to my copy of your Miura book.

 

Beautiful,what a color combo, stunning congrats, post some more info,please.