Emilio, You are correct that the old wing does provide downforce at the rear of the car. When I bought my LP400, it had an LP400S wing on it (I know it is incorrect, but I road raced it with and without the wing... I made it easy to bolt or unbolt the wing from the rear deck lid). Top speed (GPS confirmed) without the wing was 188.4 mph (with a built Burtoni engine with his cams and pistons ~420 hp). And then I put the wing on and reached 176.1 mph on the same road on the same day and the same conditions. So the wing certainly slows a Countach down. But I feel the Countach (at least the LP400) is unstable during high speed braking....like from braking real hard from over 150 mph. I have almost lost control when I had to suddenly brake hard from around 160 mph. The front of the car has lots of downforce from the flat wedge shape of the nose, and the rear end has lift, which is greatly aggravated when braking hard as the rear end unloads and rises. The rear wing fixed this problem. One can slam on the brakes and the rear end stays planted with the wing. So, from my experience, the rear wing does provide significant downforce on the rear of the car at very high speed. It didn't seem to matter at speeds under 100mph. Of course, all of this is mostly moot, as not many people who own a Countach (except for me and maybe a few others), will ever drive a Countach that fast, let alone apply full braking force at such speeds. So Emilio, I agree your message from my personal experience. PS: I have retired the LP400 from that kind of driving now because they have become too valuable, and there are better Lambos for that kind of driving now.
I agree and have experienced the same on roads in Europe in the 1980s. But here in the USA, where can you drive a Countach in excess of 150 on a public road without putting yourself and others at serious risk? Thats why I think although the wings look good, they are more for 'show' than for 'go' these days... BTW at current rates you might be able to start racing your LP400 again
Hi Joe, I agree with you, and I guess for that matter, no matter how highly-engineered a wing may be, they are all pretty much for show in this country, whether on a new Murci SV, a Ferrari, a Civic, or anything else, since we can't really go that fast here anyway. But there's nothing wrong with something for 'show' either!
tks for this post i felt the same and exactly as you said only on hi speed and hard braking let's say while braking from well over 100mph with the S countach....the rear felt a little unstable.... it is not that the car went right and left but you got that felling i am sure that at 160mph it will get dangerous :-o congrats for racing it! and even for retiring it....i agree there are less important cars for this as some diablos.... any pics of the car?
and now the first side plates wing big, on fat low mounts, adjustable as you can see by round cuts on mounts ( tks Tony for this ) interesting to note the mounts on the side plated wings are attached to internal structure trough rear screws (while all the old original "moody" wings had side screws) this will continue to all later wings i would say (but here i would really like to hear other opinions since i am not completely sure about it ) this wing came 1981 on late 400S cars S3 (i think at Geneve 1981 one or 2 LP400S had this wing) and was carried on early 5000S cars Image Unavailable, Please Login
a pic of the inside the mount convers on an adjustable side plates wing like the one on the white 5000S note the holes for the covers on the back Image Unavailable, Please Login
again, the same side plates-adjustable wing it has been (for once properly) put on an early 5000S weber car Image Unavailable, Please Login
same adjustable side plates wing on VERY early 5000S car (please note the 5S badge) image from lambocars.com Image Unavailable, Please Login
sometimes along 5000S 2 V production..... the first fix wing came out still it was the big low wing on fat low mounts but as you can see no cuts for adjust it i am not sure when this wing was dismissed for the last model (the small flat wing only factory mounted on QVs and anniversary cars) but i would say this wing was not seen originally on many QV cars and, as Joe already said, only on euro ones i also think that this wing was not originally put on any anniversary car....and that the few 25th cars that currently have one of these were originally no wing cars.....but not going to bet on this (we are talking lamborghini from 70's and 80's....there was NOT such a thing as consistent model/year specs ) i have seen 1987 DD euro cars with already the other one on since new Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yes, that's an early 5000S wing adjustable with side plates up to 1983. In 1984 the large low fixed wings were used up until the end of 1985. In 1986 the tall thin wings went the rest of the way through Anniversary cars. Low slung back big wings ended in 1985. Many people have added wings from different years and cars have changed owners so many times. It is important for us to document: What wing is correct for what year and stick to it. You will have people swear that "this wing came with the car" so not to make their car incorrect or less valuable. Sorry it took so long for me to chime in but my name was removed from the title Tony
i have seen everything and the opposite....and there is really much confusion on the topic i think we have the thing "quite clear" now....but i would not be so surprised finding out there is an other variant again
My pleasure. I was kidding about the name thing My first car 1121328 an 81' had a 84' wing on it. My friend Jeff's car 1121152 is an 80' with a 82-83 wing (when I buy it I will source the correct wing) His other car 1121112 has the correct wing. If your Countach has a wing, the correct wing by year is: 78-79 big, low, adjustable without side plates can have Wolf or slung back risers. 79-80 big, low, adjustable without side plates, slung back risers. 81-83 big, low, adjustable with side plates, slung back risers with black rubber plug in adjustment hole. 84-85 big, low, fixed with side plates, sling back risers, no hole for adjustment. 86-89 small, tall, thin wing, no adjustment. This is not to say that in between year cars can not cross over, example a early 81 could have a 79-80 wing or a early 84 could have a left over 83 wing. We all know the factory did not have exact cut off times and dealers installed wings with old stock, but for the question: What wing should my car have if it was ordered new from the factory in XYZ year? The above is the reference. Tony
and finally the last wing 2 pics of the small flat wing, not adjust on thin, tall mounts the 2 cover of the mounts are again mounted with rear screws wing is proper for this 1987 euro QV Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Emilio you're right about the wing but the downdraft in the picture is a Model Year '86. you can notice from the side vents in the engine cover (like the 5000S but with the downdraft hump in the middle) the '87 model year eliminated them and has the smooth sides. There are probably more engine covers than wings.... new thread?
Alex is right the car is an 86, originally came with a wing again this confirm Tony's list : small wing from 86 on
YOU SHOULD CHECK THAT, THE FIRST QV CARS CAME OUT IN 1985 AS DID THE LAST 5000S. THE VERY EARLY '85 QVS SHOULD HAVE HAD THE QV SPOILER THOUGH. ONLY THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE OLDER LAMBORGHINI UNIT USED ON THE 5000S. IN '86 THE ZF WAS INTRODUCED.
The 1985 qv had the 5000S big, low, slung back wing from the factory. The change in wings to the tall wing may have come at the end of 85 and it is possible that the last 85's had the 86-89 wing. I mentioned that in my post about the cars in between model years and not having an exact cut off. The first qv cars had the old wing Tony
I can tell you that I personally witnessed brand new Euro 1988 1/2 Euro and 89 Annivesarios delivered with the original big bad wing, I was there, and Ive got the pics to prove it! One thing about Lamborghini's specification application to remember: there are guidelines, but no cast-in-concrete rules... perhaps this adds to the romance of the marque!
That's like putting Bravo wheels on a S3, it's okay but not period correct. Speaking of that, George Evans ordered his S3 new from the factory with Bravo wheels and they did it. So where do we draw the line for Concours? Tony
this is interesting, Joe could you please post these pics? do you remember them to be "specially ordered" with the old big wings or regular production cars? just thinking out loud...but could it be the growing demand of cars end of 80's and a temporary lack of the period wings could be the reason for factory to "look into" old remaining parts?
an other US QV with the later small wing note how tall and thin the mounts are and also the rear screws on the mounts Image Unavailable, Please Login
and this could be considered the first wing on a "production" countach (not so much regular production.. ) LP400S 1121002 could the car not have an ANSA SPORT on? this car is in my book one of the most important lambos ever, is currently in Japan i love the early wings look Image Unavailable, Please Login
Emilio, which wing is fitted on #1122 ??? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Olivier, this is an original not side plates wing, adjustable U cut (as i called it a the "moody" wing - tipo 2 ) same as seen as 1036 for example proper wing for the model-year (and let me say it is not often you see it on countach today ) p.s. i would say these mirrors were put on it later (should have vitaloni toronados ) the rear red lights are a curious aftermarket add on...may be rear fog lights, the 400S did not have it
