Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept Unveiled 50 Years Ago On 11 March 1971

Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept - Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept Unveiled 50 Years Ago On 11 March 1971

Exactly 50 years ago Lamborghini unveiled the Countach LP 500 concept at the Geneva Motor Show. At 10 am for the first time people saw the yellow Lamborghini concept in the space of Carrozzeria Bertone.

This was such a successful launch that the company had to race against time to fulfil the demand from customers. Turning the futuristic concept into a production car in only a few short years.

Lamborghini decided to have the Countach LP 500 in the space designated to Carrozzeria Bertone as they already had the latest version of the Miura on show. What they managed to do was create a double presentation. The excitement generated by the new Countach meant that for many months after the international motoring press couldn’t stop featuring it.

Exactly 50 years ago Lamborghini unveiled the Countach LP 500 concept at the Geneva Motor Show. At 10 am for the first time people saw the yellow Lamborghini concept in the space of Carrozzeria Bertone.

This was such a successful launch that the company had to race against time to fulfil the demand from customers. Turning the futuristic concept into a production car in only a few short years.

Lamborghini decided to have the Countach LP 500 in the space designated to Carrozzeria Bertone as they already had the latest version of the Miura on show. What they managed to do was create a double presentation. The excitement generated by the new Countach meant that for many months after the international motoring press couldn’t stop featuring it.

Internally the Countach project was known as LP112, LP indicating the longitudinal position or Longitudinal Posteriore in Italian of the 12 cylinder engine.

Paolo Stanzani was the man responsible for leading the project. he had been with Lamborghini since 1963 and was made General Manager and Technical Director in 1968. In this position he was responsible for the mechanical parts of the Countach. Marcello Gandini the design director of Carrozzeria Bertone styled the striking looking car and was responsible for the use of scissor doors. Something that has characterised Lamborghinis ever since.

The original LP 500 was quite different to the production Countach that would be released in 1974. It had a platform frame rather than a tubular one and had a one off 4971cc engine. The air intakes had a shark grill design and had electronic instrumentation.

Internally the Countach project was known as LP112, LP indicating the longitudinal position or Longitudinal Posteriore in Italian of the 12 cylinder engine.

Paolo Stanzani was the man responsible for leading the project. he had been with Lamborghini since 1963 and was made General Manager and Technical Director in 1968. In this position he was responsible for the mechanical parts of the Countach. Marcello Gandini the design director of Carrozzeria Bertone styled the striking looking car and was responsible for the use of scissor doors. Something that has characterised Lamborghinis ever since.

The original LP 500 was quite different to the production Countach that would be released in 1974. It had a platform frame rather than a tubular one and had a one off 4971cc engine. The air intakes had a shark grill design and had electronic instrumentation.

Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept

The car’s name originated from the dialect of the Piedmont region in Italy. During the final stages of assembly, the car was hidden amongst farm machinery in an agricultural shed near Grugliasco. This was done so Lamborghini could avoid work stoppages and any potential unrest in the factory. I’d have been distracted by it. A local farmer discovered the car and exclaimed in amazement, and with some enthusiasm, “Countach”. In Piedmontese dialect he was expressing his wonderment.

Marcello Ghandini who was born in the Piedmont region he thought that word had a particularly strong communicative force. He convinced Nuccio Bertone, Ferruccio Lamborghini and his colleague Paolo Stanzani to use it.

Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept
Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept
Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept

The success of the LP 500 was so strong at the Geneva Motor Show Lamborghini decided to use the LP 400 concept with a more trusted and reliable 4-litre engine. Road testing was done by legendary Lamborghini test driver Bob Wallace for every kind of conceivable use.

Sadly, the car ended its life in crash testing at the beginning of 1974. It’s not often that development vehicles survive, but this one was a bit special being the show concept too. Lamborghini being a small company simply used what they had available instead of investing funds to build another. After the crash tests the car was scrapped and all that remains are the period photographs.

Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept
Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept

Lamborghini produced the Countach from 1974 to 1990 in five different generations. 1,999 Countachs were produced in total meaning that Lamborghini could survive a very difficult period in automotive history.

The Countach is an iconic poster car ending up on many bedroom walls and being used in dozens of films. There are replicas around, you can usually tell, but if you see one think how rare the car really is.

Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept
Lamborghini Countach LP 500 Concept

Thanks to Lamborghini for the great period images.

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