1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary

Generously Lent by Museum Member Sherie Kaplan-Allen

·      Iconic wedge design that defined 70’s and 80’s

·      Final version of the original V-12 Countach

·      Increased engine horsepower and improved interior

·      Has been driven only 180 kilometers (112 miles) since new

The 1989 Lamborghini Countach Anniversary edition built from 1988-1990 paid tribute to Lamborghini’s 25 years of automobile production, during which time it assumed the reputation of being one of the world’s premier performance auto manufacturers.  Originally styled by Marcello Gandini of Italy’s Bertone design studio, the Countach was first introduced as a production model in 1974.  It  replaced another Gandini creation in Lamborghini’s line up, the Miura. Striking in appearance with its extreme wedge shape, scissor doors, low seat position and multiple air scoops and vents, the Countach gained an enormous fan base of enthusiasts and had the performance to back up its extreme styling.  Lamborghini retained the Bizzarrini developed V-12 powerplant from the Miura,  but to improve handling, the engine was placed longitudinally rather than transverse which helped weight balance.  The transmission sat forward of the engine, essentially between the driver and passenger seats, and the drive shaft passed through the oil sump back to a rear axle mounted differential, offering better weight balance.

The Countach Anniversary model shown here offers Lamborghini’s 5.2 Litre 12-cylinder engine, the largest and most powerful engine offered in a Countach, when combined with down draft carburetors,  gave the car 420 horsepower with a top speed approaching 183 mph.  The aluminum panel body received upgraded vents, aerodynamic enhancements, and cooling towers with contributions to the design by Horacio Pagani, who in later years built his own super cars.  A noted option on this car is the rear deck mounted wing to provide additional downforce.  The engine is closely related to the 4 valve per cylinder Quatrovalvole 5.2 liter from the previous model Countach QV.

This car has been driven only 180 kilometers (112 miles) since new, and one of the few finished in black with contrasting red leather interior. The gated manual 5-speed shift is positioned between the low-slung seats that give the driver the feel of driving a race car.  While the large windscreen provides visibility facing forward, rearward visibility is mostly non-existent and reversing the car often meant opening the driver’s door and sitting on the sill facing backward to guide the car into a parking spot. The Anniversary model offered power windows and doors along with improved air conditioning.

Over the 3-year period of this model’s production only 697 examples were produced before the Countach’s replacement by the Lamborghini Diablo.  This stunning example, loaned to the Audrain by Sherie Kaplan-Allen.  Sherie’s late father was Jerry Kaplan, the East Coast importer and distributor for early Lamborghini automobiles, in Providence, RI.

Specifications:

Engine: Mid-engine 5.2 Liter V12-cylinder, 48 valve, with down draft carburetors, 5-speed manual transmission, rear wheel drive

Chassis: Independent 4-wheel suspension, ventilated disc brakes, coil springs and hydraulic dampers, steel tube and sheet frame

Performance: 420 hp, top speed 183 mph, 0-60 4.8 seconds

Weight: 3280 lbs