From the 1971 LP500 prototype to the later LP400 and named V12 series, the classic Countach evolved through distinct chapters.
The essentials
- House
- Lamborghini
- Model family
- Countach
The LP500 and a name of astonishment
Bertone’s form, the LP500’s engineering
From prototype to LP400
The LP500 was the prototype; the later LP400 brought the concept into production.1
A sequence of named evolutions
The LP400 S arrived in 1978 with enlarged wheel arches and wider tyres. The 5000 S dates to 1982 and the 5000 Quattrovalvole to 1985. The latter has a 5.2-litre V12 with four valves per cylinder and two stated outputs: 455 CV with carburettors or 420 CV with injection. Those figures belong to the named Quattrovalvole versions, not every Countach.1
The handover to Diablo
The Countach’s career of almost twenty years ended in 1990, when the Diablo took its place.1
The wedge acquired different working details
| Version or stage | Distinction to retain | What it explains |
|---|---|---|
| LP500, 1971 prototype | Platform frame; show-car identity | The starting concept differs structurally from production |
| LP400, production from 1974 | Tubular structure; roof periscope | The first production step |
| LP400 S, from 1978 | Enlarged arches and wider low-profile tyres | A later wheel-and-body development |
| 25th Anniversary, 1988 | Anniversary-specific body details | Another separate production iteration |
The shared wedge and upward-opening doors make the family easy to recognise. They do not make the LP500 prototype mechanically identical to an LP400 or turn every wide-arched Countach into the same version. Compare a side view, the wheel openings and the roof treatment together, then attach the engine figures to the exact named model.3,4
