Fantasy Junction

Description

1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 “Periscopica”
s/n 1120064, engine no. 1120064
Tahiti Blue with Tobacco Interior

Automotive history is lined with a century of achievements worthy of praise. But at the very top tier of excellence and design audacity, you simply cannot surpass the extraordinary Lamborghini Countach. Decades after the introduction, the Countach still remains the definitive supercar, ultimately changing everything we thought we knew about performance and beauty. The Countach not only changed paradigms of performance and design, enthusiasts and competitors worldwide quickly recognized that a fledgling company barely a decade old was about to show the world that a new leader had arrived.

Unveiled at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, few were prepared for the shock of the Gandini penned V12 powered mid-engine Countach. Unlike many one-off show cars that serve mostly as inspiration, Lamborghini shocked the world again when they announced the Countach would be a production car. The daring cab-forward architecture, longitudinal V12 engine, low profile, and aggressively chiseled geometric design captivated everyone with visions of the future. After three long years from the debut of the LP500, the design was revised to the LP400 delivering an achievable production car without compromising the Gandini design. The Countach not only became an instant performance legend, it immediately became the ultimate object of performance desire, celebrated in posters, advertisements, movies, and exotic car showrooms throughout the world. Arguably the father of modern supercars today, Lamborghini continues to shock the public with their radical performance offerings, but none today have so indelibly made their mark on dreamers and enthusiasts than the Lamborghini Countach.

In production for approximately fifteen years, the pure shape of the early LP400 Countach, void of later mandated import modifications, various aerodynamic trim, and with the properly proportioned low front profile, is a masterwork of automotive design. These earliest production versions offered unobstructed clarity of the original Gandini concept contained in a drivable exotic. Among the many celebrated and innovative details exclusively featured on early cars is the Periscopica roof configuration. This innovative feature was derived from the low profile of the rear window in relation to the roofline, dramatically angled windshield, and driver position. A traditional rearview mirror would simply not allow a clear view of the rear of the car. In response to this problem, the roof was channeled in the center and recessed allowing a periscopic view of the rear through the cleverly dropped roof section in between driver and passenger. Only 158 cars were built with this unique and desirable feature. In recent years, astute collectors have specifically collected these rare early “Periscopica” examples for their rarity and unique body design.

This particular matching numbers Countach, #1120064 is the 32nd one constructed of the 158 Bertone bodied Periscopica cars. According to Lamborghini factory records this Countach was originally finished in Blu Metallizzato with Tobacco leather interior and shipped on March 2, 1975 to Al Mansour Trading, the official concessionaire to customers in Saudi Arabia. Contained in the factory records, a second Countach, #1120062, just one car earlier, had been delivered to the same Saudi location with that car selling new to Prince Mansour bin Mishal, a member of the House of Saud. Though the first owner is not known by name, it is likely they were of high status given the exorbitant cost of these cars when new. By the 1980s, #1120064 was sold to a resident of Mayen-Koblenz, Germany and painted black. By the early 2000s, the car exited Germany and was sold to an Italian collector who repainted the car to the correct original color.

In 2015, an American collector purchased the car from Romagna Motorsport Srl, Ravena, Italy, and imported it to the states. Upon arrival the car was delivered to Restoration and Performance Motorscars (RPM), Vermont where servicing has been performed on a regular basis throughout the past five years. In July 2015, all brake calipers were removed and overhauled. While the brakes were off, the shocks were removed and sent out to be rebuilt. Suspension bushings were tended to, new needle bearings installed up front, and left and right rear spherical bearings were also removed, serviced, and replaced. In September 2015, the brakes and shocks were returned from the rebuild vendors and installed with testing and detailing including oil and brake fluid change, transaxle oil, a new battery, and various brake hoses. In 2018 the car was further serviced with new spark plugs, carb jet and float chamber cleaning, distributors rebuilt, and fuel diaphragm replaced. With the rebuilt parts returned, the car was started and tested showing satisfactory results. Further work in early 2019 included removing both fuel tanks for repair. Careful and expert workmanship resulted in resealing both tanks with proper materials and reassembling to the tight body interior dimensions using proper rivet and welding methods and correct specification 3M rubberized coatings for improved longevity. Odometer reading at this time was 20,951 kms with total invoices over the past five years exceeding $25,000.00.

Today, with just 21,060 kms indicated on the odometer, this Countach LP 400 Persicopica presents as a beautiful example of brilliant design and engineering. The early body design is clean and pure, particularly the crisp lines and geometric forms so vividly depicted in this color. The recessed Carello driving lights, flanked by thin vertical vent slots, bring the front of the car to a near knife edge, remarkably close to the original Gandini concept. Hovering over the road, this gorgeous feature is even more remarkable when compared to the later year heavy bumper cars. It is astonishing to note that in profile, the front bumper line is positioned well below the front wheel axle center – a dimension impossible to achieve in modern cars today.

The vivid blue paint is glossy with excellent depth showing smooth coverage and quality detailing throughout. The correctly finished satin black louvered trim, clean and unmarked glass, and crisply detailed emblems are excellent condition. The distinctive front indicator light lenses and bright red taillights are properly polished to a high gloss. The unmistakable and first of their kind production scissor doors open and close smoothly via cleverly concealed push button knobs hidden inside the twin NACA duct side intakes. Both doors smoothly swing open and shut with confidence, revealing clean inner door surfaces also finished to the same level of excellence as the exterior paint. The hood and trunk both open and shut properly and show excellent panel gaps, likely better than original factory specifications.

The view of the Countach from the rear is simply breathtaking. The expansive rear deck pours outward into the rear fenders and creeps up the trapezoidal roof and flows into the dramatically angled windshield. The only interruption to the flow of this geometry is the recessed V shaped channel for the periscope rear view mirror, itself a marvel of clever Italian engineering. The beautifully finished Campagnolo factory wheels are in excellent condition finished in the correct satin silver metallic. One of the rear wheels shows a bit of porosity to the casting edge, typical of original castings from this era. The car is shod with correctly sized Michelin XWX tires with ample tread remaining. The aggressive stance, pure body form, angular geometry, and vivid color deliver a remarkable, energetic impression.

The interior is finished in an ideal warm tobacco leather, perfectly contrasting the exterior color. The dramatically sloped seats are a brilliant combination of form and function, flowing into the cockpit, surrounded by the black dashboard, raised center console, and beautifully stitched door panels. The materials all present with very good fit and finish, showing only minor relaxed areas on the black glove box door and a few of the leather surfaces. The contrasting tobacco and black interior materials, brushed aluminum dash face, and dark instruments create a unique blend of technical sophistication and Italian fashion elegance. The black instruments, rectangular warning lights, and machined controls deliver a very purposeful appearance to the fighter-jet inspired cockpit. The instruments are in excellent condition with solid numbers and dark dial faces. The black carpeting is in generally good condition however it should be noted that the original carpet color was reportedly orange, as only the Italians would darely command. An accessory power port has been installed on the passenger’s side of the console and a fire extinguisher located at the base of the passenger footwell. The trunk is correctly lined with carpet and black diamond pattern floor mat.

Under the vented rear engine deck, the matching numbers V12 engine and engine compartment have been properly maintained to original specifications. Although some areas are showing signs of use, the engine compartment and engine components present very nicely overall, very likely showing original finishes. Twin factory air cleaners feeding the amazing quad cam V12 engine tightly flank six side-draft Weber carburetors. Correct hoses, hardware, and proper fasteners trim the engine compartment, in keeping with methods used at the Lamborghini factory. The engine block retains the correct factory number stamping, which matches the VIN plate mounted to the engine compartment. The remaining factory data plates and various engine compartment decals are in place. A secondary identification plate is also in place, installed during the period when the car was owned and registered in Germany, as was commonly done. The underside of the car is clean and dry, showing correct components and generally original finishes which indicate the car has been properly maintained. The floor and steel frame appears to be sound with no visual evidence of structural compromise, and a recent cosmetic refresh to the underside by Pebble Beach award winning Charley Potts.

A quick click of the ignition sets the V12 engine off in a rapturous roar, settling into a deep, growling idle. The exhaust note sends ripples down your spine as passing pedestrians suddenly shift their gaze, drawn to the incomparable sound. A gentle downward pull from the scissor door and a quick look outside, the outward view is expansive and engaging with amazing forward visibility as the hood dramatically drops off. The large swept dash, having been covered by soft light-absorbing material reduces reflections and aids frontal visibility from the steeply sloped windscreen. Once warmed up and underway, the instruments show excellent oil pressure and correct running temperatures. The shift lever moves through the gated shifter with confidence, pushing the amazing power on tap with each gear change. Acceleration, while certainly quick, is all the more exhilarating as your seating position is both low and reclined with the engine beckoning from above your shoulders. Once on the open road, a foot on the throttle delivers a back-slapping response as the Countach leaps to highway speeds in a matter of seconds. The sale of this remarkable LP400 Countach is accompanied by invoices for recent service work.

Unquestionably the pinnacle of sports car visual excellence and jaw dropping performance, the Countach continues to live up to its namesake, having been inspired by the Piedmontese, Italy regional use of the word “Countach” - an exclamation meaning “Wow!” Unrivaled state of the art design and engineering, unleashed by V12 performance, there is simply no replacement for the mechanical enchantment and visceral presence of the Lamborghini Countach.

One of just 158 examples built, this iconic early Lamborghini LP400 “Persicopica” Countach offers the next fortunate enthusiast a pure and delightful performance sports car, brimming with innovative details and unfettered sculptural ferocity. Forever regarded as the ultimate supercar, this Countach can today be readily enjoyed, shown, or simply cherished for the iconic design and rapturous performance so magnificently portrayed when new and preserved as a hallmark for tomorrow.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608