Lamborghini Countach LP500S
Car scale model kit in 1/24 scale manufactured by Revell (ref. REV07730, also 4009803077307 and 07730)

The legendary Miura was always going to be a difficult model to replace, since at the time of its appearance it eclipsed the greatest supercars of the 1960s. But this did not deter Lamborghini, and its successor, the Countach, caused a sensation in its presentation at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, although the production version would not be seen until two years later and deliveries did not begin until 1974. Like its predecessor, the Countach was designed by Marcello Gandini, who for its creation followed the same recipe that defined its predecessor; radical thought and the spirit of revolution.

Initially the Countach used the same V12 engine as the Miura, although mounted longitudinally. To achieve optimal weight distribution, engineer Paolo Stanzani placed the five-speed gearbox in front of the engine, between the seats, while the differential located at the rear was driven by a shaft passing through the crankcase. The result was a more precise gear shifts and a better balanced car than the Miura. Another unique feature of the Countach was access to its interior, through doors that opened upwards by swinging from the front, something that had never been seen before in a production car.

When production began in 1974, the Countach was marketed with a 4.0-liter engine instead of the 5.0-liter seen in the prototype, but even with that smaller engine producing “only” 375 hp, the Countach could reach 275 km/h thanks to its efficient aerodynamics.

Throughout its life, the Countach would benefit from several evolutions, with increasingly advanced and powerful iterations that would continually push the limits of its performance. The first update to the Countach appeared in 1978, with the designation LP400S. The main changes were focused on the chassis and suspension, and as an option a huge rear spoiler could be incorporated, making the Countach's image even more aggressive and, as expected, it was the choice of the majority of customers. The next version, the LP500S (5000S) appeared in 1982, allowing the Countach to begin being marketed in the US market. Although its 4.754 cc engine had a larger displacement, it was not more powerful, but it did meet the necessary emissions requirements. With the LP500S, the interior design was also revised and, above all, distinctive widened wheel arches were fitted, housing the widest wheels ever fitted to a production car up to that point. Already in 1985, the last version of the Countach saw the engine's displacement increase to 5.167 cc, mounting new cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder. This version was the Quattrovalvole, which with its maximum speed of 300 km/h became the fastest car in the world at that time.

While the innovative Miura remained on sale for just over eight years, its successor would become one of Lamborghini's longest-lived supercars, flying the flag of the legendary Sant'Agata Bolognese manufacturer until 1990.