Check out a rare 1988 video of Lamborghini building the Countach Anniversary, celebrating 50 years of this iconic hand-built supercar.
As the legendary Lamborghini Countach turns 50 in 2024, Lamborghini is marking the occasion by revisiting its roots. The brand has brought back the very first Countach LP400 to the factory and shared a rare archive video from 1988, showcasing how the final ‘Anniversary’ model was assembled.
The video offers a surprisingly calm look at the meticulous hand-built process, without any of the swearing that famously inspired the car’s name. Although we can’t confirm how many scraped knuckles were involved, it’s clear that crafting the Countach was no easy task, as it was assembled by hand for its entire 16-year production run.
First unveiled at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, the Countach was quickly approved for production due to the overwhelming positive response. It was also the first Lamborghini to have its body built in-house, which required a brand-new assembly line that still stands today in Sant’Agata. Back then, every Countach was slightly different, as the body panels were shaped by hand and checked against a wooden template.
The Countach launched as the LP400, featuring a 4.0-liter V12 engine producing 370bhp and weighing just 1,095kg. Only 152 of these models were built between 1974 and 1978. Later iterations, such as the LP400 S, 5000 S, and Quattrovalvole, increased in power and weight, with the 25th Anniversary model in 1988 becoming the ultimate version. Equipped with a 5.2-liter V12 engine and improved aerodynamics, it was built to celebrate 25 years of Lamborghini and became a fan favorite.
During its 16-year production, Lamborghini manufactured 1,999 Countach models. While the Diablo, Murcielago, and Aventador surpassed these numbers, the Countach remains an icon, helping Lamborghini become a competitive force from the 1970s to the 1990s.
“During its production years, the Countach graced the walls of an entire generation and starred in numerous films, establishing Lamborghini as a legend,” the company reflected. The car’s journey from a simple swear word to an iconic supercar is nothing short of extraordinary.
