The future of Lamborghini was unveiled at the 1971 Geneva Auto Show with the first public display of the new Countach. The car’s dramatic styling with its trademark scissor doors and low, angular, wedge-shaped body left all onlookers speechless. These first LP400 Countachs however stunning in their design provided virtually no rearward visibility; a periscope-type rear-view mirror was added, lending the name “Periscopo” to the initial Countach series. Just 150 examples of the LP400 were built before the introduction of the LP400S in 1978, making these early examples, with their remarkably clean styling and purity of purpose, highly coveted and sought-after by astute collectors and marque enthusiasts today.
A somewhat rare Lamborghini LP400 has been put up for sale in Huntington Station, New York. The car, painted in Tahiti Blue with Blue/White leather interior, has been listed at $395,000.
The car uses a lightweight 4.0-liter V-12 engine with dual overhead cams that produces 375 horsepower and up to 365 Nm of torque. Mated to a five-speed synchromesh transmission, the engine reaches 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds on its way to a 316 km/h (196 mph) top speed.
This LP400 Countach received a two year restoration completed by marque specialist Ultimate Motorcars, the oldest Lamborghini dealership in the United States. This facility is renowned for the accuracy of its work, in addition to an enviable record of class victories achieved at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. During the restoration process, all areas of the car were attended to including the exterior, interior, engine, transmission, suspension, brakes and air conditioning, with truly spectacular results.
Typically, the car would be valued around $80,000, according to several Lamborghini enthusiast websites. However, this car has been thoroughly restored outside and inside over two years. It has won multiple class trophies at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
During the restoration process, the noted Lamborghini expert Valentino Balboni inspected this LP 400 on two occasions and a letter from him, attesting to the quality and accuracy of the restoration, is included in the history file.
This is an extremely rare opportunity to purchase one of the finest examples on an LP400 Countach “Periscopo”, the initial version representing the clean, wild design statement of the definitive supercar of the 1970s and ‘80s.
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