Description
This is lot number 250 in the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale on July 12th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Desirable last-of-the-line model
One of 67 right-hand drive cars
Delivered new in the UK
Four private owners
Regularly serviced and maintained
17, 601 kilometres (10, 942 miles) from new
The legendary Miura was always going to be a hard act to follow, so the extent to which its successor eclipsed the greatest of 1960s supercars came as something of a shock to all. The sensation of the 1971 Geneva Salon, the Countach was styled, like its predecessor, by Bertones Marcello Gandini. Lamborghinis four-cam V12 was retained, though this time installed longitudinally. To achieve optimum weight distribution, designer Paolo Stanzani placed the five-speed gearbox ahead of the engine between the seats, and the differential - driven by a shaft passing through the sump - at the rear. The result was a delightful gearchange and a better-balanced car than the Miura. When production began in 1974, the Countach sported an improved chassis and the standard 4-litre - instead of the prototypes 5. 0-litre - engine. Even with the smaller engine producing only 375bhp, the aerodynamically efficient Countach could attain 170mph and, as one would expect, came with racetrack roadholding to match. The cars potentially largest market - the USA - remained closed to it until the arrival of the emissions friendly LP500S in 1982. Although no more powerful than before, the newcomers 4, 754cc engine brought with it a useful increase in torque. The final development saw the engine enlarged to 5, 167cc and new four-valves-per-cylinder heads adopted for the Countach Quattrovalvole in 1985, the latters 300km/ h (186mph) top speed making it at the time - the worlds fastest car.
The Countachs ultimate development, considered by many to be the most desirable, arrived in September 1988. Launched at the Italian Grand Prix, Monza, this was the Anniversario, introduced to celebrate Lamborghinis 25th anniversary as a motor manufacturer. Restyled and updated, the Anniversario incorporated hundreds of subtle changes and improvements over the Quattrovalvole, making it effectively a 'new' Countach The body was reworked by designer Horacio Pagani, creator of the Pagani Zonda, gaining a new nose and front bumper/ spoiler incorporating front brake air ducts. US-destined cars retained the ugly 5mph impact-resistant bumper, while the new rear bumper was common to both US and European models. The most striking difference in the Anniversarios appearance was in the treatment of the radiator air intakes directly behind the doors, which featured thicker vertical strakes, colour-matched to the body. These changes improved engine cooling, a something the Countach had hitherto struggled with.
Beneath the skin the chassis had been extensively updated for improved handling, its development assisted by none other than three-time World Rally Champion, Sandro Munari. Split-rim forged alloy OZ wheels were adopted for the Anniversario, shod with Pirellis new P Zero dual-compound asymmetrical-tread tyres. Available with carburettors in Europe or fuel injection in the USA, the V12 engine was virtually unchanged from the Quattrovalvole. In European specification this formidable engine produced 449bhp, which was good enough for an impressive 0-60mph acceleration time of 4. 7 seconds and a top speed of 183mph (295km/ h).
Although intended for limited production, the Anniversario would turn out to be the bestselling Countach variant, with 657 made between September 1988 and April 1990, 67 of them in right-hand drive configuration. One of the many high-profile owners was former Formula 1 World Champion Mario Andretti.
One of the 67 right-hand drive cars, chassis number '12717' is finished in Rosso Savaglia with Crema hide interior, and was supplied new by Portman Lamborghini of Marylebone, London. First registered on 31st July 1989, the car comes with an impeccable service and maintenance record, as evidenced by entries in the service book and numerous related invoices. Our vendor purchased the Anniversario at a UK auction in August 2022, becoming only its fourth owner in over 30 years. The previous owner had kept the car (his second Countach) for 20 years having covered over 50, 000 miles in his first one. The Alpine radio/ cassette is in full working order and the car boasts a factory-fitted sports exhaust, more powerful air-conditioning, and a new-design steering wheel. The current odometer reading is 17, 601 kilometres or 10, 942 miles at the time of cataloguing.
Presented in stunning condition, the Lamborghini comes with a comprehensive file of history including details of recent maintenance, servicing and clutch works costing circa £25, 000.
