One of the most iconic Lamborghinis ever built, the Countach was introduced in 1974 as a replacement for the equally iconic Miura and survived into production for an impressive 16 years, until 1990.
30 years later and the Countach remains a highly sought-after collectible, commanding millions of dollars in certain specifications. If you like the late models with wider skirts and the more powerful V-12, you can score one in pristine condition at Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro sale in the U.K. on February 22.
It has less than 4,000 miles on the clock
One of the last Countach models to leave the factory, this 25th Anniversary Edition rolled out in 1990. Its owner drove it for around five years, but the odometer shows less than 4,000 miles. This means it hasn’t spent a lot of time outside the garage. In 1995, the owner put it in storage, where it sat until 2017, when it was given a refresh.
This particular Countach 25th Anniversary Edition is a bit more special thanks to its exterior color.
The car is finished in Arancio Orange, a hue that Lamborghini didn’t offer for the 25th Anniversary series. But it seems that the owner wanted this model to match an older Countach in his collection and eventually convinced Lamborghini to paint it orange. This makes the car unique.
You should also know that this is a right-hand-drive model, so it’s not what you’d want to drive in Europe or the U.S.
One of only 657 examples made
The 25th Anniversary Edition was launched in 1988 to celebrate 25 years since Lamborghini started making cars. Although the car was mechanically similar to the 5000QV, it featured notable upgrades on the outside thanks to a restyling done by Horacio Pagani, who later created his own supercar brand. Unique features include beefed-up side skirts and wheel extensions, larger rear intake ducts, and bigger bumpers front and rear.
While its styling was not exactly popular among purists, the 25th Anniversary Edition was outsold only by the QV model. Production ended in 1990 at 657 units, a third of the total Countach output in 16 years.
Power came from a 5.2-liter V-12 engine based on Lambo's first design.
The engine powered almost all Lamborghini models up until the Murcielago.The 5.2-liter variant used in the 25th Anniversary Edition, shared the QV, generated 449 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It pushed the supercar from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 183 mph.
| Engine | 5.2-liter V-12 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 449 HP |
| Torque | 369 LB-FT |
| 0 to 60 mph | 4.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 183 mph |
How much will it cost?
It’s difficult to estimate, but given the low-mileage status, the pristine condition, and the one-owner advantage, it could become one of the most expensive 25th Anniversary Edition models ever auctioned. Last year, an example with around 5,000 miles on the odometer sold for $288,250, while a unit with only 2,100 miles from new went under the hammer for €331,250 (around $369,700). While this orange model may have a bit more miles, the unique body color should help it fetch more than $300,000.
While it may become the most expensive 25th Anniversary Edition model, it won’t be the most expensive Countach ever. This title goes to an early 1975 LP400 version, sold for $1.2 million in 2014. Another 1975 model was actioned for $836,000 in 2013.
Source: Silverstone Auctions
