Its white appearance matches that of the Countach destroyed in Leonardo de Caprio’s “Wolf of Wall Street”. The Miura successor debuted in the 70s and saved the struggling Bologna brand in the 80s. This 1982 LP500S will be auctioned at Aguttes’ summer auction on June 23rd.
Geneva Motor Show of 1971: While the Miura SV celebrates its world premiere on the Lamborghini stand, the Carrozzeria Bertone unveils a yellow wedge called the Lamborghini Countach LP 500 next door. The prototype designed by Marcello Gandini with its spectacular scissor doors attracts so much attention that a race against time begins under the leadership of Lambo technical director Paolo Stanzani to satisfy the rapidly incoming customer requests.
When the first production models of the otherworldly sports car hit the streets three years later, many buyers discovered that Gandini’s wonder car drove more like the agricultural equipment with which Ferruccio Lamborghini made his fortune than his sports cars that followed the tractors.
To make matters worse, Lamborghini was in a difficult financial situation at the beginning of the 1980s. Fortunately, Giulio Alfieri – the engineer responsible for the Maserati 250F, the Birdcage and the 3500 GT Ghibli, among others – set about solving both the poor driving characteristics of the Countach and Lamborghini’s financial problems in one fell swoop. With the support of engine specialist Luigi Marmaroli, he had the V12 of the model, dubbed the Countach LP500 S, bored from 4.0 to 4.8 liters and at the same time reworked the combustion chambers. On top of that, he gave the 375 hp engine larger carburettors and an electronic Marelli ignition. All of this led to a significantly higher maximum torque that could be accessed earlier.
To enhance the appearance of the fighting bull, the Countach was given fender flares and a Boeing-inspired rear wing. Alfieri’s efforts paid off: Lamborghini’s order books were filling up faster than they could build these dream machines in Bologna.
This Lamborghini LP 500 S is the 25th LP500 S and was delivered to Germany in July 1982. In 1988, it was purchased by a collector from Nancy who registered it in the Alpes-Maritimes department, but only drove it 106 kilometers. The last customer to buy the Countach 2001, which was gleaming in the Wolf of Wall Street outfit, clocked up almost 31,000 kilometers in 23 years. The car, which has now covered 56,000 kilometers, was regularly serviced by its third owner. It exudes a very harmonious patina and offers a driving experience that matches its stunning appearance.
If you want to add one of the most iconic supercars of all time to your collection, don’t miss the Aguttes Summer Sale on June 23rd, where this earthbound UFO will be auctioned off.
