If you’re going to fork out £180,000 on a classic car, you’d likely not expect to have to collect it in boxes.
But that will be the case for this 1982 Lamborghini Countach 5000S being auctioned by Historics later this month.
It was purchased by the vendor over 20 years ago and last driven in 2008 before being dismantled in preparation for a full restoration effort.
However, that was never completed, meaning this supercar sale is for a car you need to complete yourself.
Complete it yourself Countach: This 1982 Lamborghini is being sold at auction later this month, with experts predicting a winning bid in the region of £180,000
Historics Auctioneers will offer the disassembled Lamborghini at its next motor sale at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, on Saturday 26 September.
The guide price is £145,000 to £180,000 for the project to rebuild one of the most iconic poster cars of all time.
While you might not be able to tell from the images of its existing state, the Countach was originally painted black and, being an LP 500S – also known as the 5000S – featured a huge rear wing. The cabin has a black leather interior, too.
It’s also quite a famed example of Lamborghini’s scissor-doored supercar, of which fewer than 2,000 were ever produced.
The 1982 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S was bought by the vendor in 2000 and was driven up until 2008
In 2008, the keeper commissioned a full strip, respray and interior refurbishment. However, the company conducting the refurbishment was liquidated and the Lamborghini put into storage
Only 323 examples of the Countach 5000 S (or LP500 S, as it was also known) were produced between 1982 and 1985. In sublime condition, it would look like the car pictured here on the left
The 5000 S (pictured foreground) was one of the most extreme versions of the 1980-generation Countach, featuring a massive rear wing
It happens to be the car that appears on the front cover of a book called ‘The Spirit of The Bull’, by Paul W. Cockerham and it was also driven by Vicky Butler-Henderson in an episode of Top Gear in the 1990s.
The current keeper purchased the Countach in July 2000 and drove it up until 2008, having spent a substantial amount to have the engine stripped and rebuilt in 2004 along with the fitting of a new clutch and exhaust system, costing well in excess of £10,000.
A year later, the vendor also forked out for an extensive renovation of the underside of the car, with the chassis and suspension overhauled to add to the growing list of bills and receipts for the Lambo’s upkeep.
With the car running sweetly, a full strip, respray and interior refurbishment was scheduled for the prized Countach.
Historics Auctioneers will offer the disassembled Lamborghini at its next motor sale at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, on Saturday 26 September. The guide price is £145,000 to £180,000 for the project to rebuild one of the most iconic poster cars of all time
While you might not be able to tell from the images of its existing state, the Countach was originally painted black with a black leather interior
The current keeper bought the Countach in July 2000 and drove it up until 2008, having spent a substantial amount to have the engine stripped and rebuilt in 2004 along with the fitting of a new clutch and exhaust system, costing in excess of £10k
The interior of the car is stripped completely bare, with the seats not even bolted into place and showing signs of being in storage for 13 years
In 2008 it was put into a body shop to be completely dismantled and prepped for the work, with the vehicle broken down into pieces to expose each part requiring expert attention.
However, shortly after work on the car commenced, the company paid to carry out the refurbishment was wound up and the car – still in pieces – was then put into storage.
‘For various reasons the car has remained in this stripped state ever since and to the best of our client’s knowledge, the car is complete and comes with a new windscreen and all the parts that were removed,’ Historics explains.
The odometer shows that it has covered just 61,840 kilometres (38,426 miles) in its lifetime, which is an average of 1,586km (985 miles) per year from new.
This particular car happens to be relatively famous. It appears on the front cover of a book called ‘The Spirit of The Bull’, by Paul W. Cockerham (left). In its current condition, it looks quite a bit different. Though that is unlikely to deter collectors
As you can see from this image, the car still retains the same number plate as used on the cover of the Lamborghini book
Once complete with a fully refurbished 4.8-litre V12 engine and transmission, it should be able to sprint to 62mph in less than six seconds and surpass 180mph flat out
It will be sold with the original handbook, owner records from held by nine owners across its 39-year existence and a well-documented history of work carried out on it before it was stripped back to the current condition.
Being just one of 323 examples ever built, it will likely attract plenty of interest from bidders.
Classic car experts, Hagerty, says even a fairly tatty version of a 1982 Countach LP 500S is today worth, on average, £218,000. Fully restored to an excellent condition, it could be valued up to £272,000, it says – which is almost £100,000 more than the auction higher estimate.
Once complete with a fully refurbished 4.8-litre V12 engine and transmission, it should be able to sprint to 62mph in less than six seconds and surpass 180mph flat out.
Classic car experts, Hagerty, says even a fairly tatty version of a 1982 Countach LP 500S is today worth, on average, £218,000
Fully restored to an excellent condition, it could be valued up to £272,000, it says – which is almost £100,000 more than the auction higher estimate
While the Lamborghini could help a collector cash in once complete, the rebuilt process and replacement of parts that have degraded during 13 years in storage could eat into profits
The Lamborghini Countach is back! 1980s supercar pin-up is reborn as a £2million V12 hybrid with a top speed of 221mph – and all 112 examples are sold
Lamborghini’s iconic eighties poster supercar, the Countach, has been reborn for 2021 with a modern twist on the famed wedge-shape and a hybrid power unit producing a massive 803bhp.
The new Countach LPI 800-4 was revealed in August at Monterey Car Week at Pebble Beach, California, and is a futuristic homage to the original car that first saw the light of day – in concept form – 50 years ago.
It is powered by the same hybrid system as the Italian car maker’s limited-edition Sián hypercar, using the 6.5-litre V12 engine and supercapacitor technology to boost performance and efficiency.
The stunning retro-inspired two-seater will hit 62mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 221mph. Prices start from around £2million.
Countach on the comeback trail: Lamborghini has resurrected one of its most iconic names with a modern tribute to the eighties pin-up supercar
Only 112 examples will be built at the Italian marque’s Sant’Agata Bolognese factory.
But don’t log into your online banking or start rustling through the drawers to find your chequebook just yet, because they’re already sold out.
Lamborghini had for weeks been sneaking details of the all-new Countach to existing customers, via its exclusive app – and all 112 have been snapped up by eager enthusiasts desperate to get their hands on the returning legend.
Its full name – LPI 800-4 – denotes the incredible performance figures of the new Countach.
‘LPI’ is short for ‘Longitudinale Posteriore Ibrido’, which loosely translates to it having a longitudinally mounted engine positioned in the middle – though towards the rear – of the car with a hybrid system. The ‘800’ figure is a reference to it having in excess of 800bhp and the ‘4’ represents the fact it is all-wheel drive.
An icon returns: It has been half a century since the original Countach sent tongues wagging. In 2021, Lamborghini aims to achieve the same result with this, the new LPI 800-4
The new Countach LPI 800-4 was revealed at Monterey Car Week at Pebble Beach, California, and is a futuristic homage to the original car that first saw the light of day – in concept form – 50 years ago
The stunning retro-inspired two-seater will hit 62mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 221mph. Prices start from around £2million
Look familiar? The iconic wedge shape, bulking shoulder vents and triangular slashes in the doors have all been carried over from the original Countach to the new LPI 800-4 version
Lamborghini says the new limited edition car ‘pays homage to the Countach’s iconic status as a revolutionary design and technology rulebreaker, recreated for the 21st century’.
It will be one of the final high-performance road cars launched by the brand with a monumental V12 engine – and also the last to have supercapacitor technology.
This is unique from a traditional hybrid vehicle with a supplementary battery, with the supercapacitor acting as an electrical component that stores energy that can offer a kick of performance to an already mind-bogglingly potent supercar.
As drama goes, the new Countach has it in droves. It’s just a shame a little over 100 examples are going to be produced
Low, long, wedge-shaped and with a long tapered bonnet – the Countach certainly fits the mould of the original supercar
The new Countach will be part of a swansong for the brand’s monumental V12 engine – and also the last to have supercapacitor technology, which debuted in another limited edition model in 2019
While many will argue that it could never live up to the ‘poster car’ reputation the original had, there’s no doubting the new version shares lots of DNA with the Countach that many petrolheads would dream about
The V12 petrol engine produces a total of 769bhp alone, while the 48-volt electric motor delivering power from the supercapacitor adds another 34bhp to the equation.
Not only does this translate to a zero-to-62mph sprint time of less than three seconds, it will hit 124mph in 8.6 seconds and continue accelerating beyond the magical 200mph mark.
The car features a monocoque chassis and all the body panels are in carbon fibre to keep weight down and retain as much torsional stiffness. Lamborghini says it tips the scales – dry – at 1,595kg.
The LPI 800-4 name explained: ‘LPI’ is short for ‘Longitudinale Posteriore Ibrido’, which loosely translates to it having a longitudinally mounted engine positioned in the middle – though towards the rear – of the car with a hybrid system. The ‘800’ figure is a reference to it having in excess of 800bhp and the ‘4’ represents the fact it is all-wheel drive
This overhead shot of the car provides a stunning view of the V12 motor encapsulated in the engine bay with its carbon fibre structure
Lamborghini says the new limited edition car ‘pays homage to the model’s iconic status as a revolutionary design and technology rulebreaker, and recreated for the 21st century’. The Countach debuted in 1971 at the Geneva Motor Show as the LP500 concept
It will be one of the final high-performance road cars launched by the brand with a monumental V12 engine – and also the last to have supercapacitor technology. The V12 petrol engine produces a total of 769bhp alone, while the 48-volt electric motor delivering power from the supercapacitor adds another 34bhp to the equation
‘The engineering team that developed the original Countach advanced Lamborghini’s pioneering technical approach, delivering unexpected innovations and the best performance available in a production car,’ explains Lamborghini chief technology officer, Maurizio Reggiani.
‘That spirit inherently drives Lamborghini R&D, resulting in the pioneering hybrid technology in the LPI 800-4, and the emotive driving experience and top-line performance expected from a flagship V12 Lamborghini.’
Only 112 examples of the 2021 model will be built at the Italian marque’s Sant’Agata Bolognese factory. Lamborghini originally built just under 2,000 Countach models over a 16-year production series running from 1974 to 1990
If you’re thinking about splashing out a cool £2million on one of the 112 available cars, think again. They’re already sold out
Buyers get the choice of colours for both inside and out – we are big fans of these red leather seats with white stitching
Some features can’t be changed – like the traditional quad-exhausts that have been ever-present for V12 Lamborghinis
Design inspirations from the original Countach
In terms of design, Lamborghini says the LPI 800-4 is ‘instantly recognisable as the elevated descendant of Countach generations’ and is ‘testament to the lasting impact of the original Countach design that became the poster car of the 1980s and a symbol of automotive and lifestyle ultra-cool’.
The Countach’s distinctive wedge-shaped silhouette with straight lines running from front to rear have been mimicked on a modern Lamborghini shell, with designers tasked to incorporate as many sharp angles and flat edges to pay homage to the original.
Importantly, it retains the renowned scissor doors, which were first introduced on the Countach and have become a signature feature of all V12-powered Lambos through the ages.
The 2021 model retains the distinctive Countach face and flat bonnet, plus a low rectangular grille and headlights
Few cars will have the presence of the Countach, which ticks every box for supercar buyers in terms of quality and drama
Side-by-side, you can easily spot the similarities between old and new, such as the hexagonal wheel arches, scissor doors and the triangular air vents in the profile
The rear bumper features a lower, sleeker line, and the ‘hexagonita’ theme also runs into the three-unit rear light clusters
In terms of design, Lamborghini says the LPI 800-4 is ‘instantly recognisable as the elevated descendant of Countach generations’ and is ‘testament to the lasting impact of the original Countach design that became the poster car of the 1980s and a symbol of automotive and lifestyle ultra-cool’
While a number of more extreme – big-winged – versions of the initial Countach were launched in its 16-year production life and became the pin-ups of a generation, the new model is a tribute to the LP500 concept revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971 and the early examples that followed when the customer-ready model was built from 1974.
It retains the distinctive Countach face and flat bonnet.
Bosses say the new car takes inspiration taken from the Quattrovalvole edition with assertive lines on the hood, a low rectangular grille and headlights, as well as in the wheel arches with their hexagonal theme. The sharp inclination of the glass ‘greenhouse’ engine cover adopts the straight lines redolent of the original Countach.
Like the enigmatic original, it features airscoops in the shoulders of the car, the triangular cut-out in the doors and those Countach ‘gills’ – which are synonymous with the original’s design – to the rear of the windows.
‘Distinctive Periscopio lines running through the roof to the rear of the car, particularly distinctive if viewed from above, appear to float towards the rear of the car,’ design bosses explain.
It uses 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels with a design inspired by supercars of the eighties, though this time fitted with carbon ceramic brake discs and super-sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres
Left to right: Mitja Borkert, head of design; Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO; Maurizio Reggiani, chief technology officer
The Countach was the first Lamborghini not to be associated with famous bulls and bullfighting. The name originated from the word ‘contacc’, an exclamation of astonishment in the Piedmontese language. The Diablo – translating to Devil – followed suit when it replaced the Countach in 1990
While a number of more extreme – big-winged – versions of the initial Countach were launched in its 16-year production life and became the pin-ups of a generation, the new model is a tribute to the LP500 concept revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971
The rear of the Countach LPI 800-4 is also recognisable as a tribute to the eighties bedroom-wall-favourite, though not quite as book-ended as the original design.
It keeps the top-mounted engine cover from the original and also replicates the slatted panel, though with a modern twist using a stepped glass design.
The rear bumper features a lower, sleeker line, and the ‘hexagonita’ theme also runs into the three-unit rear light clusters.
Prices start from around £1.7million before local taxes. With VAT included, British buyers fortunate enough to land one will be paying over £2million for the new Countach
These images show the scissor doors in action. Since the Countach hit showrooms in 1974, Lamborghini enthusiasts have expected the brand’s V12 supercars to have awesome door opening and closing systems
One of the standout elements inside is this enormous high-definition digital instrument cluster. All the toggle switches – like these to the left of the steering wheel – are designed to have that retro feel
The Countach LPI 800-4 gets an exclusive 8.4-inch HDMI central touchscreen. It also get the fighter-jet-style cover over the start/stop button
It also includes a unique button entitled ‘Stile’ – or ‘Design’. When pressed, it loads up a documented history of the Countach design philosophy to its privileged audience
The LPI 800-4 sports the four-strong exhaust tail pipes of the Countach family, connected within the carbon fibre rear diffuser.
It uses 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels with a design inspired by supercars of the eighties, though this time fitted with carbon ceramic brake discs and super-sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.
The 112 owners of the exclusive limited edition Countach LPI 800-4 can choose from a range of heritage exterior paint options, mostly in solid colours, such as the iconic Impact White, Giallo and Verde Medio.
More contemporary new colours including grey, purple and blue join these options.
There’s just as many options for the interior, with the cabin also featuring an exclusive 8.4-inch HDMI central touchscreen and an enormous high-definition digital instrument cluster.
It also includes a unique button entitled ‘Stile’ – or ‘Design’. When pressed, it loads up a documented history of the Countach design philosophy to its privileged audience.
There’s a massive selection of paints to choose from dating all the way back through Lamborghini’s history with exclusive colours
Buyers will be able to spec their new Countach in the same Impact White colour driven by Jordan Belfort – played by Leonardo DiCaprio – in 2013 hit film, The Wolf of Wall Street. Directors infamously trashed a genuine Countach for the film’s iconic scene where Belfort drives the Lamborghini home while intoxicated by a cocktail of alcohol and drugs
Lamborghini has already offered the new Countach to its most esteemed customers via the brand’s exclusive app. Buyers around the world will be begin to take deliveries of from the first quarter of 2022
‘The Countach is one of the most significant and exciting cars in automotive history’
Unveiling the car in California, company president and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann said: ‘The Countach LPI 800-4 is a visionary car of the moment, just as its forerunner was.
‘One of the most important automotive icons, the Countach not only embodies the design and engineering tenet of Lamborghini but represents our philosophy of reinventing boundaries, achieving the unexpected and extraordinary and, most importantly, being the ‘stuff of dreams’.
Could the Countach also be a pin-up poster car for the current generation of budding petrolheads? It has a strong chance
With pop-up headlights all but banned due to pedestrian safety requirements of new cars, the Countach replicates the flush lamps used in earlier versions of the original
Only a limited-edition car can demand an asking price of £2million. That will partly explain why units are not as high as the 1,983 Countach model built across a 16-year production cycle
With just 112 being produced at the Italian marque’s Sant’Agata Bolognese factory, there will be one new Countach for every 17 original cars
‘The Countach LPI 800-4 pays homage to this Lamborghini legacy but it is not retrospective: it imagines how the iconic Countach of the 70s and 80s might have evolved into an elite super sports model of this decade.
‘It upholds the Lamborghini tradition of looking forward, of exploring new design and technology avenues while celebrating the DNA of our brand. It is a Lamborghini that innately expresses the marque’s enduring and emotive power: always inspirational and thrilling to see, hear and most of all drive.’
Recognised as one of the greatest supercars of all time, the Countach’s wedge-shaped design – penned by Marcello Gandini – and scissor doors were a huge departure from Lamborghini’s original high-performance model, the Miura.
‘The Countach is one of the most significant and exciting cars in automotive history as well as in Lamborghini’s heritage,’ explained Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini head of design
The original model’s V12 engine goes down as a legend in the automotive world – mounted longways at the rear to provide extra space for the cabin – something the new version has replicated
The original Countach was the first Lamborghini to debut scissor doors. The brand is now synonymous with them. Other supercars are now judged by how their doors open
Lamborghini announced earlier this year that every model in its range will have a hybrid version (like the new Countach) by the end of 2024. Its first fully-electric car will be unveiled in 2025
Its V12 engine also goes down as a legend in the automotive world – mounted longways at the rear to provide extra space for the cabin.
The original also boasted side-mounted radiators from Formula One, a forward-facing gearbox and tubular spaceframe technology never seen before on a road car.
In total, fewer than 2,000 examples were built between 1974 and production ending in 1990, when it was replaced by the equally-adored and just-as-bonkers Diablo.
Like the enigmatic original, it features airscoops in the shoulders of the car that give it a muscular, hunkered presence
The triangular cut-out sections in the doors have been retained, as have the ‘gills’ – which are synonymous with the original Countach’s design – to the rear of the side windows
Bosses say they tried to capture the impact of the original. ‘The Countach was provocative and polarizing, it made people smile and stare, but its infamous recognisability demonstrates the purity of its design legacy,’ its design head says
Recognised as one of the greatest supercars of all time, the Countach’s original wedge-shaped design – penned by Marcello Gandini – and scissor doors were a huge departure from Lamborghini’s original high-performance model, the Miura. You could argue the new Countach does look somewhat similar to other extreme Lambo models released in recent years
The Countach was the first Lamborghini not to be associated with famous bulls and bullfighting. The name originated from the word ‘contacc’, an exclamation of astonishment in the Piedmontese language. The Diablo – translating to Devil – followed suit.
‘The Countach is one of the most significant and exciting cars in automotive history as well as in Lamborghini’s heritage,’ explained Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini head of design.
‘The Countach LPI 800-4 project is an incomparable design opportunity: to take a car so important and continue its evolution into a new era is a unique privilege.
‘The Countach was provocative and polarizing, it made people smile and stare, but its infamous recognisability demonstrates the purity of its design legacy: the Countach LPI 800-4 elevates that clarity to a new level, celebrated in an exclusive limited edition to take its place in motoring history.’
Returning CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, is back at Lamborghini to spearheads the biggest transition in the history of the motor car – the switch to electric. However, it has acknowledged the importance of recognising the brand’s past – especially with the return of the Countach name
Performance of the new car will be very special indeed. It will accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds, from 0-124mph in 8.6 seconds and to a top speed of 221mph. But do you think it looks as good as the original Countach? That’s up to you to decide
With such a low production run – and incredible looks – the new Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 is likely to draw crowds wherever it goes
A new poster car for the end of an internal combustion engine era: If there was ever a fitting tribute to petrol power and the remarkable V12 engine, the new Lamborghini Countach is just that
Those who have been fortunate enough – and rich enough – to get their name down on one of the 112 cars being made will have to pay from just over €2million (approx £1.7million). With VAT and other charges thrown in, Lamborghini officials say it would be around £2million for customers in the UK.
Buyers around the world will take deliveries from the first quarter of 2022. Lucky sods!
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