The Lamborghini Countach began as the LP500 idea car shown in 1971, but the first production Countach was the LP400, which Lamborghini says entered production in 1974. Five production series followed before the Countach gave way to the Diablo in 1990: LP400, LP400S, 5000 S, 5000 Quattrovalvole, and 25th Anniversary. Their progression ran from the original car’s clean, narrow body to wider arches and more elaborate aerodynamics, alongside increasingly developed V12 engines.
1971: LP500 idea car
Lamborghini presented the yellow LP500 at the Geneva Motor Show on March 11, 1971. The response encouraged the company to develop the show car into a production model. It was a prototype, not one of the production Countach series that followed.
The prototype differed structurally from the later production car: Lamborghini describes a platform-type chassis rather than the production model’s tubular structure, and a one-off 4,971 cc V12. After development testing, the LP500 was used for homologation crash tests and demolished. Lamborghini’s 2021 account of the LP500 documents its development and fate.
1974–1990: the five production series
Lamborghini’s 2024 heritage retrospective dates the production run from 1974 to 1990 and reports 1,999 cars across five series. The figures below are the manufacturer’s reported counts; they are not an independently reconciled register total.
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| Series | Production years | Units reported by Lamborghini | Engine and distinguishing changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LP400 | 1974–1978 | 152 | 4.0-liter V12; unextended fenders and roof recess for the rear-view mirror |
| LP400S | 1978–1982 | 235 | 4.0-liter V12; widened wheel arches, low-profile tires, phone-dial wheels, and front aerodynamic appendage |
| 5000 S | 1982–1984 | 323 | 4.8-liter V12; few visual changes |
| 5000 Quattrovalvole | 1985–1988 | 631 | 5.2-liter V12 with four valves per cylinder; distinctive hood bulge |
| 25th Anniversary | 1988–1990 | 658 | Revised aerodynamic details, altered rear-fender air intakes and panels, with some panels made from carbon fiber |
These years, counts, and model descriptions are from Lamborghini’s 2024 production retrospective. Its sources use both “5000 S” and “5000S”; “LP500S” also appears in some naming conventions, but the available accounts do not establish it as a separate series.
1974–1978: LP400, the production original
Lamborghini says the first LP400 came off the production line in March 1974. The car’s unextended fenders preserved a comparatively narrow profile. A recess in the roof provided for the rear-view mirror and inspired the “periscope” nickname.
The LP400 also marked a change in how Lamborghini built its cars: bodywork production moved in-house, with panels shaped by hand, and the company’s upholstery department made the interiors. Lamborghini reports 152 LP400s for the 1974–1978 series.
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1978–1982: LP400S widens the silhouette
The LP400S developed from a special LP400 commissioned by Canadian enthusiast Walter Wolf. Its low-profile Pirelli tires, widened wheel arches, phone-dial wheels, and front aerodynamic appendage made it visibly more aggressive than the LP400, while its V12 remained 4.0 liters.
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1982–1984: 5000 S brings a larger V12
Lamborghini calls this series the 5000 S in its 2024 retrospective and reports 323 cars. The V12 grew to 4.8 liters, while the exterior changed little compared with the LP400S. The company’s milestones page calls the 1982 model 5000S; the naming varies between Lamborghini sources, so these names should not be read as evidence of two separate series.
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1985–1988: 5000 Quattrovalvole adds four valves per cylinder
The Quattrovalvole brought a 5.2-liter V12 with four valves per cylinder. The larger engine required the distinctive bulge in the hood, making this one of the clearest visual differences from the preceding 5000 S.
Lamborghini’s milestones timeline gives the 1985 version an output of 455 CV, or 420 CV in its injection version. The company’s 2024 retrospective reports 631 cars for the series. Lamborghini’s milestones page is the source for the quoted output figures.
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1988–1990: 25th Anniversary and the end of the run
Created for Lamborghini’s 25th anniversary, the final series received a comprehensive revision of its aerodynamic appendages. Rear-fender air intakes and some panels changed, and some panels were made from carbon fiber for the first time. Lamborghini reports 658 cars in the 1988–1990 series.
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The company says the last two Countach series benefited from type approval for sale in the American market. In 1990, the Countach gave way to the Diablo. Adding Lamborghini’s reported series counts—152 LP400s, 235 LP400S, 323 5000 S, 631 Quattrovalvole, and 658 25th Anniversary—gives 1,999 cars, matching the manufacturer’s stated total.
Why Lamborghini’s production start is sometimes dated differently
Lamborghini’s milestones page contains a passage that says LP400 production began in 1973. However, its dedicated production retrospective says the first LP400 came off the line in March 1974, and its 1974 milestone also places the production start in that year. The more specific production account supports using 1974 for the start of series production.
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