1976 Lamborghini Countach LP400 ‘Periscopio’
Introduced in 1974, the LP400 ‘Periscopio’ variant represents the earliest and purest form of the legendary Countach. Designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, this revolutionary supercar featured the distinctive Italian Wedge design language that transformed automotive styling.
A total of 157 LP400 examples were produced between 1974 and 1978, making it an extremely rare collector’s item.
The car featured a 3,929 cc (3.9-liter) V12 engine mounted longitudinally with six Weber 45 DCOE carburetors, producing 375 horsepower at 8,000 rpm.
With a lightweight curb weight of approximately 2,350 pounds (1,065 kg) and slippery aerodynamic shape, the Countach achieved a top speed of approximately 179 mph.
Its complex tubular spaceframe chassis was clothed primarily in aluminum body panels, while the innovative drivetrain placement (with the gearbox positioned ahead of the mid-mounted V12 and feeding power rearward through the sump) centralized mass for improved balance at high speeds.
The ‘Periscopio’ nickname came from its roof channel and periscope-style interior rearview mirror system, designed to improve rearward visibility.
The Countach permanently changed supercar design with its scissor doors and radical styling, cementing Lamborghini as a major player in the automotive world and influencing exotic car design for decades to come.
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