1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 ‘Periscopio’

Designing a successor to the remarkable Lamborghini Miura was something of a challenge for Marcello Gandini, however with the arrival of the Countach in 1971, he demonstrated to the world that his ability to create automotive drama was alive and well. In fact, the word Countach is Piedmontese slang for something that visually shocks and has no direct translation, but 'Wow' is probably the most polite.

The first Countach appeared at the Geneva Show in 1971 to much acclaim. Big, bright and brash like the rest of the 1970s, the Countach was to remain in production through various iterations for 15 years. With hindsight, it's clear that the car's 'flying wedge' design, sloping snout that appeared to descend directly from the windscreen and innovative scissor doors became a template for every supercar that followed. The original, beautifully clean profile was gradually bedecked with 'wings and things' as fashions changed over the years and frequent small mechanical changes were often the result of customer input in their capacity as 'unwitting development engineers'.

Some three years after its initial launch in 1971, a production-ready LP400 appeared at the Geneva Show once again and orders flooded in. Sitting on a lightweight and extremely strong tubular space-frame chassis, the striking alloy bodywork displayed numerous vents and distinctive NACA side ducts in order to cool, not only the engine and the brakes, but the cabin too.

The LP400 moved the game on from the Miura mechanically, too. In a bid to satisfy Ferruccio Lamborghini’s wish for less cabin noise, its 4-litre, 375bhp V12 was mounted longitudinally (Longitudinale Posteriore), unlike the Miura’s transversely mounted unit. The gearbox was unusually positioned between the driver and passenger, improving gearbox connection and vehicle balance and without the later models’ very wide wheels, flares and spoilers, the LP400 was the quickest Countach of them all.

However, an innovative design detail created to deal with a practical problem has become the defining characteristic of the LP400. The periscope-style rear-view mirror, integrated into a channel in the roof, was designed to improve rearward visibility due to the car's low profile and limited rear window and although not very effective and later dropped, these early cars are now known as 'Periscopios'.

Only 157 examples of the LP400 were produced, making it the rarest Countach variant, with only 19 right-hand drive examples produced in total and to many this is the purist model. Due to that rarity and its faithful adherence to Marcello Gandini's original design, the LP400 Periscopio is highly sought after by collectors.

Iconic Auctioneers are proud to present to the market a very special, UK-supplied, right-hand drive Countach LP 400 Periscopio, one of reportedly only ten delivered to the UK. Chassis #1120094 is the third of those ten cars and was originally dispatched from the factory on 14th May 1975 prior to being delivered to Lamborghini’s UK agent, Maltin Car Concessionaires in Henley-on-Thames. First registered LGF 849N on 22nd May, the original Purchase order and Bill of Sale on file shows that the Countach was finished in Tahiti Blue Metallic with a Senape tan interior and was purchased by Dan Horrocks, a property developer from Bolton for £18,295, a substantial amount of money at the time.

This Periscopio is well known in Lamborghini circles and has been looked after by marque specialists, Carrera Sport and Furlonger, who have known the car and its previous owners since the late 1980s. There are receipts and invoices in the accompanying history folder and a substantial set of photos documenting some of the considerable expenditure that this rare car has enjoyed over the years.

In 2014, following a period of 15 years long term storage at Carrera Sport, the car emerged from storage (finished in silver at that point) and was then acquired by a new owner who, almost immediately commissioned Furlonger and Carrera Sport to carry out a full and comprehensive restoration, completed in 2016. The work was extensive and included a full suspension rebuild, an overhaul of the braking system, full engine rebuild, a new air-conditioning system and gearbox and differential overhauls. At the time of the mechanical rebuild, it was decided to also enhance the Lamborghini’s cosmetics and it was decided to paint the car in the current finish of Rosso Miura with Nero Pella trim, new glass and rubbers.

The Periscopio has formed part of our vendor’s significant Collection since late 2018, having known this car since the mid-1980s and it has enjoyed the limelight it deserves with success at The Cartier at Goodwood and the London Concours. It was featured by Top Gear magazine (a copy is in the file) and in the video presented here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlH9Nns6o4s

#1120094 has less than 12,000 miles recorded (always shown in km) and presents as one of the very finest examples of the Periscopio available, in our opinion. It is one of the very few examples that were supplied new to the UK, its original engine is still in place and other key features such as its leather wallet with handbook and extremely rare original bulb kit add to its appeal.

A right-hand drive Periscopio hasn’t sold in public auction since 2014 and we don’t know when another UK-supplied example will come to market again.