It’s tough to mess with a classic. The Lamborghini Countach has been plastered on nearly every petrolhead’s wall at some point. At least people who grew up in the 90s, if not later. In production from 1974 to 1990, with five iterations of the supercar in varying stylistic excess, there was something for everyone.
Penned by design great, Marcello Gandini, the wedge-shaped Countach pretty much defined an entire era. And despite the cult following it enjoys, it took Lamborghini 30 years to come up with a modern Countach. But, of course, like we said, it’s tough to mess with a classic.
The 2022 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4, stunning as it is, didn’t hit the right spots with a lot of people. Reactions to the modern Countach from Lamborghini itself ranged from excitement to underwhelmed, at the slightly sterile look. It seems people thought it was merely any modern Lamborghini, with a few throwbacks to the Countach. Most criticism seemed to stem from the fact that Lamborghini’s take on a modern Countach was based on the original early 70s Countach LP400. While achingly pretty, early Countachs were likely not what most people had posters of. Most of us owned posters of the bigger, badder, flared wheelarches Countach of later years designed by Horacio Pagani – the Countach 5000 QV.
HotCars and digital artist Rostislav Prokop have come up with a compromise – our own take on a modern Lamborghini Countach, but with some of the 80s excess of the later model Countach. And apart from a few key criticisms, it seems to hit the right nostalgic notes with old-time fans, and younger fans with a taste for over-the-top Lamborghinis.
This Lamborghini Countach Restomod Is What People Wanted
Bring on the 80s excess! Flared wheelarches, flying rear wing, and a really hunkered down stance. Prokop’s render of a modern Lamborghini Countach restomod seems to get it right. Finished in white, with similar headlights and tail lights to Lamborghini’s own modern Countach, you may not spot the differences at first.
But a second look tells you exactly what they are. The almost-excessively flared wheelarches are exactly what made the Countach 25th Anniversary model the poster of choice for car fans, and they’re represented here perfectly. Along with the rear wing, and arrowhead air intake on the side doors. It helps that versus Lamborghini having to come up with a new car that was a modern take on the Countach, Prokop could instead design a Countach restomod with modern flair.
Most people seem to agree. Dominic Greco on Facebook says, “I don’t usually like it when you mess with a classic, but this is nicely done.” User danp2u on Instagram says, “You would have thought Lamborghini themselves would have made the new Countach look more like original. This one way nicer and closer to the original.” Allen Anderson says, “I fell in "absolute" love with the Countach when I was in high school -- mid Eighties -- and the new one rekindles the old flame!” Glen Terry adds, “I didn't think the countach could ever look any better, I have been proven wrong. Now we need a Diablo Deux.” Now, a reimagined, modern Lamborghini Diablo is definitely something we can get behind!
Where Our Take On A Modern Countach Went Wrong
David Grist says what many have been saying best, “My dream car as a child. I love the simplistic and smooth lines, but the busy-ness of the wheels ruin that feeling.” Gary Crook echoes that thought but with some direction, “First thing I would do is change the wheels or powder coat them black.” Mohsin Zaroor says, “The original rims are much better.”
In retrospect, we’re inclined to agree. A modern take on the Countach’s Campognolo Bravo "pepper pot" wheels (in the right shade of gold) would’ve lifted this render to a whole new level. As is, the wheels are perhaps a little too modern for the Countach. Maybe a little more offset to the wheels, especially at the front could help the fact that the wheels sit too far inside the front fender.
Lamborghini’s New Countach LP 800-4 Has Its Own Flaws
All said, we do wish Lamborghini had pushed the envelope a little more with their modern Countach LPI 800-4. To reiterate, yes, the original LP400’s lines are clean, simple and what purists would call “perfect”. But it wasn’t the early Countachs that were immortalized on glossy print paper and bedroom walls all across the world, no?
Pop-up headlights would’ve been equally perfect, but considering it’s a production model, pedestrian-safety laws would’ve prevented that. Surely Lamborghini could’ve seen fit to recreate the iconic wheel design. That would’ve been fitting on this simpler-designed Countach.
Either way, enthusiasts are lucky to have a new Lamborghini Countach to daydream over. And at least 199 owners of the limited-run car will be extremely lucky to drive their dream in real life. For the rest of us, perhaps a poster of this awesome Lamborghini Countach restomod will do.