1986 Lamborghini Countach

Sold for $319,000 at 2014 RM Auctions - Amelia Island.
The Lamborghini Countach was introduced at the Geneva Auto Show in 1971. It wore a design by Marcello Gandini and featured angular styling and stood just over 40 inches tall. The shocking and exotic design continued to its upwards-hinging 'scissor doors' which proved a magnetic attraction. The design seemingly evolved constantly over the car's 16-year lifespan, adding vents to aid engine cooling, fender flares for wire tires, and safety bumpers for the American market.

The third iteration of the Countach was introduced in March of 1985 at the Geneva Auto Show. The major change being the addition of the four valve heads to the V-12 engine. It was dubbed the Quattrovalvole, or QV for short. The displacement measured 5167cubic centimeters and had a compression ratio of 9.5:1. Horsepower was rated at 455 HP at 7000 RPM in European-carburetor specification, who now featured downdraft rather than side-draft carburetors. The only change to the vehicle cosmetics was to the rocker panels, where vents were added to help increase air flow for the rear brakes.

There were 610 Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole models imported into the United States from 1985 to 1988 and most were fitted with a Bosch Electronic fuel-injection system. Just 13 models were given downdraft carburetors before the EPA and DOT banned Lamborghini from importing them.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2014