readouts for the Countach . This dashboard design was not fully realized in time for the 1971 Geneva Auto Show debut , the LP500 prototype instead using a conventional analogue speedometer and tachometer . However , the LP500 dashboard incorporated other innovations from Gandini ’ s original sketches , including aircraft inspired warning lights placed centrally on the steering column , within the arc of the steering wheel . Another innovation was the inclusion of an on-board diagnostic “ OBD ” system ( long before the OBD Standardisation ) that displayed the status of the car ’ s individual subsystems on a schematic view of the entire car , located on the dashboard to the driver ’ s left . Due to the poor rearward visibility inherent in the design , a periscope was integrated into the passenger compartment roof , instead of a conventional rear-view mirror . Gandini also used a single-spoke steering wheel and deeply recessed bucket seats , which shared a stylized motif of segmented blocks . The low seating position , prominent transmission tunnel and wide door sills all contributed to the sensation of being inside a race car cockpit .
The scissor doors of the Countach prototype were a prominent design feature which carried over to the production Countach and have become a major feature of all the subsequent Lamborghini V12 models . Gandini incorporated this door design as both a styling gesture and to facilitate entry . The car ’ s wide chassis and high and wide doorsills made entry using conventional doors difficult in narrow spaces . Due to poor rearward visibility many Countach drivers park by opening the door , sitting on the sill and reversing into the parking spot while looking over the back of the car from outside .
Following the LP500 public debut in 1971 , the body design was progressively altered during testing to improve aerodynamic performance , high speed stability , engine cooling and ability to meet mandated safety requirements . This resulted in many differences between the LP500 and the production LP400 . The most visible change was the addition of several vents to improve engine cooling . These included ducts spanning the doors and rear fenders on each side and protruding air intake boxes . These replaced the louvred vents behind the side windows . The slope of the nose was made shallower to reduce excessive front-end downforce that caused destabilized of the LP500 during braking . The futuristic dashboard and diagnostic displays seen on the LP500 were replaced with a conventional styled dashboard using analogue gauges . The single-spoke steering wheel was replaced with a three spoke wheel similar to those used on other production Lamborghinis . Lamborghini created three pre-production Countach prototypes prior to the introduction of the LP400 production model . The first prototype was the LP500 , which was displayed at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show and later used for pre-production testing and development by the factory . The LP500 prototype was destroyed in crash testing at the MIRA facility in England while gaining European type approval .
The second Countach prototype chassis number 1120001 was shown to the public at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show painted red and at the 1973 Paris Motor Show painted green . The bodywork of this car was much closer to that of the LP400 production model , and now incorporated the side ducts and air intake boxes tested on the first prototype . This car showed some styling details from the first prototype that would not carry over into production , including trapezoidal windows and a bumper less nose . The third Countach prototype chassis number 1120002 was shown at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show and was the first to be constructed entirely in the Lamborghini factory , except for the chassis built by Marchesi . It is sometimes referred to as the first preproduction or first production LP400 Countach . This car was painted bright yellow and had the finalized production LP400 body style . The trapezoidal side windows seen in the first prototypes were replaced with a three-panel design , which was easier to manufacture .
The Countach entered production in 1974 as the LP400 with a 3.9 Litre engine delivering 370 bhp . It had a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 179mph . The styling had become rather more aggressive than Gandini ’ s original concept , with the required large air scoops and vents to keep the car from overheating , but the overall shape was still the same . By the end of 1977 , Lamborghini had produced 157 of the LP400 .
In 1978 , a new LP400 S model was introduced . The engine was slightly downgraded from the LP400 model at 350 hp consequently the 0-62 increased to 5.2 seconds and the top speed reduced to 158mph .
The most radical changes were on the exterior with the addition of fibreglass wheel arch extensions , giving the car the look it kept until the end of its production run . An optional V-shaped rear wing was available following the popularity generated from the rear wing of the “ Walter Wolf ” Countach ,