1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary

1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary
Registration G41UYP
Chassis no. ZA9C005A0KLA12815
Engine no. 12815
The Countach was styled, like its predecessor the Miura, by Bertone's Marcello Gandini. Lamborghini's four-cam V12 was retained, though this time installed longitudinally.
To achieve optimum weight distribution, designer Paolo Stanzani placed the five-speed
gearbox ahead of the engine between the seats, and the differential - driven by a shaft
passing through the sump - at the rear. The result was a delightful gearchange and a
better-balanced car than the Miura.
The Countach's ultimate development, considered by many to be the most desirable,
arrived in September 1988. Launched at the Italian Grand Prix, Monza, this was the
Anniversario, introduced to celebrate Lamborghini's 25th anniversary as a motor manufacturer. Restyled and updated, the Anniversario incorporated hundreds of subtle
changes and improvements over the Quattrovalvole. The body was reworked by
designer Horacio Pagani, creator of the Pagani Zonda, gaining a new nose and front
bumper/spoiler incorporating front brake air ducts. US-destined cars retained the ugly
'5mph' impact-resistant bumper, while the new rear bumper was common to both US
and European models. The most striking difference in the Anniversario's appearance
was in the treatment of the radiator air intakes directly behind the doors, which featured
thicker vertical strakes, colour-matched to the body. Beneath the skin the chassis had
been extensively updated for improved handling, its development assisted by none
other than three-time World Rally Champion, Sandro Munari. Split-rim forged alloy OZ
wheels were adopted for the Anniversario, shod with Pirelli's new 'P Zero' dualcompound asymmetrical-tread tyres. Available with carburettors in Europe or fuel injection in the USA, the V12 engine was virtually unchanged from the Quattrovalvole. In
total, 657 Countach Anniversario models were made between September 1988 and
April 1990, one of the many high-profile owners being ex-Formula 1 World Champion
Mario Andretti.