The Lamborghini Countach introduced pornography on wheels 50 years ago

Lamborghini makes some of the most exquisite-looking cars ever. Just one look at any of its models and you might feel hairs raising on the back of your necks or if you’re like a certain spaniel-haired chap, a fizzing sensation.

However, all of this automotive pornography began 50 years ago when the Lamborghini Countach was introduced in 1972. Its groundbreaking and NSFW style became the template for future Lamborghini models with traces of it seen on modern Lambos like the Aventador, Sián, and yes, even the Urus.

The Countach is, by all means, a visual sensation. Growing up, I had a couple of Countach posters pasted on my bedroom wall, a white one and a red one. They were the later models which had the massive rear wing. The Countach originally never had a wing that felt odd to some but just right to others.

Also read: Top Rank – 10 production cars with the wildest wings

It all begins from zero

The Countach first started as a concept that wasn’t even given the Italian Bull’s logo. In 1970, two years before the Countach was launched, Bertone showcased the Lancia Stratos Zero concept car at the Turin Motor Show. Jaws were probably dropped and pants were also likely to be soaked that day.

It was designed by Marcello Gandini, the man behind most of Lamborghini's supercar designs. While the production Stratos would look vastly different from the Zero, Lamborghini picked up on the futuristic design and eventually shaped it into the Countach that we come to know.

Oh, and while we’re still in the development part of the supercar icon, let’s talk about the name. Contrary to what many people think (Countach is a cuss word in some Italian dialect), the real story was that the name came from a Piedmontese (a language very close to French) word that was meant to express admiration.

The name started off as an inside joke but was eventually officially selected as it was unique like the supercar. The name broke away from Lamborghini’s tradition of naming its models from famous bulls.

Flash! Ahhhh…

Its wedge design would become the defining shape of the 1970s and early eighties. From its low stance and wide rear, its flashy presence demanded to be stared at. It’s a recipe that will follow on every subsequent Lambo models.

The futuristic style definitely gave the supercar the attention it deserves from the outside, but inside you might as well wish you had gotten for a more comfortable Ferrari instead. Its low shape made it nigh impossible to see from the outside and reversing requires skills and long limbs.

The 5.2-litre V12 engine meanwhile, was maddeningly powerful (455 PS/500 Nm) as it was complicatedly old-school. It wasn’t fuel-injected but rather fed by six pairs of carburetors, one for each cylinder.

As the saying goes, never meet your heroes and the Countach is one of those models that you would much rather look at than experience in.

A poster icon, not a beauty icon

As iconic as the Countach was from the urban legend surrounding its name to its quintessentially rad design that still draws inspiration today, it isn’t the most beautiful design by Lamborghini.

Personally, I would award that to the Miura which debuted six years earlier in 1966. The Countach has a wedge design that is so recognizable and wild but the smooth and sexy lines of the Miura is just more to my taste.

If the Countach is Scarlett Johansson with its larger fanbase and more significant roles, then the Miura is Olivia Wilde. Equally beautiful and brilliant but with lesser-known roles.