1985 LAMBORGHINI CountachQuattro Valvole 5.2 V12 5MT (455 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After more than a decade after its launch, the Countach was already a legend among supercars. Still, it started to show its age, but the Italian carmaker wasn’t ready to pull the plug.

When Lamborghini introduced the Countach in 1974, it was the most stunning appearance on the streets. But by 1985, Ferrari and Porsche started to increase the performance of their models. Moreover, the design trends began to shift from wedged-edges shapes to more curved ones. But the Sant’Agata Bolognese carmaker wasn’t ready to make a new vehicle. So it launched the 5000 Quattrovalvole (Four-valves) version in 1985, two years before being bought by Chrysler Corporation.

By 1985, the car had already undergone a few design updates, but the overall look was still angular. The main difference between the 5000 QV and its predecessors was at the back, where the engine’s lid featured a bump that lowered the rear visibility for the driver even further. In addition, the wider wheel arches made room for beefier tires, and a wing adorned the back end.

Inside, it was the same cramped Countach as before. Its high seatback sport seats were leather-wrapped, and so were the center console and the door cards. Unfortunately, only the lower part of its side windows could have been lowered due to the unusual shape of the doors.

The engine received new cylinder heads with dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) and four valves per cylinder. In addition, Lamborghini offered the 5000 QV with carburetors or a Bosch fuel-injection system. Strangely though, the carbureted version provided more power than the much more modern fueling system, even though it was less fuel-efficient.