No, the Lamborghini Countach Is NOT Bad to Drive

Top Gear is part of it. James May and Jeremy Clarkson always joked that the Countach handled like a truck.

Jay Leno says he drove his Lamborghini Countach daily for years. It can’t be all that bad, right?

That Countach is a thing of beauty — a real work of art. And Doug’s explanation of all the misconceptions about it is really enlightening. Speed is really overrated in this age of EVs, whereas the experience of driving an ageless classic is definitely not.

I love that Doug hasn't discovered note cards or an iPad...and instead hold his laptop in one hand because his thoughts are that detailed.

This is exactly how I feel driving late 60s and early 70s muscle cars with big carbureted engines, heavy clutches, and thundering exhausts. There's something about the raw experience that newer performance cars cannot replace.

Drive it to Nantucket

Doug hit the nail on the head with this video. Same feelings I had about my ‘17 F-Type R. It’s not the most comfortable, it’s not the fastest, it’s not the best handling. But no other modern car better grasps that gentlemanly British embrouchure with such flowing lines and dramatic exhaust note. And that’s why I’m in love with it. Every time I get in is an experience.

James May reviewed the Lamborghini Countach LP400S comparing it to the Ferrari Boxer. Despite praising its styling and madness, he was appalled by how difficult it was to drive. Id say thats where a lot of these opinions started.

It probably comes from that one Top Gear segment where it's about never meeting your heroes and the Countach was prominently featured it in it :).

Nobody: Not even a single soul: Doug in the next few months: Selling my Lamborghini Countach on CARS & BIDS!

Auto journalists in the '80s said the ergonomics are atrocious, the clutch pedal is ridiculously heavy, and the fit and finish were terrible. Maybe the people who approach Doug with the shade read Car and Driver and Road & Track back in the day?

Doug is the type of guy to NOT take his Countach to the grocery store...but he might swing by the Home Depot.

Doug — you have hit it right on the head. I have been fortunate to own several Countach’’s over the past 30 years, including a Periscopa, a downdraft 88 1/2, and two Anniversaries (as well as a Miura S, Espadas, Jarama, Diablos, and a Urracco — among other vintage Italians — not all at once!). And I have driven most of these for thousands of miles. It IS about the experiences that you have with them. They are works of art, but you must drive them to get the full experience. They are not fast at all by today’s standards. Electric cars have won that game, no question, but that’s not the point. The driver engagement required in driving these is exciting, to say the least. To your own heritage — they have many, many “quirks and features”. The Countach always generates a conversation, for example, when you stop to get gas. Think about it — it was a phenomenon when it was introduced in 1974. I strongly believe if the Countach, just as it was presented in 1974, were introduced TODAY, it would be viewed as a phenomenon. And…I love the Lamborghini origin story — it may just be a myth — but successful tractor maker Ferruccio telling Enzo that the clutch in his car was crap and Enzo throwing him out of his office and Ferruccio responding by building his own car. Ya gotta love it. The other thing is that Lamborghini cars were never fully developed — always put cars into production too soon, always near to or in bankruptcy — so there is some fettling, at the very least, typically that needs to be done if the car has not been thoroughly gone through. Finally, George Evans is “the man” on these cars —well done, Doug in having him get your car in shipshape. Enjoy it!

Another point to the drivability of it, I think people who have driven it and say it drives like a truck possibly haven’t driven it when it’s fully up to temp and stuff. Matt Farah talked about it, saying that’s why you can’t just get in and take it for a short drive, it takes like 30 or 40 minutes for everything to be operational. The bushings and cats and engine and transmission and diff and everything take so much longer than a normal car to get up to temperature and work correctly

Glad you are enjoying it Doug! You are "living the dream" for a lot of aging car nerds out here in YouTubeland so keep doing it with your characteristic joie de vivre.👍

I know Harry Metcalfe loves his Countach and has even done videos of his long road trips in it. I'd certainly have one if I had money.

Doug is the type of guy that can make a school bus from 1950 interesting. 😅 Love his videos

On a separate note-RIP Gandini. He died just a month and half ago.

Doug is the type of guy to ask people what their quirks and features are when interviewing someone to work at cars and bids

If only I was able to have purchased one when they were cheaper. This WAS this poster car for me and many many Gen X’rs. Doug isn’t old enough to remember this love of the Countach but good on him for appreciating it and being in a position to preserve one. I was able to own a few of my dream cars but the Countach is simply unreachable now.