www.QV500.com - Lamborghini Countach Part 3: LP400 S
 

Unveiled during March 1978 at the Geneva Salon, the arrival of Lamborghini's LP400 S saw the Countach acquire iconic status. With its wheelarch extensions and outrageous spoilers, the S featured heavily revised suspension to accommodate wider Campagnolo wheels and Pirelli's revolutionary P7 tyres. A new anti-roll bar and larger brake discs were fitted while ATE brake calipers (that were ventilated at the front) replaced the outgoing Girling components. Although the four-litre engine was left unchanged, Lamborghini were claiming an output of 353bhp at 7500rpm, this supposed drop of 22bhp having merely been the result of the factory providing a more realistic horsepower declaration.
   
Performance was truly world class, particularly when the LP400 S was bereft of the heavy and aerodynamically inefficient new rear aerofoil. Top speed was marginally down (to 167mph), but 0-60 now took just 5.7 seconds thanks to that new Pirelli rubber. Visual changes came in the form of body coloured glassfibre wheelarch extensions that were glued on to accommodate the P7 tyres and Campagnolo 'telephone dial' wheels. There was also a new front bumper with integral chin spoiler, again fabricated from GRP. Available as an official option for the first time was an adjustable rear wing, similar to those fitted on Walter Wolf's factory hot rods. The interior was left largely unchanged although the handbrake was moved to the drivers right-hand side and there was also an up-hinged accelerator pedal. During autumn 1979, an improved LP400 S was put into production and these cars are occasionally referred to as Series II's. Alterations included a small increase in ground clearance, new side mirrors, an enlarged dashboard and concave wheels. At the same time, the optional rear wing received a pair of side fins, the only other changes worthy of mention coming in June 1981 (from chassis 1121312) when the cockpit roof was raised 30mm and the central roof tunnel removed to improve interior space. The new, even more aggressive looking Countach proved a success for Lamborghini and by the time production ended in 1982, 327 examples had been completed.