Join the Family

Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter featuring the very latest from Petrolicious. Don’t be left out—join the ranks of those who Drive Tastefully.

Already a member?

How was the drive?

We're glad you're back.

Not a member yet?

Forgot your password?

Reset Your Password

We'll get you back on track.

Films: 1988 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary: The Rocket Sled
5
UP NEXT
Made To Drive | S13 E1
Ferrari 288 GTO
Become a Member,
Watch the Full Episode

Become a Petrolicious Member to access exclusive content, our new printed magazine - Drive Tastefully Quarterly, member pricing in the P Shop, access to events and more.

Learn more
Made To Drive | S13 E18

1988 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary: The Rocket Sled

Channeling two kinds of childhood whimsy.
12
View Comments
Up Next
Made To Drive
VIEW ALL
Lamborghini

12
Leave a Reply

6 Comment threads
6 Thread replies
7 Followers
 
Most reacted comment
Hottest comment thread
7 Comment authors
Michael BodnarRobert in LAJB21Scott AllenChristopher Gush Recent comment authors
newest oldest most voted
Michael Bodnar
Michael Bodnar

Beauty of Lamborghini

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
Robert in LA
Robert in LA

For those that want a little supporting material here is a Jeremy Clarkson review of this car, done by a very young Jeremy Clarkson, along with reviews of its predecessor, and the follow on car, the Diablo. In this video you can see that the 25th Anniversary has the Pagani aero-package, body kit. And when you compare with the Diablo it is a little clearer, perhaps, why the aero-package was necessary. For a 200 mph car, too much air was passing under the car.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
Robert in LA
Robert in LA

Nice video. One of the more interesting innovations on the Countach is that, in order to concentrate the mass of the car in the center, and reduce polar moment, the transmission is in placed in front of the engine. This is a rear wheel drive, mid-engined car, with a gear box located beside the driver, with the drive shaft passing back, through the engine case, to the differential. Where else has this been done? One of you in the ‘hive mind’ of this forum will know.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
Robert in LA
Robert in LA

Engine, gearbox, differential and car, showing relative positions of each.

Screen Shot 2019-04-30 at 10.24.33 AM.png
You Must Be Logged In To Vote1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
JB21
JB21

You know, that’s really interesting. I didn’t know that. I always thought it might be like 512BB, with an engine on top of a transmission, but alas!

You Must Be Logged In To Vote1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
Robert in LA
Robert in LA

@JB21 Well, I found it interesting. In order to make a car that stands up in a very competitive market sector for a quarter century, to have a rear engined 12 cylinder isn’t enough. Ferrari had done that. Moving the gear box forward helps keep the nose down, and drive shaft runs straight back right through the engine housing, and the differential mount is part of that housing too. All three are one contiguous structure. I don’t know if this was repeated on the Diablo or not.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
Robert in LA
Robert in LA

Looking further, the follow on to this car, the Diablo, also had a 5 speed gear box located in front of the engine. The Diablo was introduced as a 2 wheel drive car. Having the gear box in in front of the engine made the eventual conversion to all-wheel-drive both simple and lightweight. In truth the Lambos never interested me much before now. There was a reason that a company that previously only built tractors was able to persist in a highly competitive market sector. The drive trains seem to have had a lot to do with that.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
Christopher Gush
Christopher Gush

Refreshing to observe an owner who “drives’ his passion rather than covet it in the garage, out of the public view. Great sense of humor. Love the sled on the roof and the fact that he hasn’t washed it for the filming. The real deal. Quite the character who all can relate to.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote4You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
Jurgen Vogl
Jurgen Vogl

to siwhit. The lambos are 1970’s icons not to everyones liking , but still liked by many. It’s like he said, who didn’t have aposter to drool over

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
si.whit
si.whit

Smeared crap on a diamond, with that wannabe Testarossa bodykit

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
Scott Allen
Scott Allen

si.whit, i get what you are saying…you think the lambo is a diamond. but you don’t like the body kit…(at first read you get a different message) I would agree, bodykits can mess with a car.
Also, I wouldn’t have known it was a kit without your remark.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago
Robert in LA
Robert in LA

This body-kit (aero-package) seems to have been designed for the 25th anniversary Countach. Google ‘1988 Countach’, switch to ‘images’, and you will see a lot of cars with that kit. The aero-package probably really does provide down force at speed. A front lip and side curtains don’t have to be elegant to be functional. According to Road & Track Horacio Pagani designed the aero-kit and some suspension mods on the 25th edition. I am not a big fan of kits either, but this car probably left the factory just as we see it, minus the sled on top.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/car-design/a27323024/lamborghini-countach-25th-anniversary-edition-horacio-pagani/

You Must Be Logged In To Vote-1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
4 months ago