To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' The Monterey Auction event, 13 - 15 August 2026.
$2,200,000 - $2,600,000 USD
- Arguably the best-preserved Series I example in the world
- One of only 50 first-series examples built
- Minimally driven car displaying 1,803 km (~1,121 mi.) at cataloguing
- Boasts incredibly authentic condition, retaining its original factory-appointed paint, interior, and tires
- Features original European-style bumpers
- The most original and least driven first-series Countach offered in memory
Perhaps no model better epitomizes the concept of Italian supercar than the Lamborghini Countach. With its advanced mid/rear engine placement and stunning angular-wedge coachwork penned by Bertone’s Marcello Gandini, not to mention Sant’Agata’s potent 4.0-liter V-12 engine, the Countach instantly became the decade’s quintessential expression of exotic mechanized wanderlust. The Countach’s iconic design, with its unmistakable door-integrated NACA duct and vertically opening scissor doors, became one of automotive history’s most defining forms, instantly recognizable to all stripes of enthusiast.
Now recognized as a defining cultural icon that held sway for nearly two decades, the Countach was first introduced at the 1971 Geneva Salon, eventually reaching full production status in 1974. At the Geneva Salon in March 1978, Lamborghini introduced the first updated version of the model, the Countach LP400 S. While it was mechanically very similar to the original model, the LP400 S featured a much more expressive exterior, most notably epitomized by extended fiberglass wheel arches designed to cover newly widened wheels. The LP400 S also struck an unforgettable pose, with a lowered suspension specification contributing to an impossibly low-slung stance.
The LP400 S was built in a modest quantity of 238 examples across three distinct series. The rare first series cars, which accounted for just 50 examples, were equipped with 45-millimeter Weber dual-throat carburetors, small Stewart-Warner gauges, and smooth-finish Campagnolo “Bravo” wheels. These uniquely specified Countach examples are some of the rarest of the breed, and they are credited with introducing external design features that evolved into definitive characteristics of the celebrated supercar.
This late-production first-series LP400 S is arguably the best-preserved Series I example in the world. According to the records of the International Lamborghini Registry, chassis number 1121086 was factory-finished in rosso paint over a nero interior before being dispatched in July 1979 to SEA Auto in Rome. The following month the Lamborghini was exported to Ameritech in the US, the well-known federalizing company. Ameritech’s work proved to be very non-invasive, involving only an extension of the front and rear side reflectors, which did not require any alteration of the metallic bodywork. Furthermore, the auxiliary US-style bumpers were not added to the car, preserving the original design’s clean silhouette.
After receiving EPA certification in March 1980, the Countach was delivered to its first owner, a collector based in Michigan who retained possession for a remarkable period of almost 20 years while accruing very minimal mileage. In 1999 the LP400 S briefly passed to an enthusiast in Indiana before being sold a year later to a major collector in Alberta, Canada, at which point the odometer reportedly displayed just 1,018 kilometers.
Never before publicly displayed or advertised, this sensational Lamborghini has essentially been absent from the niche for its entire life, and it figures to receive a warm welcome at marque gatherings and supercar meets. Offering incredibly preserved condition, chassis number 1121086 retains its original factory paint, interior, and Pirelli P7 tires; and the odometer currently displays approximately 1,600 kilometers (~995 miles).
For the intrepid Lamborghini collector in search of high-quality examples of Sant’Agata’s classic models, there could hardly be a better opportunity to acquire a well-preserved and minimally driven LP400 S than this exceptional supercar. With its quintessentially Italian livery of rosso over nero, this fabulous time-warp LP400 S would make a sensational addition to any sporting collection; it offers an unparalleled opportunity to own one of the finest Countach examples in the world.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo26/.