Two automotive legends celebrate 50 years
Today marks 50 years since the Lamborghini Countach and the Maserati Bora were first seen, it wasn’t until probably 10 years later i actually physically saw either of them and probably a further 10 years until I drove them.
The Countach was something from another world, the lines the look of it, I had to have it on my wall like most boys of this era the great debate was which one was better and which one looked good beside the Farrah Fawcett Majors poster and the “Tennis Girl” on your wall
Although the Lamborghini Countach was unquestionably one of the premiere performance cars and styling sensations of its day, that still wasn't good enough for some elite enthusiasts. When Walter Wolf, owner of Formula 1 racing team Wolf F1 Racing, took delivery of his LP400 in the mid-1970s, he decided the car wasn't up to his expectations. Back it went to Lamborghini where a special 447-horsepower 5.0-liter V-12 went in the mid-mounted engine bay, while special styling modifications—including large fender flares and a rear wing—would foreshadow changes later made to the production Countach.
Additionally, while Ferruccio Lamborghini was famously uninterested in motorsports (costing him the employment of Gian Paolo Dallara as chief engineer), the Countach was used as the official safety car for the 1980-'83 Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 race weekend.
A Countach Evoluzione prototype was built by Lamborghini around 1987, which essentially served as an engineering exercise ahead of the development of the Countach's successor, the Diablo. This car heavily featured composite materials in its construction, had a unibody chassis which replaced the previous steel tube frame, and incorporated various aerodynamic improvements, some of which would be seen on the 25th Anniversary Edition of 1988-'90. An all-wheel drive powertrain was also tested, a nod to the all-wheel-drive Diablo variants to come. The single Countach Evoluzione that was built is no longer in existence.
Lamborghini Countach Data
First year of production: 1974
Last year of production: 1990
Total sold: 1,983
Original price (base): $72,200 (1974)
Characteristic feature: The seminal supercar, the Lamborghini Countach is as much a dream
Maserati Bora
The first Maserati road car based on a mid-engine design, the Bora was a milestone in Maserati history, and also the first car developed under full Citroën ownership. Engineer Guilio Alfieri had gained much experience with the earlier Maserati “Birdcage” Tipo 63-65 race cars, and adapted their mid-engine layout to incorporate a V8 engine, first in 4.7-liter and later in 4.9-liter configuration. The Bora’s advanced fastback design was another masterpiece from Giorgetto Giugiaro and his new styling studio, Italdesign. Capable of a 171 mph top speed, the Bora was equipped with Citroën’s complex hydraulic system, which operated the brakes, retractable headlights, the adjustment of the driver’s seat and the pedals. Sales of the Bora suffered in the mid-1970s amid the oil crisis, while racing plans were thwarted due to homologation difficulties. Despite building only 524 examples between 1971 and 1978, the Bora remains a masterpiece of cutting-edge 1970s sports car design.
Maserati Bora
Data
4.7 Bora 4.9 Model code Tipo AM117 Tipo AM117/49 Body type 2-door, 2-seater mid-engine coupé 2-door, 2-seater mid-engine coupé Design Giugiaro Giugiaro Production years 1971 - 1978 1971 - 1978 Maserati era Citroën Citroën Numbers produced 314 250 Chassis Monocoque body/chassis Monocoque body/chassis Dry / kerb weight 1,610kg 1,830kg Engine configuration 90° V8, double overhead camshaft 90° V8, double overhead camshaft Displacement 4,719cc 4,930cc Maximum power 310hp @ 5,200rpm 330hp @ 5,500rpm Top speed 270km/h 285km/h
Price at launch $26,900
