Lamborghini Countach: The Complete Story (Crowood Autoclassics) [Paperback]

P Dron (Author)

Book Description

Series: Crowood Autoclassics | Publication Date: October 12, 1995

Explore one of the most legendary cars of all time, from its birth as the LP400 through its evolution into the 5000 Quattrovalvole, and the latest Diablo. Dron goes behind the scenes of the Lamborghini factory to chart the checkered history of the company and its successive management eras. Filled with driving impressions, road test details, model specs and special feature panels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Crowood (October 12, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185223914X
• ISBN-13: 978-1852239145
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Luxury

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Get Down to Earth, August 13, 2000

By 

Gregory G. Finn (Marina Del Rey, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lamborghini Countach: The Complete Story (Crowood Autoclassics) (Paperback)

If you are considering the purchase of a Countach, it is likely to be a used one and there is precious little information to be had on these cars. Much of Peter Dron's book consists of a light historical treatment, collected reviews and opinions from auto magazines over the years. This is useful to a degree, one does need to know characteristic data, but magazine reviews are usually pretty slim on other information that serious buyers might like to know.

True, many owners of Countachs buy them as trophies and barely break them in. Yes, there are a few racing enthusiasts. But there are also a few mundane souls who would really like to go out and drive this sort of car, rather than just invest in it, stare at it in a garage or tinker with it.

So how reliable is it day after day? Approximately how expensive is it to maintain? By 1995 this type of information should be known for each generation of the car. You won't find this in Consumer Reports either. This market ain't exactly their bailiwick. You need to talk to owners and shops.

Dron's book is useful. Much of the information that a buyer does want is in there. It could and should have been quite a bit better, but I do recommend purchasing it if you are interested in this car.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The complete story., August 30, 2004

By 

Chris Sellick (South Australia,Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lamborghini Countach: The Complete Story (Crowood Autoclassics) (Paperback)

I love this book.Not likely to ever have the money to buy one of these cars but this book is the next best thing.Plenty of colour and b&w photos throughout and a story told in a sensible way means any enthusiast of these cars can enjoy this book too.

The book is good quality as you'd expect from the publishers and great value too.If you want a book on the countach this is the book for you.

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive history..., July 5, 2010

By 

CJ (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lamborghini Countach: The Complete Story (Crowood Autoclassics) (Paperback)

This is obviously the result of exhaustive research by someone with a great love for the Countach. A legend from the first time it was shown, many bold, even outrageous claims were made about this car over its lifespan. This book is a bit biased at times, but always with something to back it up. It starts out with the origins of Lamborghini and the famous V-12 that powered virtually all of the top line Lambos in one form or another for decades, with cutaway drawings of the chassis and rare photographs to boot.

Gearheads will love the compiliation of almost any data you could wish for covering all the major editions of the car----max speed in each gear, max rpm, TRUE top speeds, acceleration data broken down in 10-mph increments to very high speeds, even a full dynograph for the ultimate production Countach engine, the mighty 455 HP QV5000 spec V-12 (complete with 6 twin-choke Weber carbs and the most glorious sound ever!!)!

It includes well written comparisons of the Countach's contemporaries including the Ferrari Testarossa and F40, Porsche 959, Aston Martin Vantage, etc. The obvious and direct comparisons would of course be the Ferrari Boxer in the '70s and the Testarossa in the '80s, neither of which were said to be as rewarding to drive in anger as the Countach. The author had obvious disdain for the iconic, giant rear wing, which was much loved in the '80s for its Le Mans Group C look and may (or may not) have produced useful downforce, but certainly stole 15 mph top end, resulting in a few painful, sobering independent road tests vs the competition. It was particularly rewarding to hear the author describe how he personally timed a healthy wingless Euro QV5000 from the passenger seat at a two-way average of 190 mph, confirming what many have suspected but someone have to prove---the Countach in proper form was too much for the Testarossa!! It even has discussion of the Diablo, then an upcoming car of great promise, although now in hindsight we know it did not prove itself to be nearly as endearing as the Countach.

All in all the best book I have seen on the Countach, my only complaint is that there doesn't seem to be a large hardcover edition. A book of this quality deserves it, leatherbound even!