Five Cars That Are Sure To Make You Scream Like a Fool! 2 of 5

Lamborghini Countach

Most of the cars that have made it onto my list of top ten cars that 'are sure to make you scream like fool' are on that list because they are either extremely unique, have broken new ground in the automotive world, or are just drop dead gorgeous.  The Lamborghini Countach covers all of those bases and more.  The Lamborghini Countach at first glance doesn't look like a car at all!  If you were to come upon it in the right setting you might mistake it for a prop in the next "Back To the Future" movie; it is really that futuristic.  In fact, there are few cars on the road that can rival the Countach in futuristic looks or extreme dimensions.  The Countach is very wide and very low. At just over 40 inches tall, the countach is only about waist high for many people and at 79 inches wide the menacing Lambo is clearly built for performance.  Because the Countach is so wide it was equipped with scissor doors to help aid in entering and exiting the car in a parking lot, this of course just adds to it's futuristic looks and awe inspiring dimensions.  Photos, although impressive do not do the Countach justice. 

As you can imagine, this car can generate quite a response when in the right company; exquisite machines like the Lamborghini Countach generally are accompanied by a flock of glassy eyed, rubber necking crowds that are full of questions: "How much is it?, How fast does it go?, What is that?!"  Because I already know the answer to those questions the only thing out of my mouth is usually the fabled scream, followed by convulsions and some kind of exclamation.  This kind of response is actually what gave the Lamborghini Countach it's name and why it has made the list!  When the Countach was first being designed, those who first saw it, even before the car received it's name, uttered the word "Countach" which is an Italian slang word for something like "surprise".  Very fitting if I don't say so myself.... or scream it if you don't mind!

While the Countach still looks very modern today it is actually quite an old car.  Built from 1974 to 1990 the Countach varied quite a bit over the years in everything from fins and vents, to engine size, to performance.  The one thing that did not change however was it's ability to stun the public and push the performance barrier.  Ferrari of course is, and always has been, Lamborghini's biggest rival and from 1974 to 1990 the Countach was Lamborghini's designated hitter; actually it was Lamborghini's only hitter as they only built one car at a time back then.  While the performance of the Countach is only average when compared to the super cars and current Lamborghini's of today, it was world class back in it's prime.  With a 5.0L V12 and roughly 455HP the last of the Countach's could reach speeds of just over 180MPH.

There have been many a Countach that have been captured by mobile phone cameras or hastily taken by a digital camera.  It is just one of those cars that you didn't expect to see and that you hate to see driving away so soon, any period of time is too soon once it leaves.  I have had one of these surprising opportunities twice in my life, and yes I am counting, both of which are burned into my memory forever.  Both times resulted in very erratic driving, as experiencing such an automotive legend has a tendency to mess with the senses!  I remember being blown away at how low and wide these beautiful machines are as my wife, Aubrey, and I were returning home from a family reunion and were able to have such a rare experience of passing such a beautiful machine.  I could have really cared less as to why it was in Blackfoot Idaho and such thoughts were quickly forgotten as the sounds of that growling V12 washed over me.

The Lamborghini Countach will always be one of my all time favorites as it has been for millions of others.  There is hardly a bedroom wall or mantel of a teenaged boys bedroom that does not bear a Lamborghini Countach.... any boy worth his salt, of course, and when somebody says exotic it is almost always the Countach that comes to mind.  Long live Ferruccio Lamborghini- ridiculously wide tires and scissor doors!

  Disclaimer: This photo was taken by my wife (the passenger) not by me (the driver), as it would have led to increasingly erratic driving.