Automobili Lamborghini will be in the spotlight at the 40th edition of Automobili Lamborghini Auto e Moto d’Epoca Classic car show from October 26th to 29th and for the first time in Bologna. In the year of its 60th anniversary, the House of Sant’Agata Bolognese has decided to take part in the event, which will take place from this year in the capital of its home province. At the Lamborghini Polo Storico stand, two icons of Sant’Agata Bolognese will be on display: the first Countach LP 400 produced and the body of an Espada, currently being restored and on display as a work in progress.
“Automobili Lamborghini, represented by Polo Storico, will officially take part in this event in the so-called Motor Valley for the first time this year.” said Alessandro Farmeschi, After Sales Director of Automobili Lamborghini. “At the Bologna stand we present two cars that symbolize the preservation of the company’s heritage and the restoration service of the Polo Storico: the first Countach, the LP 400, usually on display in our museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, and an Espada Series 3.”It belongs to a Japanese enthusiast and is currently being restored.”
Opened in 2015, Polo Storico is the department of Automobili Lamborghini that takes care of the company’s heritage. In particular, it is responsible for preserving the history of the Sant’Agata-based company and its vehicles through the management and study of the company archives; classic car restoration; the certification of classic Lamborghinis up to and including Diablo; and organizing events for Lamborghini collectors.
1974 Countach LP 400, chassis number 001
The oldest Countach in existence is the one with chassis number 1120001, which was presented at the Geneva Motor Show on March 15, 1973. It differs significantly from the first Countach produced, the LP 500 show car exhibited in Geneva in 1971, and is an important piece of Lamborghini history. Originally painted red, it was used for numerous tests and development trials after the Geneva Motor Show, and although it was already quite similar to the production car that would be launched in 1974, it featured many different details. In June 1973, Countach chassis 1120001 was portrayed in a famous photo shoot that appeared in one of the leading British magazines of the time, while chief test driver Bob Wallace drove it to Sant’Agata Bolognese.
In September 1973, this car seemed to disappear. At later trade fairs, an LP 400 in Verde Medio Green appeared, which many thought was a second car. The full truth about the Countach 001 only came to light in 2003, when an LP 400 was found in Switzerland. When it was brought back to Sant’Agata Bolognese and carefully examined during the restoration work that preserved its originality, it turned out that the red paint was still there under the green and that what were believed to be two different cars were actually one and acted the same.
1972 Espada Series 3, chassis number 8824
Introduced in 1968, the Espada was Automobili Lamborghini’s first four-seater car. This very low and extremely innovative front-engined, 12-cylinder car comfortably accommodated four passengers and a significant amount of luggage while remaining ultra-fast. In 1970 the second Espada S2 series was introduced, and in 1972 the S3 was launched, the last version that remained in production until 1978. The car with chassis number 8824 on display at the Lamborghini stand was delivered on September 28, 1972 to the Lamborghini dealer at the time in the Milan area and was then shipped to its first owner in Japan.
It is presented at the show while it is being restored by the Polo Storico, still in bare sheet metal and with machining marks, waiting to be completed and returned to its Japanese collector. This Espada originally had a beautiful color combination of bronze with a mustard interior and underwent a final factory inspection on September 11, 1972.
The Automobili Lamborghini stand is located in Hall 32, between the Costituzione and Aldo Moro entrances to the Bologna Fiere, in exhibition area A16. The show runs from October 26th to 29th and is open from 9am to 6pm (on October 27th and 28th from 9am to 7pm).
