Sometimes the car takes the lead. Sometimes it’s the pencil. In this case, the Colleen Jibson K-535 was my starting point: sharp angles in black with LOUD green markings declaring: HARD SUSPENSION DOHC.
I tried thinking of ‘cool’ cars that epitomized ‘DOHC’ and failed utterly. Double Over Head Cams just weren’t that unique of a feature. Since the Colleen’s markings stood out more than anything, my eyes soon fell on a Lamborghini Countach in an equally attention grabbing green.
While all models of the now legendary Countach share design highlights like its remarkable wedge silhouette that deftly combined sharp lines with curves like never before, and a pair of crazy ‘scissor doors’, the early LP400 was relatively ‘tame’. It ‘only’ had a 4-liter (hence ‘400’) V12 engine mounted transaxially amidships (LP = ‘Longitudinale Posteriore’), and lacked the aggro wheel arches and rear wing spoiler that came later (more on that soon!). And of course, the Countach was hardly known for a plush ride? So… ‘HARD SUSPENSION’ it is!
I think this is the most iconic design of Marcello Gandini in a career filled with amazing cars. The Countach roared into existence in 1976 and I don’t think it has ever left our collective consciousness ever since. Anyone who saw it felt an emotional response, a desire to come closer and to stoop down into its embrace, leaving logic, rationale and everyday concerns behind.