This is the oldest surviving Lamborghini Countach

This, according to Lamborghini, is the oldest surviving Countach, and it is a medium green beauty wearing an LP 400 badge. It was on display last weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, alongside many other rather delectable Lamborghini Countach models.

So, this one. It bears the chassis number #1120001, is the second prototype Countach ever built, and the first ever LP 400. When it rolled out of Sant’Agata in 1973 it was red with a black interior, and made its debut at that year’s Geneva Motor Show (remember that?).

It was later repainted in the current shade of ‘Verde Medio’ later that year – a hasty but necessary amendment – and paraded around the remainder of 1973’s motor shows including at Earl’s Court in London, before Lambo sold it on shortly afterwards.

Then it lived a life of obscurity, chiefly because it was abandoned in a barn in Switzerland until Lambo found it in 2004 and bought it back. Now in its Forever Home, the old LP 400’s been living a sweet life in the company’s Museum of Technologies in Sant’Agata.

As you can see from the pictures above, it wasn’t the only Countach there (almost as if there was something new and Countach-shaped at Pebble). Lambo also sent the last Countach ever built to Pebble (pic 4). The 25th Anniversary car in silver over grey leather was never sold, Lamborghini points out. Still gets shudders about that barn, no doubt.

There were a number of privately-owned Countach models on display too – while elsewhere something called an ‘LPI 800-4’ was making waves – so have a flick through the images above to take a virtual stroll across a very exclusive lawn.