VIN: Walter Wolf's Lamborghini Countach LP400 Speciale chassis 1120148
History of chassis 1120148
Chassis 1120148 was the first Countach Speciale commissioned by Walter Wolf.
Development was handled by Dallara Automobili in Parma.
Gian Paolo Dallara was Lamborghini’s original Chief Designer. He had departed the company in 1969 to pursue his dreams of racing. Dallara established his own engineering firm in 1972.
Walter Wolf was already familiar with Dallara as their paths had crossed several times in Formula 1. Wolf considered Dallara better suited to creating his dream Countach than Automobili Lamborghini, which was in the midst of a management crisis.
The Rosso / Senape machine was sent to Dallara where it was re-engineered with parallel link suspension and wider Campagnolo wheels. The car’s new Teledial rims were shod with state-of-the-art Pirelli P7 low profile tyres that had been manufactured specially for this application.
Chassis 1120148 was also fitted with an adjustable rear wing, a front spoiler and fibreglass wheelarch extensions. Tiny racing mirrors were attached to each door. The trunk lid was held in place with an extra pair of fastening straps.
The front spoiler, wheelarch extensions, racing mirrors, rear spoiler pylons and underside of the rear spoiler were all finished in matt black to contrast the rest of the Rosso paint.
Interior enhancements included Willans harnesses, a small diameter Personal F1 steering wheel and a fire extinguisher.
The red Countach was not Wolf’s only specially modified Lamborghini. He had taken delivery of a bespoilered Countach LP400 in June 1974 (chassis 1120006) and then commissioned Lamborghini to carry out a ground up rebuild and upgrade on his Miura SV (chassis 5092). The Miura was delivered in April 1975.
As a result of his largesse, Automobili Lamborghini loaned Wolf a tricked out five-litre engine for chassis 1120148.
The reworked Countach was dispatched from the factory on August 1st 1975. By this time, it had been evaluated back in Sant’Agata where a muletto and three copies were subsequently created.
Wolf’s red Countach was frequently seen around the F1 paddock and in the press. It normally ran on the temporary export plate EE 60765.
Wolf returned it to Lamborghini around a year later, at which point the red Countach Speciale was replaced by a new blue example (chassis 1120202).
The blue car was similarly modified and also fitted with Wolf’s borrowed five-litre engine.
Chassis 1120148 was sold to Japan where it has resided ever since.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
