Fifty years on, and the Lamborghini Countach remains as futuristic as the day it rolled out of the factory. Production kicked off in March 1974 at Sant'Agata Bolognese, and over 16 years, Lamborghini hand-built just 1,999 of these wedge-shaped wonders. Despite its limited numbers, the Countach made an outsized impact, redefining what a supercar could be. It all started with this very car—a vivid green 1974 Countach LP 400, the first of its kind.

To mark the Countach’s half-century, Lamborghini brought this iconic LP 400 back to its birthplace. The production line in Sant'Agata Bolognese still hums with life, albeit with a thoroughly modern twist. Lamborghini also released a treasure trove of vintage photos showing the Countach’s evolution—LP 500s and LP 5000s being meticulously assembled, capturing the heart of an era when supercars were handcrafted marvels. The bulk of the 1,999 units came from the later models, but they all share that unmistakable Countach DNA.

Not content with just a nostalgic trip down memory lane, Lamborghini staged a photoshoot with its latest V12 flagship, the Revuelto. A lot has changed in the world of supercars, but both the Countach and Revuelto are unapologetically green and pack twelve cylinders of fury under the bonnet. It's a nod to Lamborghini's legacy of outrageous performance and unmistakable style.

“We are proud to still be producing our super sports car models in the place where the Countach was created,” said Ranieri Niccoli, Lamborghini’s Chief Manufacturing Officer. “Production has radically changed since then, with significant transformations that began with the Countach and continue with our modern-day models.”

The LP 400, produced between 1974 and 1978, is immediately recognizable for its clean, unadorned body—no fender flares, just pure, unfiltered wedge design. Those came later with the LP 400S in 1978, built to house massive Pirelli tires on iconic telephone dial wheels. The Countach’s V12 grew with time; the LP 5000S, launched in 1982, upped the ante with a 4.8-liter engine. Then came the 5000S Quattrovalvole in 1985, which further expanded the V12 and dialed up the power. Production wrapped up in 1990 with the 25th Anniversary edition, a final, flamboyant hurrah for the Countach, with 658 units built.

"Today, our production is very different from 1974," Niccoli reflected. "But it retains the best of our past—combining the artisanal skill of our craftspeople with cutting-edge technology, embodying what we now call ‘Manifattura Lamborghini Next Level.’” 

The Countach may be a classic, but it's a reminder that some cars don’t just age—they become legends, forever pointing the way forward.