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Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S From ‘The Cannonball Run’ Movie Is Officially Untouchable

If you grew up in the 80s and you’ve always loved cars, there’s no way you don’t know how awesome a movie The Cannonball Run was. While the plot was fictional, the entire premise was based on a real-life secret cross-country race that took place in the United States, which made it oh-so-fun to watch.
1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S 8 photos
Photo: Lamborghini
1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S
The Cannonball Run actually became one of 1981’s most successful films at the box office, and while the actors had a lot to do with that (Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Sammy Davis Jr), there was one other star that captured everybody’s attention – a stunning and menacing-looking 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S.

Sure, the Countach is already an iconic car, however, this particular Countach has also made history by being included on the National Historic Vehicle Register of the U.S. Library of Congress. This means it’s on a shortlist of just 30 cars that are as of right now considered of national importance to the United States. So, all information regarding this car, its history, a 3D scan of it and copies of all its documents will be preserved in the Library of Congress.

In celebration of this great honor, the Countach movie car is being displayed this week inside a giant glass case on the National Mall in Washington D.C. Let's just hope Nicolas Cage doesn't try to steal it.

The reason why this movie turned out to be so successful was probably because of how strict the speed limit used to be back then, which is why a group of car enthusiasts decided to challenge the status quo and race across the continent from downtown Manhattan all the way to a marina on the Pacific Ocean at Redondo Beach in California. Safe to say, Hollywood screenwriters were smitten right away.

As previously stated, the Countach was one of the biggest stars of the movie and we know quite a bit about its “upbringing”. It was delivered new to Lamborghini’s distributor in Rome back in 1979 and was immediately exported to the United States and sold in Florida.

One year later, the owner decided to loan the car to film director Hal Needham and the rest is history – literally.

The movie car was even modified for on-screen action, featuring a front spoiler, twin spotlights, three antennas and no fewer than 12 exhaust pipes.

We can honestly say that this movie is probably responsible for creating an entire generation of car enthusiasts, which is something we can also say about the Lamborghini Countach, considering its status as the quintessential poster car.
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About the author: Sergiu Tudose
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Sergiu got to experience both American and European car "scenes" at an early age (his father drove a Ford Fiesta XR2 supermini in the 80s). After spending over 15 years at local and international auto publications, he's starting to appreciate comfort behind the wheel more than raw power and acceleration.
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