Forgotten ICON - Few car manufacturers dare to challenge conventions quite like Lamborghini. Since its founding in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini, the brand has relentlessly pursued bold design and exhilarating performance, creating some of the most iconic supercars the world has ever seen. What began as a rivalry with Ferrari quickly evolved into something greater—a legacy of innovation, aggressive styling, and raw power. Over the years, Lamborghini has introduced legendary models, but not every ambitious project saw the light of day. One such forgotten chapter is the lost successor to the Countach—the Lamborghini L150.
The Lamborghini L150, the lost Countach successor, was developed during the mid-1980s under the leadership of the Mimran brothers. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)
During the 1970s, Lamborghini faced severe financial struggles, particularly following the 1973 global economic downturn and oil crisis. As a result, Ferruccio Lamborghini sold the company to Georges-Henri Rossetti and René Leimer before retiring in 1974. By 1978, the company had gone bankrupt and was placed under receivership. In 1980, brothers Jean-Claude and Patrick Mimran acquired Lamborghini for $3 million, renaming it Nuova Automobili Lamborghini SpA and setting out to restore its former glory. Under their leadership, the brand experienced a revival.
The Lamborghini L150 was never intended as a drastic departure from the Countach but rather a refined and sophisticated evolution. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
The failed Silhouette was reworked into the Jalpa, a more affordable and practical alternative to the Countach, powered by a 3.5-liter V8 refined by legendary Maserati engineer Giulio Alfieri. Meanwhile, the Countach continued to evolve, with models like the LP 500S in 1982 and the LP5000 Quattrovalvole in 1984, which produced an impressive 455 PS (449 hp). Lamborghini also ventured into the SUV market with the 1986 LM002, a direct evolution of the abandoned Cheetah project.
The Lamborghini L150 featured a newly engineered chassis that enhanced rigidity and optimized thermal management, essential for handling its increased power. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)
Yet, for all its success, the Countach was beginning to show its age. Lamborghini knew it needed more than just another update—it needed something revolutionary. This realization led to the birth of the L150 project, a car that could have taken Lamborghini in a bold new direction.
Inside the Lamborghini L150's cabin, you'll find a three-spoke sporty steering wheel, a Countach-inspired dashboard, and cozy, ergonomically designed seats. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
The L150 was not meant to be a radical departure from the Countach but rather a sophisticated evolution. It featured a newly designed chassis that offered better rigidity and improved thermal management, crucial for the increased power it was expected to handle. The suspension was refined, and the car was equipped with larger wheels and tires for enhanced grip and handling.
The Lamborghini L150 powered by a 5.2-liter V-12 engine from the 5000 QV, which produced 455 hp and 369 pound-feet (500 Nm). (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
Visually, the L150 retained the aggressive, wedge-shaped design of the Countach but introduced key improvements. Horacio Pagani, who would later establish his own supercar company, was responsible for its styling. He incorporated larger, active air vents on the sides that opened and closed based on temperature needs, improving cooling efficiency. Additional intakes were placed behind the side glass, while new vents on the rear fenders optimized airflow. The traditional manually operated two-piece side windows were replaced with electric versions that rolled down like conventional windows, enhancing practicality. A revised front air dam and larger cooling vents at the rear further distinguished the L150 from its predecessor.
The Lamborghini L150, positioned alongside test driver Valentino Balboni. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)
While some elements of its design paid homage to the original Countach concept by Marcello Gandini, the L150 was an aerodynamic improvement, boasting cleaner lines and better airflow management. It was meant to be a more user-friendly and advanced version of the Countach, maintaining Lamborghini’s signature aggressive aesthetics while making it more functional.
The Lamborghini L150 featured deep body-colored side skirts along the wheelbase, while the large NACA side ducts and bulbous rear wheel arch flares were removed. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)
At the time, automotive magazines speculated about Lamborghini’s next supercar, but the L150 remained largely unknown to the public. When Chrysler acquired Lamborghini in 1987, the company decided to abandon the project entirely, opting to develop an all-new car instead—the Diablo. As a result, the L150 never went into production, and its existence faded into obscurity.
The Lamborghini L150 featured newly designed rear fenders, carefully crafted to blend seamlessly with the aerodynamic profile. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)
However, the prototype was not lost forever. As the story goes, Patrick Mimran took possession of the only completed L150 prototype as a farewell gift to himself before stepping down as CEO. In 1989, the car was sold to Auto Palace, a luxury car dealership in Japan, for a reported JPN ¥400 million ($2.6 million at the time, equivalent to $5.3 million in 2020). From there, it was acquired by Minoru Miura, one of Japan’s most prominent car collectors, where it remains today—hidden away from public view. | VrhKE283WFU |
With Lamborghini’s 2021 tribute to the Countach, marking its 50th anniversary, the forgotten L150 deserves to be remembered. It was a vision of what a modern Countach could have been—an alternate path that Lamborghini never took. Though it never reached production, the L150remains a fascinating ‘what if’ in Lamborghini’s history—an unseen masterpiece, left behind in the pursuit of something new. While the Diablo took its place in the limelight, the L150 now exists only in whispers, a forgotten dream of what the modern Countach could have been. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CLASSICDRIVER | WIKIPEDIA | RARECOMPONENTCARS | FACEBOOK | SUPERCARNOSTALGIA ]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
With Lamborghini’s 2021 tribute to the Countach, marking its 50th anniversary, the forgotten L150 deserves to be remembered. It was a vision of what a modern Countach could have been—an alternate path that Lamborghini never took. Though it never reached production, the L150 remains a fascinating ‘what if’ in Lamborghini’s history—an unseen masterpiece, left behind in the pursuit of something new. While the Diablo took its place in the limelight, the L150 now exists only in whispers, a forgotten dream of what the modern Countach could have been. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CLASSICDRIVER | WIKIPEDIA | RARECOMPONENTCARS | FACEBOOK | SUPERCARNOSTALGIA ]
