This Rare Black Countach Has a Story Like No Other

Shadow Royalty - Some cars were never meant to be just cars. The Lamborghini Countach, first seen in 1971, wasn’t built to blend in — it was born to disrupt. With its scissor doors, wedge-shaped body, and a howling V12 mounted behind the driver, it wasn’t just a supercar. It became the supercar. Only 2,042 units were ever produced between 1974 and 1990, but one of them — a highly unusual and mysterious example known as the Black Countach LP500R — has become a story all its own.

The Black Countach LP500R stands not just as a unique Countach, but as a rare artifact of a time when cars were louder, bolder, and told real stories. (Picture from: ExclusiveCarRegestry)

Chassis 1120144 didn’t start out as anything extraordinary. It was a standard LP400, finished in Rosso Corsa with a white leather interior, and dispatched from Lamborghini’s Sant’Agata factory in September 1975. Its first destination was Lamborghini Deutschland, a dealership operated by former racing driver Hubert Hahne. A few days after arriving in Germany, the car made its public debut at the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show, a fitting stage for a car that would eventually become a showstopper in more ways than one.

This marked the beginning of the Black Countach LP500R, originally unveiled as the 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 in Rosso Corsa, pictured on display at the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)

The transformation came later — somewhere between 1976 and early 1977. The car was heavily modified, possibly in Germany or Italy, with widened fenders, a deep front chin spoiler, a low-profile twin-pylon rear wing, and a set of 15-inch BBS mesh wheels wrapped in Pirelli P7 tires. Though the moniker LP500R began to appear in connection with the car, the V12 engine remained the original 4.0-liter unit, with unconfirmed rumors suggesting it may have been enlarged to 4.7 liters. The interior was left mostly untouched, but the exterior received a complete overhaul.

The Black Countach LP500R featured a rich black finish accented by a bold white wave stripe running from nose to tail, a paint scheme that ultimately defined its identity. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)

Gone was the red paint — in its place, a rich black finish, sliced by a striking white wave stripe that ran from nose to tail. It was this paint scheme that would eventually define the car’s identity. From that moment on, it became known simply as the Black Countach. 

The The 1974 Walter Wolf Countach No. 1, the first Lamborghini Countach fitted with a wing and built for Canadian businessman Walter Wolf, later inspired the creation of the Black Countach. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)

At this point in history, the Countach was already beginning to inspire a cult following in Japan, where supercars had become pop culture icons. A key part of that movement was another very special Countach: the Walter Wolf Countach No.1, a heavily modified red LP400 built by Lamborghini specifically for Canadian businessman and F1 team owner Walter Wolf. That car, which featured factory upgrades like wide arches, a larger rear wing, and a more powerful engine, had arrived in Japan in 1977 and stunned the public. It played a pivotal role in launching the "supercar boom" among Japanese youth.

The Black Countach LP500R underwent its transformation between 1976 and early 1977, likely in Germany or Italy, with widened fenders, a deep front chin spoiler, a twin-pylon rear wing, and 15-inch BBS mesh wheels on Pirelli P7 tires, while the LP500R name emerged despite the V12 engine reportedly remaining a 4.0-liter—though some believe it was enlarged to 4.7 liters.. (Picture from: ExclusiveCarRegestry)

Around the same time, the freshly reborn Black Countach was shipped to Japan — also through Seaside Motor, the same dealership that brought in the Walter Wolf car. With its aggressive bodywork and eye-catching livery, the Black Countach quickly joined the spotlight. Although not a factory special like the Wolf car, it had a presence that couldn’t be ignored.

 

The Black Countach LP500R appeared in Japan in 1977 with aggressive bodywork and striking livery, quickly capturing attention and playing a key role in sparking the “supercar boom” among Japanese youth. (Picture from: ExclusiveCarRegestry)

Shortly after arriving in Yokohama, the car was reportedly stolen from the dealership showroom, only to be recovered not long after. From there, it ended up in the hands of a Yakuza boss, who proudly displayed it at public supercar exhibitions throughout Japan. With crowds drawn to its dramatic style and powerful silhouette, the Black Countach became a pop culture icon — widely photographed, immortalized in model car lines, and revered by fans who grew up during Japan’s golden age of exotic machines.

The Black Countach LP500R was reportedly stolen from a Yokohama dealership showroom shortly after its arrival, soon recovered, and eventually ended up in the hands of a Yakuza boss who proudly showcased it at public supercar exhibitions across Japan. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)

As time passed, the car changed hands. At one point, it was repainted red, and its unique identity faded for a while. But its legacy was far from over. Eventually, it found a new home with Yoshihiro Takayama of Nagoya, who recognized the car’s significance and restored it to its most iconic form — black body, white stripe, flared arches, and all.

The Black Countach LP500R eventually found a new home with Yoshihiro Takayama of Nagoya, who recognized its significance and restored it to its most iconic form—black body, white stripe, and flared arches included. (Picture from: ExclusiveCarRegestry)

Despite the common confusion with the Walter Wolf Countach due to their similar styling and shared presence in Japan’s car scene, the Black Countach has its own distinct history. It wasn’t a factory-commissioned special, but it didn’t need to be. Its transformation was organic, and its reputation was earned through a life full of drama, reinvention, and cultural impact. While there’s no available footage of the Black Countach, here’s another striking example: the 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 'Periscopio' by Bertone. | mDqUGpYIbPc |

Today, chassis 1120144 stands not just as a unique Countach, but as a rare artifact of a time when cars were louder, bolder, and told real stories. Among the thousands of Countachs that once prowled the streets, only one became the Black Countach LP500R — and none like it will ever exist again. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | EXCLUSIVECARREGESTRY | DC.KYOSHO.COM | SUPERCARNOSTALGIA | ROADANDTRACK | MAXIM | WIKIPEDIA ]

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