‘Cannonball Run’ Lamborghini Countach celebrates 45th anniversary

Many readers will remember or know of ‘The Cannonball Run’, regarded as one of the top automotive cult films of all times which was released in 1981. The movie was inspired by an actual race of the same name, in which the participating cars had to cross the USA, from New York to Los Angeles, in the shortest possible time.

Largely a comedy with stars like Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jackie Chan, and Farrah Fawcett, the movie also included many interesting cars. Among the cars was a Lamborghini Countach driven by the only all-female crew in the race with stars Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman.

The exciting car chases scenes and other action became a legendary reference among car enthusiasts, so much so they became part of American tradition and the Countach would become the 30^th car ‘registered’ at the US Library of Congress in 2021.

Any artifact that is the fruit of human genius can be registered so that all the knowledge connected to it is filed to remain available, protected for future generations. To do so, however, it must first be acknowledged as an object of extraordinary importance for American history, society and tradition. Once this recognition has been obtained – as of today, there are just over 30 cars that have achieved it – all the knowledge linked to that specific car, from the construction design to the photos, from the original documents to those that relate its history, are preserved and archived in the halls of the Library of Congress.

The Countach LP 400 S in the movie was produced 45 years ago in November 1979. With a Nero (black) exterior and Senape (mustard) interior, it was shipped to the a dealership in Rome (Italy) and, from there, it was most likely sold directly in the USA, ending up in Florida. Its owner was a friend of the movie’s director and was signed on to begin its legend that led it to capture a place in American history.

To enhance it for the movie, it was given a wing and two full-beam headlights on the nose, a spoiler, three antennas and 12 exhaust pipes. Inside, 2 supplementary instrument displays (fake) were added on the dashboard ahead of the front passenger. After the filming ended, the Countach was returned to its legitimate owner, and its unique transformations were retained.

In 2009, the car found a new owner, Jeff Ippoliti, an enthusiast originally from New York but now living in Florida who, as a boy, when watching the opening scene of the movie in 1981 never imagined that he would one day own the same car that had made him dream on the screen.

“I had always been crazy about cars,” Ippoliti recalled, “but the opening of the movie was the first time I got to see and hear the Countach in motion, and I was captivated! I didn’t see it in person for the first time until 26 years later, and it took me another 18 months of negotiations before I managed to take it home.”

To celebrate the 45th anniversary this month of the Countach LP 400 S that starred in the movie, Automobili Lamborghini brought together the two actresses – Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman – who drove the supercar. Since the movie’s release, the two had not seen each other so the reunion with the car was even more special.

In answer to the question of whether they ever would have expected the movie to arrive at the legendary status that surrounds it today, they both said: “Never, not even for a second, and not just us. No one during the filming would have expected this incredible, long-lasting success!”

“As far back as when I was working for Lamborghini in the US, I had the opportunity to get to know this Countach LP 400 S and its extraordinary history. It’s a car that ignited a passion for the Lamborghini brand and for the Countach model in many young enthusiasts who, after growing up, came to us as customers of our brand and our cars. Although its specifications are not exactly the same as when it left the factory, it is undoubtedly historically important for Automobili Lamborghini and, as its entry into the Library of Congress certifies, for automotive culture and beyond, for the culture of an entire nation,” said Alessandro Farmeschi, After Sales Director of Automobili Lamborghini.

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