There are a few simple things I enjoy in life: fresh donuts, cycling through enormous puddles and watching people build stuff. Whether it’s budding wrenchers making motorcycles out of tractor parts or Formula 1 mechanics building a new car for a world champion, there’s something calming about watching a machine come together. Nowhere is that more true than at Lamborghini’s factory in Italy, with a new film showing just what it took to build an icon like the Countach.
From 1974 until 1990, Lamborghini built the iconic Countach at its factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy. During that time, it assembled almost 2,000 examples of the famed supercar, which was powered by a roaring V12 and came with styling so sharp it put almost everything else on the market to shame.
Now, as the 50th anniversary of the Countach nears, Top Gear has unearthed some rather lovely footage of engineers assembling the famed Italian supercar at Lamborghini’s factory and it’s quite the watch.
The footage, which was all shot on the very same line that Lamborghini builds the hybrid Revuelto today, shows the construction of Lamborghini’s final “Anniversary” Countach models, which were built in the late 1980s.
Everything starts off with the engine, which back then was a V12 motor that kicked out 414 hp and could power the car on to a top speed of 183 mph. Once the engine parts are all milled and polished, it’s assembled by hand and connected to the transmission, before being sent off to meet the rest of the car.
The body of the Countach starts out as a tubular chassis, which works its way along a production line that sees skilled workers fit all manner of angular body panels. When they’re fitted, each is meticulously beaten into shape, trimmed and polished by Lambo’s workforce. Then, things like the car’s doors and other essential components are popped into place.
Paint is then applied to the exterior of the car, before the team moves inside to fit the Countach with its slick vintage interior, which obviously wasn’t vintage at the time. At this point, the engine is then brought back into the picture and fitted into the rear of the car.
Once in place, the car’s finishing touches can begin, with things like wheels and lights appearing on the cars as they move along the production line. The process then culminates with a room full of completed Countachs ready to roll out.
It’s a short but sweet watch that offers a glimpse into the way things used to be done at one of the world’s most highly regarded automakers. So, if you have a spare few minutes, give the film a watch above and, if you like watching people build stuff, head here to see how a company in England is recreating the Peel P50 or find out how our Brad is getting on with his own Porsche project here.