Lamborghini marks 45th anniversary of Countach from 'The Cannonball Run' - and it's sexier than ever
- Lamborghini is celebrating one particular Countach LP 400 S
- It starred in the 1981 comedy movie, ‘The Cannonball Run’
- And it turns 45 this year
Published on Jun 20, 2024 at 7:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jun 26, 2024 at 3:54 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
If you remember the drop of the iconic 1981 comedy movie, The Cannonball Run, you might just recall the Lamborghini Countach that starred – and it just turned 45 years old.
In 2021, the Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S became one of just 30 cars considered to be of ‘national importance’ to the US.
And as it turned 45 yesterday (June 19), actors Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman were reunited for the first time since the movie’s release.
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The accolades of the iconic Lamborghini Countach
Italian sports car manufacturer, Automobili Lamborghini, was behind the instantly recognizable 1979 model, chassis number #1121112.
It was recognized by the Hagerty Drivers Foundation on the 40th anniversary for its significant role in pop culture.
The foundation also oversees the National Historic Vehicle Register and decided to add the Lamborghini Countach to the list of 29 other vehicles considered important for the history of the US.
Its role in The Cannonball Run
It’s arguable that appearing from the three-minute mark of The Cannonball Run, the Lamborghini Countach was actually the main character.
Plus the V12 and six carburetors sitting beneath the hood are a vital part of the film’s soundtrack.
There was also an iconic Lamborghini Countach in Wolf of Wall Street, which this year had a bid of $1.35 million at auction but didn’t sell.
Barbeau and Buckman, who played Marcie Thatcher and Jill Rivers, respectively, said in a recent interview that neither had driven or even seen a sports car made by Lamborghini before filming commenced.
And Lamborghini posted about it on their Instagram account.
“I immediately thought it was beautiful, simply beautiful, and it still is,” Barbeau admitted.
“We had the best car and it was definitely the most beautiful of all,” Buckman added., who was Jill Rivers in the movie.
“I think that the Countach has the look of a winner, none of the others could have won,” Barbeau said.
“They were not in its league. And then the opening scene, with that soundtrack and the sight of the Countach racing along and playing hide-and-seek with the police car. Only the Countach could achieve an effect like that,” she continued.
From more recent cinematic history, the Jaguar C-X75 that featured in the 2015 James Bond film Spectre was finally made road-legal earlier this year.
What’s more, you can check out one of only three BMW iL kitted out for James Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
