“The Cannonball Run” Countach LP 400 S turns 45

The movie

“The Cannonball Run” was inspired by the actual Cannonball race, in which the participating cars had to cross the United States, starting off from New York and finishing in Los Angeles, in the shortest possible time. To say the least, the movie’s cast was outstanding, with actors such as Roger Moore, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Jackie Chan, and actresses such as Farrah Fawcett, Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman. The latter two played the race’s only all-female crew and drove the Countach, which won the race. Among the most memorable scenes is the initial three-minute police chase, in which the Countach’s 12-cylinder engine fitted with carburetors was added to the soundtrack. Also during the movie’s opening is a scene in which the Countach stops abruptly and the passenger gets out of the cockpit to spray-paint an “X” on a road sign. These scenes became a legendary reference among car lovers, so much so they became part of American tradition and ensured the Countach would become one of the very few cars “registered” at the Library of Congress. 

The US Library of Congress

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, in one of the most respected and traditional institutions of the United States of America, the Library of Congress. 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 – and 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 of the movie was deemed worthy of this honor and became the 30th car to receive it in 2021, the year when the movie’s 40th anniversary was celebrated. 

Memories of the stars

They hadn’t met in person since they acted in the movie together in 1981. This is why the interview and account given by the stars Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman can be considered extraordinary. The same Countach that they had driven back then, serving as the backdrop, made it all even more fascinating. And their memories began to surface. They admit that neither one had seen, or much less driven, a Lamborghini before. On the other hand, it shouldn’t be forgotten that at the time Lamborghini produced little more than fifty cars a year. “I immediately thought it was beautiful, simply beautiful, and it still is,” began Adrienne Barbeau, who played the part of Jill Rivers in the movie. “We had the best car and it was definitely the most beautiful of all,” added Tara Buckman, who was Marcie Thatcher in the movie. On why it was precisely the Countach chosen to win the race, Barbeau said, “I think that the Countach has the look of a winner, none of the others could have won. 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.” 

“I had never realized how successful the movie was until when people started to ask me for my autograph. Still today,” Barbeau added, “in spite of my success as an actress in horror movies and playing Cat Woman in the Batman movie, people ask me above all to autograph Countach model cars.” 
“It’s impossible for me, too, to remember how many times I signed a photo or a model car of the Countach!,” Buckman added. 

A few of their favorite scenes: “The one where Tara gets out of the car and sprays an X on the road sign,” said Barbeau. Whereas for Tara Buckman it was, “the opening scene, with the police car chasing the Countach. There are lots of movies with great opening scenes, but this is definitely one of the best ever.”    
When asked how they thought this movie has impacted American culture and society, Barbeau replied, “Everyone knows it. And everyone knows this Lamborghini.” “Not only that. Everyone also knows the two girls in the Lamborghini. We are inextricably tied to that role,” Buckman added.
 

Lamborghini Polo Storico

Lamborghini Polo Storico is the in-house department of Automobili Lamborghini in charge of the company’s historical heritage, managing and studying the company’s archive, and restoring and certifying historical Lamborghinis. Inaugurated in spring 2015 at the headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Lamborghini Polo Storico is the point of reference for collectors of classic Lamborghinis coming from all over the world, and it takes care of models from the first 350 GTV of 1963 up to the last Diablo produced in 2001. 

Alessandro Farmeschi, After Sales Director of Automobili Lamborghini, commented, “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. As Lamborghini, we can only be filled with pride and we are happy to celebrate its 45th anniversary by reuniting the car with its unforgettable crew from the “Cannonball” movie”.