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Rare early Lamborghini Countach sells for record $1.2 million

Lamborghini may have made headlines with the highly exclusive, $4.5-million Veneno and the even more expensive Veneno Roadster that followed, but when it comes to classics sold at auction, their prices seldom approach the kind of figures attained by rare classics made by arch-rival Ferrari. Early 350 GTs and rare Miuras (like the SV prototype Gooding sold a few years ago for a record $1.7 million) have been known to breach the seven-figure mark, but now the Countach is making its way into the big leagues as well.
Pictured here is a rather exceptional early example sold by Bonhams in Connecticut last week. This 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 "Periscopica" - so dubbed for the unique rearview mirror fitted to the first 150 examples made - has just over 10,000 miles on the odometer. With flawlessly retouched Blu Tahiti (read: French racing blue) paint and an immaculate deep tan leather interior, the Periscopica was the subject of feverish bidding before selling for $1.2 million to a buyer present at the auction, beating out a dozen or so telephone bidders.
The record price for a Countach trumps the previous record, also set by Bonhams at the Quail Lodge last August, where another '75 Periscopica sold for $836,000. The rising prices surely reflect the coming of age for the Countach, now nearly 40 years since its introduction - particularly for the generation that grew up idolizing it as the prototypical supercar. Scope it out in the artful gallery of 76 high-resolution images above and the details of the auction below.

Lamborghini Huracan does quarter mile in just 8.6 seconds

If you're the wild and crazy sort that feels the need to up the output of an Italian exotic, more power to you. And one of the best ways to get that power is through turbocharging. Lots and lots of turbocharging. Just like Heffner Performance has done with this monstrous Huracan. By strapping a pair of turbochargers to the Lamborghini's V10 engine, Heffner's modded car is good for 1,200 horsepower at the wheels. If you don't feel like doing the math on what that is at the crank, just rest easy in knowing that it's a whole helluva lot. While you probably won't want to try and put that power down on a road course, it's absolutely appropriate on a drag-prepped surface. Combined with the super-sticky strip and some equally grippy tires, Heffner has turned in some impressive, sub-ten-second times. But its most impressive run is this – an 8.631-second run through the quarter, where the green Huracan hit 173 miles per hour. According to the results slip, it snapped to 60 in just 1.9 seconds, while Heffner claims it hit 100 in 3.7 seconds. So yeah, this is a very, very fast Lamborghini. And now, you can watch it in action. Check out the high-speed run at the top. Related Video:

Lamborghini bringing exclusive supercar to Pebble Beach

The latest rumors emanating from the House of the Raging Bull say that Lamborghini is planning another million-dollar, ultra-exclusive supercar. Lambo is tipped to bring it to Pebble Beach next month, but it won't be showing it to the general public. Lamborghini has a proud recent history of turning its flagship supercars into something even more desirable. You'll remember the Reventon that was based on the Murcielago previewed the Aventador and was offered in a limited run of 20 coupes and 15 roadsters with a seven-figure price tag. The Bolognese automaker followed up with the Veneno, an even more extreme take on the Aventador. Three coupes and nine roadsters were sold, with prices exceeding $4 million. (There was the Sesto Elemento, but that was a smaller 10-cylinder model.) According to Motor Trend, this latest creation is expected to be based on the 12-cylinder Aventador, with more adventurous styling and likely a more powerful engine. You can bet it'll be produced in small numbers and command a seven-figure price tag. Production is likely to take place at the company's dedicated prototype development center that was opened three years ago. Now if you're wondering what's the point of bringing a new car to a public show if you're not going to show it to the public, consider that the public isn't the only ones that will be in attendance for the Monterey extravaganza. Some of Sant'Agata's top clients will also be on hand, and it's to those individuals that Lamborghini will be showing its latest creation. Lambo's been known to hold private previews in the past, and cameras were not allowed the last time this writer was invited to such an event. But that concept was unveiled to the public at a major auto show the following month, so here's hoping whatever Lamborghini is bringing to Pebble Beach will find its way onto the stage in Frankfurt come September as well. Related Video: Featured Gallery Lamborghini's Limited-Edition Supercars News Source: Motor TrendImage Credit: Lamborghini Misc. Auto Shows Lamborghini Supercars Pebble Beach