At some point, low mileage is not a favor to a car, particularly if it’s a high-strung thoroughbred like this 1989 Lamborghini Countach. Seals, fluids, grease, electrical components, virtually all moving parts behave better when a car warms up on a drive. Corrosion slows, those mice in the engine bay might jump ship, fuel stays fresh. But this anniversary edition Lamborghini has traveled only 2868 miles since new. Fortunately, the dealer-seller mentions that the car has been serviced, ensuring it is “ready to drive”. If a Countach is on your bucket list and low miles turn your key, look for this Italian masterpiece here on eBay for a cool $630,000 (or best offer). I hope the new owner rows those gears all the way home from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania!

The Countach stampeded onto the scene in 1971, when a prototype was shown at the Geneva Motor Show after only a year of development. Another three years passed before the production car arrived. The prototype had required substantial tinkering to improve engine cooling and road stability, meet increasing safety regulations, and refine interior ergonomics. Too, the company planned to install its 5.0-liter V12, but that engine wasn’t ready for prime time; instead, the engine bay had to accept Lamborghini’s existing 4.0-liter. Fast forward to 1988, when the first anniversary edition rolled off the line, and Bizzarrini’s original V12 had evolved to a 5.2-liter, “quattrovalvole”, with Bosch K-Jetronic handling the fuel/air mixture for US-delivery cars. A five-speed gated-shift manual sends power to the rear wheels. Capable of 414 hp and a zero to sixty time below 5 seconds, this engine/gearbox combination was the most robust, reliable, and drivable ever offered in a Countach.

The trademark scissor doors were absolutely necessary on such a wide car, allowing ingress and egress over those expansive sills in tight spots (though watch it in those low-ceilinged parking garages!) The early Countach requires a number of sacrifices from its driver (and passenger) for the privilege of piloting such an exotic machine: the cabin is tight, visibility is minimal, and climate control is rudimentary. By the time the anniversary edition rolled around, improvements had made the car more tolerable on longer tours. The cabin is still tight, and visibility is still challenging, but the AC works. Not until the Diablo followed the Countach could occupants claim to be truly comfortable in this scissor-doored cabin.

While Marcello Gandini at Bertone was responsible for designing the first generations of Countach, the anniversary edition was re-styled by Horacio Pagani. Prominent fender skirts add an aggressive demeanor. The air boxes at the rear now follow the rear fender line farther back toward the bumper – which itself was restyled. The fins in the box are longitudinal, and new ducting appears immediately in front of the wing. These changes enhance engine cooling without compromising the radical vision the Countach has presented from its earliest days. With only 657 “Anniversarios” produced, the cars have become more akin to trading chips than transportation: very few show many more miles than this example. RM Sotheby’s sold this white ’89 for $720,000 at Monterey last year; its odometer had clocked only 1400 miles. A buyer who’s willing to put up with a “used” Countach in the 3000-mile range can pay a lot less: this example sold for a mere $525,000 in December.