This popped up in our social feed, and we knew you had to see it. So sit back, hit the play button, and turn up the volume. Then play it again and send it to your friends. We’ll wait.
Sweet, right? It’s not every day you get to see a Lamborghini Countach and a Ferrari F40 zip across a wide-open freeway. In fact, experiencing this thrilling sight was a recent highlight in Southern California. It’s a rare spectacle that excites car enthusiasts and casual viewers alike.
Who, What, Where, When
The clip begins on the westbound on-ramp of the Foothill Freeway (also known as Interstate 210) at Campus Avenue in Upland, California. The footage showcases an impressive 1989 Ferrari F40 captured via an iPhone mounted to the dash of an equally stunning 1986 Lamborghini Countach. This event took place a few weekends ago under beautiful weather conditions, with roads being mostly empty. Though we can’t disclose the identities of the drivers, those familiar with car culture, particularly in Southern California, might recognize them.
1986 Lamborghini Countach
Let’s delve into the cars themselves. The Countach from 1986 is a 5000 Quattrovalvole model, featuring a longitudinally mounted 5.2-liter, 48-valve V-12 engine equipped with six dual-barrel downdraft carburetors. This setup is particularly unique, as most North American Countach models of its era utilized Bosch electronic fuel injection, which generally reduced power. In stock configuration, this powerful carbureted engine delivered around 450 horsepower. Historically, a fuel-injected 1990 Countach could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds, showcasing impressive performance for its time. A similar Countach in the late ’80s or early ’90s could set you back approximately $150,000, a substantial investment indeed.
1989 Ferrari F40
On the other hand, the Ferrari F40 epitomized the “race car for the street” concept during the 1980s. With a lightweight tubular space frame and composite body panels, including Lexan side and hatch windows, it was powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine. Producing 478 horsepower and 474 lb-ft of torque, this thrilling machine could accelerate to 60 mph in under four seconds and achieve a top speed of 201 mph. The investment in a Ferrari F40 during its launch was hefty, costing over $400,000 in 1989, equivalent to about $850,000 today.
Why? Because We Love It
What we cherish about these two cars accelerating onto a wide freeway is not only their stunning visual appeal but also the captivating sounds they produce. The Countach’s aggressive throttle roar is truly exhilarating, especially as the F40 gracefully pulls ahead. Who wouldn’t smile at the iconic sound of the Lamborghini’s horn? It’s undoubtedly a moment worth experiencing again and again.
Lamborghini Countach studio images by Michael Shaffer, miscellaneous Ferrari F40 images from file.
