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Dusty Lamborghini Countach uncovered after decades

Check the attic carefully, because your grandparents might have an Italian supercar hidden in plain sight. That seems to be the case with this Reddit user — who goes by the name egriegin — when she posted a photo of one very dusty Lamborghini Countach, along with the intriguing headline, "Despite the dust and rust, grandma's 1981 Lamborghini Countach is the coolest." So what's the story? Well, don't get too excited, because the car is not for sale (yet). According to the Reddit poster, this Countach was purchased by her grandfather in 1989 to be used in his exotic car rental company. "But after insurance costs became too high for him to operate the company," she explains, "he kept the car (and many others including the Ferrari 308 in front of the Lambo) outside/in leaky garages for 20+ years instead of selling them. Don't ask me why, I have no clue." Another news outlet reported the car as a "barn find," though the original poster quickly pointed out the car had never been forgotten, just left to sit for a long time. "Let's clear some things up: these aren't my cars and never will be, they're not for sale (yet)," wrote egriegin. "They've been in this garage for less than 15 years and everyone's known they were there, so not really a "barn find."" So if you're in the market for Lamborghini Countach in need of a little TLC — and one very good dusting — it seems your online search will have to continue. Related Video:

Lamborghini previews Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and Urus ST-X Lego sets

At the Super Trofeo World Finals at the Jerez de la Frontera Circuit in Spain, where world-class athletes put their driving skills to the test in the big kid toys, Lamborghini unveiled two brand-new toys for everybody that are set to launch in 2020. The Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and Urus ST-X are paired for the next Lego Speed Champions set. The Huracan Super Trofeo EVO is already one of Lamborghini's most popular racing models and competes in the single-make Super Trofeo series. The Urus ST-X is set to compete in track and off-roading competitions starting in October 2020 at the Misano World Final in an all-new race. Now both of these cars will be available for purchase in Lego form.  “Fortunately, 2020 marks the start of a new chapter for Lego Speed Champions with the evolution to the more accurate ‘8 Studs WideÂ’ design, and we felt that we could now do the popular brand justice," Lego Speed Champions design manager specialist Chris Stamp said. "Especially the wide body of the Huracan Super Trofeo EVO. And with the awesome Urus ST-X we also introduce our first Super SUV into the theme, which fans will hopefully be just as thrilled with as we are.” The Huracan model includes realistic parallels such as the shark fin, air scoop, front diffuser and large wing. It features a black scheme with slick accents and advertising sponsors. The set is 659 pieces in total and also includes starting "lights" and two figurines. Though pricing is yet to be released, the set will be available starting January 1, 2020. Seems like a missed Christmas opportunity, no?

Lamborghini Urus SUV traces roots to a feline predecessor

The recently-revealed Urus isn't Lamborghini's first SUV. The LM002 pioneered the super-4x4 segment when it made its debut at the 1986 Brussels Auto Show. Tracing its history requires traveling to the mid-1970s, when Ferruccio Lamborghini sold the automaker that he founded and retired in the countryside to hunt and make wine. The new owners had practically no experience in building cars. Instead of expanding the lineup, they sought to land engineering and production contracts. Lamborghini teamed up with an American defense contractor named Mobility Technology International (MTI) to create an off-roader for the United States Army. The partnership spawned a vehicle named Cheetah, unveiled at the 1977 Geneva Auto Show. The Cheetah looked like a Meyers Manx buggy on steroids that ate Jeep CJ-7s for breakfast. The shape of the body gave it unusually high approach and departure angles, while the flat body panels facilitated the task of installing body armor. "Like the cat for which it is named, this high-performance vehicle has explosive acceleration, high speed and sure-footed agility over virtually all terrain," a period brochure claimed. The Cheetah could certainly tame Mother Nature's worst side, but the brochure exaggerated its performance credentials. Power came from the same 5.9-liter Chrysler 360 V8 engine found in Dodge's D-Series trucks. Lamborghini mounted it in the back, and its 183-horsepower rating contributed to a woeful power-to-weight ratio. The eight-cylinder spun all four wheels via an automatic transmission also found on Chrysler's parts shelf. Lamborghini didn't secure the Army's contract. The automaker stood on the brink of collapse. An Italian court took control of the company after it filed for bankruptcy in 1978, and a Swiss entrepreneur later came to the rescue. The new management saw an immense amount of potential in the Cheetah and relaunched the project. Decision-makers spotted an opportunity to enter the burgeoning leisure vehicle segment. Notably, they identified a market for a Cheetah-like car in the Middle East, where a Countach was unpractical at best and a Nissan Patrol was far too pedestrian for oil barons. Lamborghini unveiled a prototype named LM001 at the 1981 Geneva Auto Show. It took the Cheetah concept a step further with an updated look, though it retained the rear-mounted engine. Built as a development mule, it illustrated the limits of a rear-engine off-roader.