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The Cannonball Run is one of 1981's most successful films in the box office and the films opening is one of the first things that comes to mind when a Lamborghini Countach is mentioned. The car in question is a 1980 Series II LP500S with some minor modifications.
The main visual difference from a standard EU spec Countach is the front wing which was added to meet US regulations that stated the front bumper had to be above a certain height, and had to be able to withstand a 5MPH impact.
One glaring issue with this wing was that it caused lift at high speed. The other main modification to this Countach was the 12 exhaust pipes, but it is unknown if they made any improvements to performance.
After filming was finished, the Lambo stayed with Hawaiian Tropic for 28 years before being sold to a collector some time before 2008. It was then in 2008 that Jeff Ippoliti attempted to buy the Countach, but it took a year and a half before an appropriate deal was made.
After buying the car he immediately sent it to be restored by Lamborghini expert Tony Ierardi (who owns a tuning shop called Auto Italia) for 2 and a half years. The car was restored in immaculate detail, retaining the 12 exhaust pipes and CB radio.
Exact specs for this Countach are unknown but it's likely to perform similarly to a standard LP5000S, but it could produce more power, while some sources say the car produced over 600HP before the restoration.
Source: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304173704579264373525426380
