What type of doors did the Lamborghini Countach popularize?

The Lamborghini Countach popularized scissor doors.

Unlike conventional doors that swing outward, scissor doors pivot upward from hinges near the front of the door. The Countach made this dramatic arrangement famous when its production version appeared in the 1970s, helping turn the feature into a visual signature of Lamborghini design.

The idea was not invented specifically for the Countach. Marcello Gandini had already used vertically opening doors on the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo concept, also created at Bertone. On the Countach, the design had a practical purpose as well as theatrical impact: the car’s very wide chassis and tall sills made ordinary doors awkward in tight spaces. Raising the doors reduced the space needed beside the car.

Scissor doors are often confused with butterfly or gull-wing doors. Butterfly doors swing upward and outward, while gull-wing doors are hinged in the roof and rise as a single panel. Countach doors use a different hinge arrangement. The system later appeared on Lamborghini models including the Diablo, Murciélago, Reventón and Aventador, reinforcing the company’s association with the style.