Fantastic Countach
Discussion
Absolutely utterly fantastic and arguably the most desirable car ever made.
This I emphasise only applies to the LP 400 and none of the other Countach's although I am still pretty keen on them none the less. The purity of line of a LP400 is where it is at for me
I drove the yellow LP400 that was featured in a couple of classic car magazines three or four years ago that belonged to Toby Smith of Jamaraqui sp. It was being sold by the now defuncy 'Garage on the Green' I agreed a price subject to having somebody have a look at it.
It was pouring a bit of oily smoke out of the right hand bank so clearly there may have been an issue or two but not never did I imagine the full extent of it, £12,000 of engine rebuild.
The car eventually sold for about £35,000, four years on despite the engine rebuild I think I missed out as these are heading towards demigod status in my humble
This I emphasise only applies to the LP 400 and none of the other Countach's although I am still pretty keen on them none the less. The purity of line of a LP400 is where it is at for me
I drove the yellow LP400 that was featured in a couple of classic car magazines three or four years ago that belonged to Toby Smith of Jamaraqui sp. It was being sold by the now defuncy 'Garage on the Green' I agreed a price subject to having somebody have a look at it.
It was pouring a bit of oily smoke out of the right hand bank so clearly there may have been an issue or two but not never did I imagine the full extent of it, £12,000 of engine rebuild.
The car eventually sold for about £35,000, four years on despite the engine rebuild I think I missed out as these are heading towards demigod status in my humble
I've not even sat in one, let alone drive one, you lucky bean !, The nicest one I have seen was a white on white example, it did have the wing on, but it kind of worked on that colour combination.
Can you imagine being at the launch when the covers came off ? This was a time when the Daytona was still a fresh shape, it must have looked like the aliens had landed.
Can you imagine being at the launch when the covers came off ? This was a time when the Daytona was still a fresh shape, it must have looked like the aliens had landed.
Count on one hand, with only one finger left cars that are cool in brown!
Lovely.
Seen a green one in the Lambo museum. That's lovely too. But something draws me towards a black 5000s with full spoilers (apart from the daft thing on the front).
I'm usually a purist. But there's something about the 400 that makes me think it's a Lancia with a body dropped on it (look at the way the front and rear wheels fill the arches, or rather don't).
Lovely.
Seen a green one in the Lambo museum. That's lovely too. But something draws me towards a black 5000s with full spoilers (apart from the daft thing on the front).
I'm usually a purist. But there's something about the 400 that makes me think it's a Lancia with a body dropped on it (look at the way the front and rear wheels fill the arches, or rather don't).
crankedup said:
I can imagine in 30 years time or so petrolheads standing agog at the museum admiring this automotive icon.
I'm not ashamed to say that this already happens, Haynes have one in the red room which I have been known to drool over. Everyone on the telly says they are crap to drive, but for little old shallow me, who cares!
BTW, I never realised Switzerland was so BIG!
>> Edited by Simonelite501 on Saturday 14th May 06:00
>> Edited by Simonelite501 on Saturday 14th May 06:00
Just found this :
It's a love it or hate it, I subscribe to the former.
For sale here : www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/4100_results.asp?bsubmit=true&lmodelflag=10332&lmanufacturer=10066&whatbutton.x=0&page=0&lCarID=1688812
It's a love it or hate it, I subscribe to the former.
For sale here : www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/4100_results.asp?bsubmit=true&lmodelflag=10332&lmanufacturer=10066&whatbutton.x=0&page=0&lCarID=1688812
vario-rob said:
Absolutely utterly fantastic and arguably the most desirable car ever made.
This I emphasise only applies to the LP 400 and none of the other Countach's although I am still pretty keen on them none the less. The purity of line of a LP400 is where it is at for me
I drove the yellow LP400 that was featured in a couple of classic car magazines three or four years ago that belonged to Toby Smith of Jamaraqui sp. It was being sold by the now defuncy 'Garage on the Green' I agreed a price subject to having somebody have a look at it.
It was pouring a bit of oily smoke out of the right hand bank so clearly there may have been an issue or two but not never did I imagine the full extent of it, £12,000 of engine rebuild.
The car eventually sold for about £35,000, four years on despite the engine rebuild I think I missed out as these are heading towards demigod status in my humble
Rob
It sounds like you and me were trying to buy the same car! I had a deposit on it whilst it was at Garage on the Green too. I still have the receipt and loads of photos. The problem I had was getting the specialist who worked on the car to talk about what work had been done (forget his name) because Toby fell out with him. I went as far as having it checked over at Lambo UK (HR Owen), who cacked themselves and couldnt even give me a written report. They reckoned it needed £20k min. to MOT it. I was gutted as the car was stunning, but it appears that Toby didnt take enough care of it and there was alot of rot underneath. However, I've always felt it was the one car that got away. Shortly after I backed out G-O-G folded. Toby took it back and I think it sold in the end, but no idea for how much. I didnt think much of G-O-Gs attitude to selling the car, but I dont think they were making any money out of the sale. I think they knew what was going to happen when the car was inspected...
If you want any pics, let me know.
Glenn
>> Edited by Aero8 on Thursday 19th May 20:46
Aero8 said:
Absolutely utterly fantastic and arguably the most desirable car ever made.
This I emphasise only applies to the LP 400 and none of the other Countach's although I am still pretty keen on them none the less. The purity of line of a LP400 is where it is at for me
I drove the yellow LP400 that was featured in a couple of classic car magazines three or four years ago that belonged to Toby Smith of Jamaraqui sp. It was being sold by the now defuncy 'Garage on the Green' I agreed a price subject to having somebody have a look at it.
It was pouring a bit of oily smoke out of the right hand bank so clearly there may have been an issue or two but not never did I imagine the full extent of it, £12,000 of engine rebuild.
The car eventually sold for about £35,000, four years on despite the engine rebuild I think I missed out as these are heading towards demigod status in my humble
Rob
It sounds like you and me were trying to buy the same car! I had a deposit on it whilst it was at Garage on the Green too. I still have the receipt and loads of photos. The problem I had was getting the specialist who worked on the car to talk about what work had been done (forget his name) because Toby fell out with him. I went as far as having it checked over at Lambo UK (HR Owen), who cacked themselves and couldnt even give me a written report. They reckoned it needed £20k min. to MOT it. I was gutted as the car was stunning, but it appears that Toby didnt take enough care of it and there was alot of rot underneath. However, I've always felt it was the one car that got away. Shortly after I backed out G-O-G folded. Toby took it back and I think it sold in the end, but no idea for how much. I didnt think much of G-O-Gs attitude to selling the car, but I dont think they were making any money out of the sale. I think they knew what was going to happen when the car was inspected...
If you want any pics, let me know.
Glenn
>> Edited by Aero8 on Thursday 19th May 20:46
Interesting thread. I too remember seeing this car at GoG. I had just sold my Countach QV so was not looking for another Countach. I bought a yellow Diablo from them - you may have seen it there at the same time. I spoke to Del Hopkins about the yellow LP400 and he told me to avoid it. It was originally imported as parts from South Africa and built here to avoid import tax. The engine does not match up with the chassis apparently...
Craig
Very interesting! I did see your Diablo there, it had sold to you just prior to my deal falling through, otherwise I may have gone for yours! I spoke to Del Hopkins too, no-one really wanted to talk about the car. It looked fantastic though and I was smitten. It has a bit of a write up on the Lamborghini website, under LP400 owners. I saw pictures of the car in S-A and it was a seriously faded red in colour, ok, pink!
Glenn
Very interesting! I did see your Diablo there, it had sold to you just prior to my deal falling through, otherwise I may have gone for yours! I spoke to Del Hopkins too, no-one really wanted to talk about the car. It looked fantastic though and I was smitten. It has a bit of a write up on the Lamborghini website, under LP400 owners. I saw pictures of the car in S-A and it was a seriously faded red in colour, ok, pink!
Glenn
It seems we found the same yum site.
Sunday I'll be the passenger in a white '83 LP500 . . . Pics'll be posted off course.
dinkel said:
www.countach.ch/History/LP400/
That doesn't look so nice inside [compared to the Miura] . . . Why? they had all the gold in hands with that Miura interior. On the outside the Countach still is THE supercar of all time . . .
Sunday I'll be the passenger in a white '83 LP500 . . . Pics'll be posted off course.
Glen, Craig and all
Sorry I’m a bit slow in picking up on the contents of this thread a trip to Canada and attempting to get the Deauville on the road has been rather time consuming.
The chap I spoke with about the LP400 was indeed Del Hopkins who warned me not to touch it unless I was prepared to pour a significant amount of dough into the car. I still rue not having bought it as I still think that in the fullness of time it will be well worth the money.
As for the yellow Diablo, GOTG had at the same time here’s an amusing anecdote for you.
I often take my old chap with me when I go car shopping; I find the arid Suffolk humour and a two pronged assault to be most effective. Anyway whilst discussing the LP400 father took off to inspect the rest of the stock and happened upon the Diablo, to his mind this was a much better bet (and he was correct) and spent some time admiring the beast.
A full 45 minutes had passed when I finished my discussions I went looking for the old boy, no sign, oh shit! . I checked the toilet, the showroom and not a sign so I cleared off to the pub (the logical place) at the end of the road and not a sign.
By then I was getting worried, perhaps he had keeled over? I went back to the showroom and still no sign but I heard a muffled shouting and you’ll never guess what, he had got himself locked in the Diablo. The scissor doors, a hidden handle and indeed a broken handle meant he had got stuck.. Released he was not best amused with Santa Agata’s finest
Absolutely true, to conclude, he decided the Lister XJS they were selling was more his cup of tea!
To conclude GOTG had some great cars but what a bunch of………………..
I still want a Countach though
Sorry I’m a bit slow in picking up on the contents of this thread a trip to Canada and attempting to get the Deauville on the road has been rather time consuming.
The chap I spoke with about the LP400 was indeed Del Hopkins who warned me not to touch it unless I was prepared to pour a significant amount of dough into the car. I still rue not having bought it as I still think that in the fullness of time it will be well worth the money.
As for the yellow Diablo, GOTG had at the same time here’s an amusing anecdote for you.
I often take my old chap with me when I go car shopping; I find the arid Suffolk humour and a two pronged assault to be most effective. Anyway whilst discussing the LP400 father took off to inspect the rest of the stock and happened upon the Diablo, to his mind this was a much better bet (and he was correct) and spent some time admiring the beast.
A full 45 minutes had passed when I finished my discussions I went looking for the old boy, no sign, oh shit! . I checked the toilet, the showroom and not a sign so I cleared off to the pub (the logical place) at the end of the road and not a sign.
By then I was getting worried, perhaps he had keeled over? I went back to the showroom and still no sign but I heard a muffled shouting and you’ll never guess what, he had got himself locked in the Diablo. The scissor doors, a hidden handle and indeed a broken handle meant he had got stuck.. Released he was not best amused with Santa Agata’s finest
Absolutely true, to conclude, he decided the Lister XJS they were selling was more his cup of tea!
To conclude GOTG had some great cars but what a bunch of………………..
I still want a Countach though
Rob
Nice story!!
I've been away for a week and just got your email. I will send you some pics on Monday.
Very true about G-O-G. I'm sure they knew the LP400 would fail when inspected, so I can't understand why they went through the process with me. They did have some interesting cars though. I remember the Lister too. The guy managing the place (I cant remember his name, but he had the same first name as the young salesman), said he was a schoolmate of Toby Smith & JK. Hence trying to sell the car for him.
Nice story!!
I've been away for a week and just got your email. I will send you some pics on Monday.
Very true about G-O-G. I'm sure they knew the LP400 would fail when inspected, so I can't understand why they went through the process with me. They did have some interesting cars though. I remember the Lister too. The guy managing the place (I cant remember his name, but he had the same first name as the young salesman), said he was a schoolmate of Toby Smith & JK. Hence trying to sell the car for him.
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