Lamborghini Countach Question
Discussion
Since the sale of my Lotus, the fleet is down to a volvo, avan and my old Dutton, so I have been looking around for something fun. I have always wanted a Lamorghini Countach LP400S, but finances have never/will never allow for such exotica, so I have seen a few replica's. Does any one on this forum, A; Have any experience of such vehicles?, B; have any advice? Ideally, the budget would be around £10-12 grand, but my stretch a little for a diamond, thanks in advance, Simon.
Some links for you, don't know a great deal about these kit cars but hopefully these sites will help.
www.mirage-replicas.co.uk/browse.html
www.lamberti.co.uk (last time checked this link seemed dead)
There is another manufaucturer called Sienna 01386 751 875 don't know their website (not on www.totalkitcar.com/ )
One rumour I heard (and it was a long time ago) was that there were several companies doing them but advise was to buy the full kit just in case they went bust. As for prices.... I have no idea.
Hope that helps
www.mirage-replicas.co.uk/browse.html
www.lamberti.co.uk (last time checked this link seemed dead)
There is another manufaucturer called Sienna 01386 751 875 don't know their website (not on www.totalkitcar.com/ )
One rumour I heard (and it was a long time ago) was that there were several companies doing them but advise was to buy the full kit just in case they went bust. As for prices.... I have no idea.
Hope that helps
Thanks, I'e checked the Lamberti site before, Mucho Dollar! 
There are a few cars around with renualt V6 motors, but I was hoping for V8 wether it be
over or Yank. I'm still not syre that its a good idea, resale will be even harder than the Lotus, but the Countach has always been on the top of my wish list.
There are a few cars around with renualt V6 motors, but I was hoping for V8 wether it be
over or Yank. I'm still not syre that its a good idea, resale will be even harder than the Lotus, but the Countach has always been on the top of my wish list. FWIW, I heard that Countach replicas usually handled fine with V6s or Rover V8s in the back, but stick a lump of Yank iron block in there and they got a liking for understeer... hearsay though. And depends on what you want to use it for of course.
There were a lot of horror stories over the years about the expertise needed to build a Countach copy well; most of it was in the cutting and gapping of the opening panels - not many of them on a countach eh? - especially the doors. The bodies were supplied in one piece with scribe lines to cut out the apertures and blend in the return edges.
Chances are high that the companies selling this type of kit didn't last, and I'm pretty sure that those still trading have their products nailed down in terms of handling and body fit.
So I would pay particular attention to the panels on any secondhand car, and if there is a manufacturer out there now who supplies all the panels pre-cut or (for preference) moulded separately, I would be a lot less apprehensive about building one from a new kit.
Hope this helps - good luck with whatever you find.
There were a lot of horror stories over the years about the expertise needed to build a Countach copy well; most of it was in the cutting and gapping of the opening panels - not many of them on a countach eh? - especially the doors. The bodies were supplied in one piece with scribe lines to cut out the apertures and blend in the return edges.
Chances are high that the companies selling this type of kit didn't last, and I'm pretty sure that those still trading have their products nailed down in terms of handling and body fit.
So I would pay particular attention to the panels on any secondhand car, and if there is a manufacturer out there now who supplies all the panels pre-cut or (for preference) moulded separately, I would be a lot less apprehensive about building one from a new kit.
Hope this helps - good luck with whatever you find.
There have been several companies over the years offering Countach copies, but as far as I know the only one still doing them is the previously mentioned Lamberti.
Think the big problem was always that fake Countach was always much more difficult and expensive to do than fake Cobra, resluting in several half-arsed efforts that are best avoided. Also, many were just rip-offs of a shell bought from Prova who took a quick mould of a real Lambo, meaning they're a copy of a copy and can suffer real quality problems as a result.
Doubt you'd be able to build a decent one for ten grand, but you see used ones advertisied for that. As advised by other people on this thread, if considering buying one, take a hard critical look at how it's been put together (as well as how it drives) and if it looks like it's been thrown together leave well alone.
For more information (and source of possible cars) try contacting the Italian Replica Club. See www.italianreplicacarclub.co.uk
Think the big problem was always that fake Countach was always much more difficult and expensive to do than fake Cobra, resluting in several half-arsed efforts that are best avoided. Also, many were just rip-offs of a shell bought from Prova who took a quick mould of a real Lambo, meaning they're a copy of a copy and can suffer real quality problems as a result.
Doubt you'd be able to build a decent one for ten grand, but you see used ones advertisied for that. As advised by other people on this thread, if considering buying one, take a hard critical look at how it's been put together (as well as how it drives) and if it looks like it's been thrown together leave well alone.
For more information (and source of possible cars) try contacting the Italian Replica Club. See www.italianreplicacarclub.co.uk
Hi
Read your topic, and coincidentally have been looking at all sorts of things this evening ... and I came across a Lambo replica (directly before coming across your note) ... and copied the details below:
Link:
www.totalkitcar.com/am/listings/index.html
Advert:
Lamborghini Countach replica
Price : £12500
Descrption : Lamborghini Countach replica, Red, Supplied by Mirage, professionally built in 1990, 1000 miles covered, leather interior, Rover 3.5 V8 engine, Full warranty 'til February 2003, baby forces sale.
Contact :
Tel : 07989 288 078
I was thinking about one of these too, a few months ago, but most were priced between £15-18,000
I would grab yourself a copy of either of the following magazines from WH Smiths ...
Which Kit
Total Kit Car
there used to be the odd one or two in the Classified Pages.
I went to the Kit Car Show at Stoneleigh and the one at Donnington Park, and saw a few there ... some real nails, others looked fantastic!!
Would certainly do your research though as getting stuck with a nail may prove costly!
Hope this helps
Read your topic, and coincidentally have been looking at all sorts of things this evening ... and I came across a Lambo replica (directly before coming across your note) ... and copied the details below:
Link:
www.totalkitcar.com/am/listings/index.html
Advert:
Lamborghini Countach replica
Price : £12500
Descrption : Lamborghini Countach replica, Red, Supplied by Mirage, professionally built in 1990, 1000 miles covered, leather interior, Rover 3.5 V8 engine, Full warranty 'til February 2003, baby forces sale.
Contact :
Tel : 07989 288 078
I was thinking about one of these too, a few months ago, but most were priced between £15-18,000
I would grab yourself a copy of either of the following magazines from WH Smiths ...
Which Kit
Total Kit Car
there used to be the odd one or two in the Classified Pages.
I went to the Kit Car Show at Stoneleigh and the one at Donnington Park, and saw a few there ... some real nails, others looked fantastic!!
Would certainly do your research though as getting stuck with a nail may prove costly!
Hope this helps
Might be of interest to you -
friend of mine runs his own bodywork/paint shop - v. specialised and takes on all sorts of exotic cars and classics. A few years ago he also had a steady stream of Lambo replica's coming through the workshop, for bodywork improvement (read, panel gaps, getting rid of panel ripple etc). His reputation for getting a good paint finish on these things meant he had more customers than he wanted (he personally hated the cars as he said that the panels of most of the ones he worked on were 'crap' and caused his paint finish to look second rate).
Anway, from what I could tell, he wasn't too impressed with the quality of the kits or the manufacturers.
Regards
Igg
friend of mine runs his own bodywork/paint shop - v. specialised and takes on all sorts of exotic cars and classics. A few years ago he also had a steady stream of Lambo replica's coming through the workshop, for bodywork improvement (read, panel gaps, getting rid of panel ripple etc). His reputation for getting a good paint finish on these things meant he had more customers than he wanted (he personally hated the cars as he said that the panels of most of the ones he worked on were 'crap' and caused his paint finish to look second rate).
Anway, from what I could tell, he wasn't too impressed with the quality of the kits or the manufacturers.
Regards
Igg
The feed back I am getting, not only from here but also other knowledgeable outlets, and the heaps of rubbish that I have seen during my quest to find the elusive "Good One", all seems to be pointing me away from the idea, which is a great shame. I will however, keep looking, but the right car will have to be GOOD, as my standards, though not normally so high, have been raised due to resale ability.
This discussion takes me back i built a coutach anout ten years ago it was a mirage replicas kit i could write a book on it but i didn't give up took me seven soild months to do cost about 17k with rover v8 finished in red with full beige leather
the last straw was when the chassis broke in half at the back by the gearbox this was after some hard driving in the days of no cameras [bliss]was clocking 140 at some point.
despite it being a pig to put together somenights i could just sit and stare at it there has never been another car like it
any questions or advice glad to give
will
the last straw was when the chassis broke in half at the back by the gearbox this was after some hard driving in the days of no cameras [bliss]was clocking 140 at some point.
despite it being a pig to put together somenights i could just sit and stare at it there has never been another car like it
any questions or advice glad to give
will
Although the LP400S countach is my all time favourite car, the replicas that I have seen, which are in my price range (£12-13,000), are absolute SHITE! Why people who have no experience in building cars and a limited budget even bother to start a project such as a countach is beyond me. I'm sure that they begin with all the best intentions but even the better engineered cars have bodged finishing touches. I had thought that I could re-finish the cars myself, but if the cars original builder wasn't bothered about the finish, what else wasn't he bothered about? So my eye was caught the other day by a rather wide, low slung, pointy thing in bright red. A Ferarri Mondial.Probably one of the most unloved 's ever, but the 2+2 set up suits me, and the price tag of £15,000 isn't too far off the mark, although don't tell the wife! The only thingt that really does concern me is the serviing costs, but I figure that once you've got the car thats just another bill, and if you check out my Lotus you'll see thaqt repair bills are nothing new! 
Its a real pity about the Countach, but hey, a real Ferarri, now who'd have thought!
Its a real pity about the Countach, but hey, a real Ferarri, now who'd have thought! Simon be very careful with the dancing donkey. The repair bills are unbelievable. I knew someone with one sitting in a garage simply because it needed a new cam belt (wait for it) £2k no I'm not b*lls**tting you! That makes Lotus look positively frugle.
I'm sure some of the Ferrari owns will help to find cheaper bits etc. but they certainly ain't cheap.
I'm sure some of the Ferrari owns will help to find cheaper bits etc. but they certainly ain't cheap.
Oh simon another find for you
www.totalkitcar.com/news.shtml
have a look at parallel designs halfway down. New address but their website don't work. Might be worth a gander!
www.totalkitcar.com/news.shtml
have a look at parallel designs halfway down. New address but their website don't work. Might be worth a gander!
smeagol said: I knew someone with one sitting in a garage simply because it needed a new cam belt (wait for it) £2k.
Wow! Scary numbers! I had heard some stories that would keep you awake at night, although I wasn't convinced of their accuracy. Seems I may be staring down the ballel of a loaded gun! Hmmm, Can't afford that sort of cash, maybe a rethink is in order, or just do it! ?????
I have always been smitten by the Esprit S2, but the NON galvanised chassis was a worry that put me off. The S3 is a far better car but somehow lacks the attraction of the S2. Its a great pity about the replica Countach, but the good ones are out of my meagre financial reach. That just leaves the Ferarri, which, it now appears, will bankrupt me if the ash tray needs empting! I'm really not sure what's next on the drive although with the iminent demise of the Esprit it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?
Simon, I'm very glad you've veered away from the bodged up Lambo lookalike idea. At the end of the day your buying a car which has no pedigree, no proper engineering value, and is basically crass. No, if you want one, then work hard and one day your dream will come. Besides, YOU would always know it wasn't the real thing, which leaves pose value.
Anyway, sorry but I hate replica's!
My opinion is buy the Mondial: Really nice cars, lovely engine, better handling than a 328 plus 2+2seating. Quite rare and looks good too... Everyone will try to scare you with stories of 'my mates dads...blahblahblah Ferrari blew up 3 times and cost a million quid' /exagerationoff. But really Mondials, like the 308 / 328 which sired them are pretty strong cars. Yes, cambelts NEED to be done and do cost a lot of money, but other than that barring major mechanicals a perfectly useable pleasure to drive. If you fancy something a bit more useable (and cheaper to run) have you thought about a Chimaera / Griffith? Very nice one's available for your budget - if you want to see how they go drop into Docklands and I'll take you for a 'spin'(sic)!
PS Esprit's rock too... currently investigating potential purchase of a late S4 or early V8 - what a car!
Anyway, sorry but I hate replica's!
My opinion is buy the Mondial: Really nice cars, lovely engine, better handling than a 328 plus 2+2seating. Quite rare and looks good too... Everyone will try to scare you with stories of 'my mates dads...blahblahblah Ferrari blew up 3 times and cost a million quid' /exagerationoff. But really Mondials, like the 308 / 328 which sired them are pretty strong cars. Yes, cambelts NEED to be done and do cost a lot of money, but other than that barring major mechanicals a perfectly useable pleasure to drive. If you fancy something a bit more useable (and cheaper to run) have you thought about a Chimaera / Griffith? Very nice one's available for your budget - if you want to see how they go drop into Docklands and I'll take you for a 'spin'(sic)!
PS Esprit's rock too... currently investigating potential purchase of a late S4 or early V8 - what a car!
No, really you couldn't tell from your post
Anyway, sorry but I hate replica's!
I see where you're coming from on the replica front and absolutley agree nothing is worse than a badly done replica.
However A well done replica means as much to the builder/driver as the real thing so whos to say its wrong. Some cars are so valuable and rare now that to take the original out on the road would be IMHO almost sacrelidge. I know if I owned an original bugatti say, and it got wrote off it would be a death of a piece of history. A replica can be used on the road to keep that history alive and to stop the trend of "souless tin boxes that are all the same" :shudder:
I have seen some replica Countachs and they have been beautiful (and in fact far better built than the original). Is a work of art diminished because its a copy? I'm not sure.
Smeagol, I understand what you're saying - replicas of cars like Bugatti's / GT40's / D-type's are a different ball game. These are fabulously valueable cars and the replicas tend to be built to immensely high standards using as many quality components as possible.
My gripe is against the trend for rep's of cars such as the 355 / 308 / Countach which are generally shoddiiy built and drive poorly - they trade on looks alone. 355's / Countach's are just about attainable for the enthuisiast and surely it's better to get on Ferrari ownership ladder with an entry level Mondial and work up from there, rather than an MR2 based 355 rep?
Anyway, I'm being a bit puritanical I suppose
, but that's because I don't want the value - economically or emotionally - of these cars to be devalued, which I think rep's do....
My gripe is against the trend for rep's of cars such as the 355 / 308 / Countach which are generally shoddiiy built and drive poorly - they trade on looks alone. 355's / Countach's are just about attainable for the enthuisiast and surely it's better to get on Ferrari ownership ladder with an entry level Mondial and work up from there, rather than an MR2 based 355 rep?
Anyway, I'm being a bit puritanical I suppose
, but that's because I don't want the value - economically or emotionally - of these cars to be devalued, which I think rep's do....Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff