Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5 | Page 282 | FerrariChat

Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

Discussion in 'LamborghiniChat.com' started by joe sackey, Oct 25, 2015.

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  1. ijvpet

    ijvpet Formula Junior

    Jul 17, 2002
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    John P
    #7026 ijvpet, Sep 8, 2017
    Thank you Joe!
    Those dimensions are perfect!!!

    So far all the parts (Thanks Emilio!) fit perfectly. The rear euro mod is only taking a few hours.
    My car will be completely repainted. There are holes that were drilled (Hold the US bumper assembly) that need to be filled. Once I relocate the logos to the back plate, the back is done. I will remove everything before paint and then reinstall when I get the car back from the painter.

    I will also be removing the US side maker lights and making the car are accurate to euro spec that I can.
    I intend to freshen up the interior (its in pretty good shape) but install the correct stereo deck.
    I doing this over the winter to be ready for May next year.

    I have to say, this is so much fun.
     
  2. ijvpet

    ijvpet Formula Junior

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    #7027 ijvpet, Sep 8, 2017
    If you guys want, I can post pictures.
     
  3. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7028 joe sackey, Sep 8, 2017
    Excellent.
     
  4. petearron

    petearron Formula Junior
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    #7029 petearron, Sep 9, 2017

    hey Joe thanks for answering my PM about the missing part I need on my climate control panel on my Diablo lol
     
  5. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7030 joe sackey, Sep 10, 2017
  6. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7031 joe sackey, Sep 10, 2017
  7. Maser

    Maser Formula Junior

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    UK
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    Harry Metcalfe
    #7032 Maser, Sep 10, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2017
    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Joe, I believe you asked what the weight of the Countach rear spoiler might be earlier in this thread. Well, I can tell you it's 8.084kg, having weighed mine this afternoon.

    I've entered the car into the Concorso d'Eleganza Lamborghini & Design 2017 event next weekend in Switzerland and thought it best to present my Countach QV with the rear wing reattached, as that was how it was supplied when new. FYI, the wing will be coming off once I get back home, as I much prefer the design of the car with the wing removed..
     
  8. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7033 joe sackey, Sep 10, 2017
    Thank you for that Harry!

    In addition to the weight, I wonder how much drag it causes at high speed, and, given that these units were allegedly never wind-tunnel tested and definitely not Homologated, I always wonder if the angle of attack of the wing plane works for or against lift over the front & rear ends respectively.

    Either way, have a superb trip to beautiful Switzerland.
     
  9. P300V8

    P300V8 Formula 3

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    #7034 P300V8, Sep 10, 2017
    Are you sure it is panna interior?
     
  10. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7035 joe sackey, Sep 10, 2017
    It looks like it, but if you can tell me the chassis number we can confirm.
     
  11. P300V8

    P300V8 Formula 3

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    #7036 P300V8, Sep 10, 2017
    Were the images taken in Italy?
     
  12. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7037 joe sackey, Sep 10, 2017
    Yes, they were taken in Italy.

    Jeffrey Zwart the photographer accompanied Larry Crane and editor TC Browne to Sant Agata for a major Road & Track piece, early in the summer of 1986.

    Whilst they were there, Jeffrey also took images of the Mimran Downdraft coming down the 'line, which, incidentally, also had a Panna interior.

    Perhaps there was a deal on Panna at the leather suppliers that month...

    At any rate, any chassis number ideas on the black Downdraft?

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  13. P300V8

    P300V8 Formula 3

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    #7038 P300V8, Sep 10, 2017
    I was thinking GLA12904 if you have this as nero panna but it was consigned before GLA12997 was on the line...
     
  14. P300V8

    P300V8 Formula 3

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    #7039 P300V8, Sep 10, 2017
    Looking again I am wondering if there are two cars in those images. GLA12981 was bleu acapulco panna and fits the timing perfectly.
     
  15. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7040 joe sackey, Sep 10, 2017
    Thanks for this, very interesting.

    Yes, some magazines would use multiple cars, although, thumbing through the original copy I have in my hands, the car used in the inside feature is very definitely non-metallic black, however you could make a case for the car featured on the cover being Blu Acapulco.

    I'm hoping to have Jeffrey Zwart go through his entire box of 'slides from that trip one day, and I daresay the originals should reveal more definitive information.
     
  16. alberto

    alberto Formula 3

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    #7041 alberto, Sep 11, 2017
    What do you do about the holes when you take the wing off?
     
  17. Maser

    Maser Formula Junior

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    Harry Metcalfe
    #7042 Maser, Sep 11, 2017
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    I have a roll of red insulation tape that's near an exact match to the red paint on the Countach. 99% of people never spot it's there!

    I have filled the holes and had the boot lid repainted in the past too but the tape works well as a temporary fix..
     
  18. P300V8

    P300V8 Formula 3

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    #7043 P300V8, Sep 11, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2017
    Ok then, one more possibility. HLA12906 nero champagne consigned end December 87 but built end March 86. Perhaps a factory demonstrator fitted with replacement interior before consignment... VB might remember since he is in one of the images...
     
  19. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7044 joe sackey, Sep 11, 2017
    Thank you for this one also.

    VB and chassis numbers... :)
     
  20. P300V8

    P300V8 Formula 3

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    #7045 P300V8, Sep 11, 2017
    He remembered the chassis number of my car because he drove it on many occasions. ..
     
  21. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7046 joe sackey, Sep 11, 2017
    Downdraft FLA12824's owner reports:

    "Joe, thought you'd want the final numbers on the Downdraft. It generated 479 HP max @ 6,700 ROM, with 404 max torque @ 5,500 RPM. Just wrapped up a weekend with my wife at the Goodwood Revival, off to Italy for a Lamborghini Factory Tour tomorrow. Incidentally, only adjustment to factory set-up was increase in compression to 10.5:1, otherwise straightforward engine rebuild which was fully blueprinted & balanced. Incidentally final dyno numbers with factory cams and a new OEM exhaust. Engine runs quite smoothly as well".

    Thank you for sharing Jude, dyno sheet attached courtesy of his restoration shop on the East Coast.

    Meanwhile, I'm not sure there is continuing interest in this, but we have three (3) other Downdrafts that will make it on the dyno in due course, two standard production cars and a factory tuned car, the former 2 will be compared with a standard production Fuelie as a base comparison.

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  22. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7047 joe sackey, Sep 12, 2017
    As an aside, when it comes to performance testing one day, I'd love to see if the Road & Track 1987 test which revealed similar performance numbers between the Downdraft and my other favorite car, the 288 GTO, will be duplicated. Something tells me from personal driving experience that a well-tuned Downdraft will be a formidable opponent for a GTO, and can be marginally faster both from zero to sixty and at terminal velocity.

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  23. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #7048 joe sackey, Sep 12, 2017
    Ellagirl and NürScud like this.
  24. NürScud

    NürScud F1 Veteran

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    #7049 NürScud, Sep 12, 2017
  25. rmolke85

    rmolke85 Formula Junior

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    #7050 rmolke85, Sep 12, 2017
    The dyno graph looks good. Lotsssss of power in that engine.

    The most astonishing thing to me is the Torque. 404lb!! Thats some Italian muscle right there. Truly Italy's most wild muscle car ever, the Downdraft.
     
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