Restoration of 1120004

[ilconservatore]

Looks great...How 'incorrect' would it be for 1974?

Radios: thanks to Christian, who provided me with a great blow up of an original photo of 002's radio, and several hours of googling, I have identified that unit. It appears to be a Philips RN642, stereo cassette. Its shown in the 1975 catalog shown below. I can only assume it was available somewhat earlier, as this is the only Philips stereo with the black logo and black cassette door, as opposed to the 1974 RN512 with silver logo and silver cassette door, and the 1975 RN512 which is identical except for a black cassette door. (catalog images courtesy of http://wegavision.pytalhost.com/philips.html). Now was that the only unit offered? Maybe, if we assume these were factory installed, unless other models were optional. Philips also had a fancier model with cassette recorder and mic built in, for example.

[EMILIO]

i will let Joe and Christian (that know more than me on LP400) tell how incorrect it is for an early LP400

[LC3929]

Originally Posted by ilconservatore

Looks great...How 'incorrect' would it be for 1974?

Radios: thanks to Christian, who provided me with a great blow up of an original photo of 002's radio, and several hours of googling, I have identified that unit. It appears to be a Philips RN642, stereo cassette. Its shown in the 1975 catalog shown below. I can only assume it was available somewhat earlier, as this is the only Philips stereo with the black logo and black cassette door, as opposed to the 1974 RN512 with silver logo and silver cassette door, and the 1975 RN512 which is identical except for a black cassette door. (catalog images courtesy of http://wegavision.pytalhost.com/philips.html). Now was that the only unit offered? Maybe, if we assume these were factory installed, unless other models were optional. Philips also had a fancier model with cassette recorder and mic built in, for example.

These are the posts I am appreciating !!!

Great job, really, although I believe more in the RN712. Please compare.

The photo was sent to me by Fchatter "Posteriore140" so the honour belongs to "Posteriore140", not to me.

C.

[LC3929]

Originally Posted by ilconservatore

Looks great...How 'incorrect' would it be for 1974?

Radios: thanks to Christian, who provided me with a great blow up of an original photo of 002's radio, and several hours of googling, I have identified that unit. It appears to be a Philips RN642, stereo cassette. Its shown in the 1975 catalog shown below. I can only assume it was available somewhat earlier, as this is the only Philips stereo with the black logo and black cassette door, as opposed to the 1974 RN512 with silver logo and silver cassette door, and the 1975 RN512 which is identical except for a black cassette door. (catalog images courtesy of http://wegavision.pytalhost.com/philips.html). Now was that the only unit offered? Maybe, if we assume these were factory installed, unless other models were optional. Philips also had a fancier model with cassette recorder and mic built in, for example.

Aaaahhh, it's LP400 time...

The same radio was used in 1120012 and 1120082 (please compare the factory brochure).

[LC3929]

Originally Posted by LC3929

Aaaahhh, it's LP400 time...

The same radio was used in 1120012 and 1120082 (please compare the factory brochure).

Is the owner of 1120012 from Norway here with us? Or one of the Levy brothers from Autodrome? We need a photo of the radio of 1120012 which still was installed in 1120012 when we inspected the car in 2005 in Paris. Unfortunately we did not take a good photo of the radio.

[ilconservatore]

In comparing the RN642 and RN712 there is a small switch visible just above the phillips badge to the right of the cassette door that is unique to the 712. Also, there's a red sticker or mark on the right cassette button that's not on the 642. One problem I do see is that the 64
2 has a green dial behind the tuner knob, whereas the 712 has a red one. However that may change color as the dial is turned? I think either one will be difficult to find!!

Oh, I did just notice one other difference - on the factory photo there are LED's on the left side of the tuning scale to indicate which band is selected, on the philips catalog pics these are on the right. I can't find any example of any Philips radios with the LEDs on the left. Production variation?

[LC3929]

Originally Posted by ilconservatore

Oh, I did just notice one other difference - on the factory photo there are LED's on the left side of the tuning scale to indicate which band is selected, on the philips catalog pics these are on the right. I can't find any example of any Philips radios with the LEDs on the left. Production variation?

712 has them on the left side, that's why I suggested 712.

[LC3929]

Originally Posted by ilconservatore

In comparing the RN642 and RN712 there is a small switch visible just above the phillips badge to the right of the cassette door that is unique to the 712. Also, there's a red sticker or mark on the right cassette button that's not on the 642. One problem I do see is that the 64
2 has a green dial behind the tuner knob, whereas the 712 has a red one. However that may change color as the dial is turned? I think either one will be difficult to find!!

The red sticker should not be a problem, but the switch... I must see again after returning to my home. I will look for more radio photos.

Anyway, with the LED's on the left side, I prefer 712.

[ilconservatore]

I see now, good catch

[LC3929]

Originally Posted by ilconservatore

I see now, good catch

Great thread started by you ! I like threads concerning such details... I am less interested in the 5000th photo of a red Countach S or Anniversario, simply not my field of interest.

[Jota 5084]

Yes it looks most like the 712 radio.

I did try to scann a good pic from my magazine, but its difficult to get some good res. Anyhow here is the interior with the radio.

[LC3929]

Originally Posted by Jota 5084

Yes it looks most like the 712 radio.

I did try to scann a good pic from my magazine, but its difficult to get some good res. Anyhow here is the interior with the radio.

This is 1120002. Unique: "naturale" interior with black dashboard (for "naturale" interiors they generally used brown "testa di moro" dashboards), silver gear shifter. Much more rare details (six slits in the roof, old Lamborghini emblems etc.) already were described in the general Countach thread.

[ilconservatore]

Another question - are fuel and oil cooler lines braided steel (like modern aeroquip line) or braided cloth? I've found pics of braided cloth used on vapor lines, oil breather unit, etc, but I can't make a definite decision on the cooler and fuel lines. Our originals were heavily modified, so we're unsure how much is original. is there a source for original style hose ends?

[Jota 5084]

Originally Posted by LC3929

This is 1120002.

Yes i know its 002, as the pic ilconservatore posted and asked about. :-)

[joe sackey]

Originally Posted by EMILIO

i think the correct one for the LP400 is the smaller black box, smaller than the one in your pic

personally i would get a sport ANSA for it since i love the sound and weights no more than 8.5 Kgs (the original should be well over double this!)

the ANSA sport in normal steel and black paint is "almost" period correct being available (at least ) from 1978

Joe: may be you know what was the first year for them to be the factory sport exhaust?
it would be interesting to know, tks

Emilio: the very earliest LP400 did in fact come with EITHER the muffler box (depending on where the car was headed, for example Switzerland), or a sport exhaust as shown below. The unit on 1120110 is the original item, and it is different from the the units that you are providing for the later Countachs. If you look closely at the tips, you'll see that there are no internal secondary tubes as you see inside the tips of the units Ansa made for the later cars. This is strictly unique to LP400, as far as I have seen. I have archived images from 1974 and 1975 showing same, and in fact even the 1975 and 1976 Walter Wolf cars used this same type unit.

LC3929 will know exactly what I am speaking of.

Therefore, if the restorer of 1120004 wants to be faithful, this is what is needed. Since 1120004 was delivered to Italy, it is quite likely it had the sport system in place from day one.

At any rate, as Emilio has already suggested, it is an unforgivable sin to run a Countach via anything but an open exhaust!

[ilconservatore]

This is just a big can of worms I've opened, eh? I had planned on having the exhaust position duplicated from 002. Since both cars shared the same seats and roof vents, etc, it seems natural. This would also include the black mesh filler above the tailpipes. See how it is fully open, rather than just the middle as on 010? Also it seems the edges of the black panel are taller on 002, if only by a little?

[joe sackey]

Originally Posted by LC3929

This is 1120002. Unique: "naturale" interior with black dashboard (for "naturale" interiors they generally used brown "testa di moro" dashboards), silver gear shifter. Much more rare details (six slits in the roof, old Lamborghini emblems etc.) already were described in the general Countach thread.

Great points, and we have solved what the finish of an important component should be.

You noted the silver finish of the shift gate (I think it was an aluminum unit, before they went to the black hard plastic item) of 1120002.

Now look at these images of 1120008 being road tested by the late (great) Doug Blain in an exclusive article for CAR magazine, September 1974 (I went long for this one, actually dusting off some archives! *cough*). It too has the silver shift gate! Accordingly, it stands to reason that 1120004 which was built just before, should have its shift gate in silver...

[ilconservatore]

I never knew that article existed...will try to locate it. 004 currently has a black gate but I have no reason to believe its correct. There were details that were changed on this car for no apparent reason. As found, it looks like this:

I can't get my hands on it at the moment to inspect if its plastic, painted metal or plated but I'll make a note to check it. Do the fasteners even match up?

[ilconservatore]

Ashtray lid should be black also, without the bull logo?

[Dodici Cilindri]

Thanks for the updates and corrections. I will add these notes to my library. It is good to see the level of involvement by Lamborghini people.