Restoration of 1120004 - Page 8

**joe sackey** · #**141** 08-05-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qvpower

It would be interesting to decide whether to keep or discard the twin turbo system... Since of course it was done by bob wallace? Would that be considered as historically correct? Or would it go back to even its most original form? Interesting car nevertheless. I still love the looks of that car.

I think that the decision to put the car back to its original LP400 guise in all aspects has already been made.

Thankfully, a twin-turbocharged LP400 is not historically correct in any way. Bob Wallace has done a lot of things in his life, some of which he would rather forget, and some of which he would probably blame on the "paying customer who wanted this, that, and god-knows what else". We must remember that he was in the business of getting paid to carry out customer's wishes...

**tmathile** · #**142** 08-24-2009, 07:37 PM

Below is a picture taken by a friend David Wendt of the Countach before bringing into our shop. Also posting pictures he took of my Miura S and 400GT 2+2.

Tim

**joe sackey** · #**143** 08-24-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmathile

Below is a picture taken by a friend David Wendt of the Countach before bringing into our shop. Also posting pictures he took of my Miura S and 400GT 2+2.

Tim

Thanks for sharing Tim!

What color is it going to be?

**Dodici Cilindri** · #**144** 08-24-2009, 08:29 PM

Comparing the pictures of the "polished" and stock connecting rod I can only say "Holy Sh**t" True definition of a hand grenade.

LC3929 · #**145** 08-25-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe sackey

Thanks for sharing Tim!

What color is it going to be?

Red please. I don't like red/black liveries, but this early car must stay red/black.

**ralfabco** · #**146** 08-25-2009, 08:33 AM

Very nice pics

qvpower · #**147** 08-25-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe sackey

I think that the decision to put the car back to its original LP400 guise in all aspects has already been made.

Thankfully, a twin-turbocharged LP400 is not historically correct in any way. Bob Wallace has done a lot of things in his life, some of which he would rather forget, and some of which he would probably blame on the "paying customer who wanted this, that, and god-knows what else". We must remember that he was in the business of getting paid to carry out customer's wishes...

Well as a counterpoint, I thought the car was still pretty awesome. If the turbo system had been sorted out, that would have been a super fun and fast car to drive.

Davren · #**148** 09-20-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilconservatore

Does anyone still have an 'original' radio, or can you comment on what would have been dealer installed. A lot of vendors are pushing the becker europa but I don't think it would look correct.

If you haven't found one yet, I have a Phillips RN712, complete with original microphone and instruction book. It's been sitting in a cupboard at home in London UK for the last 25-30 years.

Dave.

FredParoutaud · #**149** 09-20-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmathile

Below is a picture taken by a friend David Wendt of the Countach before bringing into our shop. Also posting pictures he took of my Miura S and 400GT 2+2.

Tim

Hi Tim,

What number is the 400GT 2+2? Looks nice

Fred

FredParoutaud · #**150** 09-20-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilconservatore

Yes, Christies sold it for under 40k originally. There's a bunch of old posts on the countach thread from 2005 or so when Tim bought it. It could have been made roadworthy with just an engine rebuild and some tlc, but in the end there was really no way around a complete restoration. Its hard to believe, and I never did until I got into the car myself, but everything was messed with in one way or another. Even one of the parking lights was hacked into for a radar detector sensor! As I get time I'll post more detailed resto pics.

BUT, it might be the last cheap LP400!

Deal of the century.

I think a lot of folks were scared of this car because they simply didn't know -- they didn't know what the car really was, and they didn't know how to restore one.

I couldn't believe when it sold for $39k in Monterey -- 2004?

The third Countach produced (is that right?)...and because it needed some work it sold for $39k.

Insane

Fred

**ilconservatore** · #**151** 09-21-2009, 09:57 AM

The 400gt is 0925, and came from Michigan a few years ago.

Dave, I PM'd you about the radio

**ilconservatore** · #**152** 11-03-2009, 01:23 PM

I'm currently doing research on chassis plates, as all the plates in the engine bay were lost when the car was cut for the turbo plumbing. The earliest I have found are from 1120194, which has numerous plates.

Can anyone help with earlier examples? If there are no tags are available, I'm willing to reproduce a small run if necessary but want to make sure they're correct.

Is the small tag below the windshield an add on, perhaps for importation, or is that common on this run of cars?

Note copper rivets and spacing of tags

**ralfabco** · #**153** 11-03-2009, 01:52 PM

Shaun,

Congratulations on your new Silver membership.

Nice pics and car !

**ilconservatore** · #**154** 11-03-2009, 02:55 PM

Thanks, I'm glad to be a contributor to the cause =)
Without sites like this, it would have been infinitely more difficult to save the car, not to mention putting it back correctly.

**joe sackey** · #**155** 11-03-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilconservatore

Thanks, I'm glad to be a contributor to the cause =)
Without sites like this, it would have been infinitely more difficult to save the car, not to mention putting it back correctly.

Are you going with the original "Rosso/Nero"? (I may have asked this before...)

ken qv · #**156** 11-04-2009, 01:22 AM

Dave, very fantastic that you have that radio
and have been holding on to it all these years. What luck.

**ilconservatore** · #**157** 11-05-2009, 11:09 AM

Yes, I owe Dave a huge debt for this one...I scarfed it up for the car and it was everything he promised and more =)

Joe, yes, everything is going back to original. Can you assist with thoughts on color. We have managed to get a slightly customized version of an available 'correct' Glasurit single stage urethane that matches some hidden areas on the car almost 100%

I'd include pics but my camera doesn't do reds/oranges very well under flourescent lamps.

I should say the color is very orangeish red. Like Arancio Miura and Rosso corsa mixed together?

**ilconservatore** · #**158** 11-05-2009, 11:42 AM

I tried the camera anyway and it comes out pretty decent - original and two different samples. When sprayed out properly the first sample is pretty much dead on. Next up will be a full panel spray out on a junk fender or hood for comparison.

**ilconservatore** · #**159** 11-05-2009, 11:53 AM

Joe mentioned on the Shah of Iran Miura thread that early LP400 had adjustable Koni shocks. I was only aware of this from the coltrin book where it shows a car undergoing assembly at the factory. 1120004 had identical shocks fitted when purchased and they were subsequently rebuilt at the Koni factory. I don't believe the decals are a dead on match however.

Note in the lamborghini factory pic there are no dust boots fitted and springs are a dark color.

004's shocks included dust boots, which were sourced new and reinstalled, but the springs were a dull silver plate. This plating was copied by the previous restoration shop through electroless nickel plating. However I cannot confirm that these springs weren't replaced during the wallace conversion (which included modifying the rear frame for S spec wishbones.

If anyone has an early car with original shocks/springs, please post details.

**joe sackey** · #**160** 11-05-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilconservatore

Joe mentioned on the Shah of Iran Miura thread that early LP400 had adjustable Koni shocks. I was only aware of this from the coltrin book where it shows a car undergoing assembly at the factory. 1120004 had identical shocks fitted when purchased and they were subsequently rebuilt at the Koni factory. I don't believe the decals are a dead on match however.

Note in the lamborghini factory pic there are no dust boots fitted and springs are a dark color.

004's shocks included dust boots, which were sourced new and reinstalled, but the springs were a dull silver plate. This plating was copied by the previous restoration shop through electroless nickel plating. However I cannot confirm that these springs weren't replaced during the wallace conversion (which included modifying the rear frame for S spec wishbones.

If anyone has an early car with original shocks/springs, please post details.

Shaun:

I will post when I get a moment. Mine's a 1974 build car, so it has adjustable struts. You'll want to note that the struts were 'Koni orange', and the springs for the 1974 cars were in fact originally powder blue, with production interspersed with black units as well.

Best,