Wolf Countach questions

Quite possible no need for Joe on this one.
You've basically hit the nail on the head.
"Was he key in the development of those massive 345 (or were they 315)-section P7's as well??? "

YES. And the S version on a whole.

 

Quite simply Walter Wolf personally bankrolled the return of Gianpaolo Dallara to re-design the suspension (he left Lamborghini when they did not want to go racing), the development of the P7 tire by Pirelli and the development of any associated parts needed to make the LP400 into what would become the LP400s

 

Gamby:

This topic is a personal favorite of mine, as I believe I am the only person who has been able to track Walter Wolf down in contemporary times and subject him to multiple sessions of Countach discussions! He was a most willing participant, however, and I recorded the details in note form.

What Walter did, was to take what was already there and develop it. For example, the Bravo wheels of which you speak are simply a moniker given to wheels used on the Bertone Showcar, the "Lamborghini Bravo", which debuted at the 1974 Turin Salon. The wheels were sand-cast magnesium units designed by and developed for Bertone SpA. In fact, the units fitted to the Lamborghini Bravo in 1974, were 11 inches wide at the rear (285 series tires were fitted). Pirelli had supplied a set of its new state-of the-art low profile "P7" tires. This combination is what was used for the new Lamborghini Silhouette in 1976.

When Walter wanted to develop him Countach LP400 into a handling car, he brought his friend Gian Paolo Dallara in to do the work, and it was Dallara Automobili SpA www.dallara.it who did all the work. They had Campagnolo cast a set of rear wheels 13 (!) inches wide at the rear, using the same "Bravo" design. Of course, this meant that 345 series Pirelli P7 tires would be needed, and Pirelli developed a set for them. Remember, at this point the production cost of these unique tires couldnt be amortized as there was no guarantee they would be used on any other road car. They were a custom application invoiced to Walter Wolf Racing, like everything else was. This combination of 13 inch Bravo wheels with 345 series Pirelli P7 tires was first fitted to Countach 1120148 in 1976. Basically Walter funded everything, and if you have done your homework, you'll know that in the early to late 1970s money was simply no object with hm.

Below is the 1974 Lamborghini Bravo.
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Well, yes and no. The man did own an F1 team and had access to some sharp minds and tools.

 

Few know that Walter Wolf had a set of "Bravo" wheels cast up to 16 inches (as opposed to the standard 15 inches) for 1121002. The reason for this was to clear the Lockheed brakes that the car wore, as mounted by Dallara Automobili, and supplied through his Formula One team source, Automotive Products (AP).
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True, but to put it in perspective, according to a Canadian government official at the time as stated in a newspaper article: "We have no idea of the exact size & scope of Wolf's holdings or how much money he has, save to say that he has lots and lots of it".

Wolf told me personally that in 1973 due to the sharp rise in oil prices, he made $10 million on just one tanker shipment whilst the cargo was still on the high seas. That was in 1973. The following year a contract with British Petroleum brought $100 million, according to published reports. A Countach cost $60,000 or thereabouts new. Funding wasn't an issue.

 

Thanks for the info, Joe. I always wondered where the name Bravo originated.

 

Joe,
Where are those 16" Bravos now?????

 

I have had a Countach book in the works for the past decade (which is why I tracked Wolf down in the first place), but following the Miura book, a 288 GTO book is due in a year so it'll have to wait till after that.

 

Location unknown.

 

speaking of Wolf's car ...

I'd love to know more about his White car the one with it's wing in the roof

history , info , pics , whereabout ....

share the knowledge please

Thanks

 

16 x 13 rear wheels ???

 

i seriously have doubts of a set 16x13 bravo due to the fact that 16 inch P7's didnt come that wide to fit on that wheel in the mid 70's.

 

Remember that Walter Wolf was responsible for the development of the P7 tire and was paying the bills for that project. You can be sure that if he needed a 16" P7 he was going to get it whether it was on Pirelli's catalogue or not.

 

were do you guys come up with all this??? this is ferrarichat after all...lol.

the pirelli P7 ancestry if memory serves was derived from the low profile tarmac rally tire. it first appeared on the stratos in prototype form (alloy body) in events giro italia, targa florio, etc circa 73-74 well before walter wolf even owned a countach.

i not doubting that wolf may have been instrumental in the firmament of 345vr15 size tires for his later CT's but to say he was responsible for the P7 development himself is hardly accurate. i have spoken to bob wallace of the P7 on the urraco bob rallye car which he ran before leaving the company in 75 which predates the wolfs bravo wheel CTs. despite what was written ,this on off car used 275-15 rears which are consistent to the size used on the rally cars and the concept bravo in 74. what was learned on that car of the tires was later applied to wolfs car when dallara came back as a consultant along with baradini as development engineer. dallara was also using this P7 in a very trick subframe 16v x19 silhouette racer that debut in 76. baradini ironed out chassis for the P7 equipped urraco based silhouette and later the E26 accordingly. anyhow i did read somewhere that wallace says dallara developed the wolfs 15inch wheel CT cars through wolfs funding.


the first production cars that came with this ground breaking low profile p7 tire as i recall was the fiat abarth 131, lamborghini silhouette and 930 turbo all in 1976. who know which of the 3 cars actually sold first with the P7 tires. i dont know the exact date when walters 2nd CT (red) was equipped with it but i reckon it within months of the cars mentioned above.

my 2 cents

hf

 

Early on the Bravo had different wheels.
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The greatest Lamborghini find of all time would be locating the 16 Bravos.

 

Allow me to clarify my post as I do not want to spread any mis-information.

When the Countach came out the Pirelli P7 tire did already exist however its development to the Countach size was not complete which is why the car came with XWX's. I cannot comment as to the state of tire development at Pirelli when Walter Wolf came along however it is my understanding that Wolf's funding of the LP400s included the chassis work at Dallara and work with Pirelli to make the P7 ready for the Countach. This close technical partnership could very well have yielded custom 16" P7 tires. Again do not take this as fact but a reasonable possibility given the relationship of the people and companies involved.

 

So 1002 no longer wears the Lockheed brakes... too bad, really...

 

when the bravo came out in the 74 torino show painted Tan... it rode on campys that looks nearly identical to the silhouettes wheels(at least to these eyes)

When painted to Metallic Green and Metallic Gold, both colors metallica color cars had bravos and the pseudo multi piece type show on the pic posted if memory serves.

White Car which was recently repainted reverted back to what looks like the original type campy bravo or a very close copy of the bravo made by technomagesio that were found on some of the late Jalpas or could it possibly be a set eurospares replicas?

 

Agreed! lets look for it after we find the holy grail...