Countach, the ultimate supercar

Peter:

The keepers of faith as it relates to the values of genuine Series One cars are of course those that have vested interest in them, by virtue of actual ownership. I suspect the owners of the 3 cars below would side with you. The one at the bottom is the last one made.
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1121024
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1121034 illustrating that magnetic effect Countachs have upon the public
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Alberto I missed your query. I don't have that file up on my website but will ask Albert to make amends next time.

I also have some really big files on a local California car, 1121014, the ex-Road & Track car that exists complete with Bob Wallace 'Megaphono' straight through exhaust pipes and lightened valve train/9,000 rpm red line. I will upload these too.
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Thanks for posting these fantastic images. Any more?. Indeed that virtually ensured a tour of the entire facility back then...

 

Oh Peter, just stick a pair of Heuer Monte Carlo Rally clocks on there like you mean business...
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Correct Emilio, a Series 2 car is valued in the market between $150k and $200k, so $185k is right on the money. But, a Series 2 is not a Series 1, and the fact remains that the recorded recent sales of identifiable S1s falls between $200k and $300k.

Please trust me on this, I try & do this full-time for a living!

S1 cars are not only as rare as the proverbial Hen's Teeth, but to the faithful who want them, nothing else will do.

As an anomaly, one S1 (1121038) did in fact sell in the last year for circa $150k, but it was really a restoration project, and has now been restored, bringing the owner's investment right back to that same range I mentioned earlier. Have a guess what he would ask for if he ever decided to sell? Have a guess what the owner of 1121036 would ask if he ever decided to sell? Somehow I doubt if we will even get the opportunity to find out.

 

Emilio,

A couple thoughts.

1. The Countach world is particularly small. In fact its tiny. I have learned over the years that nothing really happens without some other party getting wind. So please rest assured that $185k = S2 car. There have been several S2 'privately' available, and it is one of those cars. You know the car. The owner contacted me to tell me he sold it. Its all good because I would not have been able to bring him more money for that car and I think it was sold fair enough.

2. It is amazing that after all this time and all this discussion, S1 cars are confused with S2 cars, or S3 cars for that matter. Mind boggling. But, it happens.

3. S1, S2 & S3 cars have different values in the market. Thats just the way it is. Why? Desirability, rarity, combination of components, whatever, that's how it shakes down. I would hate to see someone pay S1 money for an S2 car, or someone pay S2 money for an S3 car.

4. I have no bias here one way or the other because I don't have an S1, S2, or S3 car at the minute. But, as you know, that could of course change anytime! By the way, I love ALL Countachs from LP400 to Annivesario, and to underscore that statement I offer that I have owned, operated, & maintained every production variant that ever came out of Santa Agata. There is no "best" one, but they are all different, and the whole point is that they certainly all have different values, for whatever reason.

 

Incorrect.

Only S1 cars have Bravos.
S1 cars have the big 45mm Weber carbs.
Only the first 27 S1 cars have the small aircraft style Stewart Warner gauges.
S2 cars have the smooth-finish wheels as with all Countachs up to the 1988 1/2.

As for the market, I gave up trying to rationalize it or argue with it ages ago.

 

An S2 Countach, pre-delivery at Santa Agata, sans Bravos.
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Now here is a Series 1 with LP400 roof, made that way by the works. The owner thinks its worth more than most S1s....
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Yes S2 cars have Campagnolos with the bigger port-holes than the later OZs that went on LP500Ss.

Dont assume that any car with Bravos is an S1. A later car can have them put on, and Eurospares sells replicas. So you really have to check the chassis number and it has to be pre-1121100.

All S1s have 45mm Webers, but my understanding is some S2 cars have 45mm Webers too. The cut-off is something I am yet to ascertain.

No, putting Bravos & 45mm Webers on a later car doesn't mean you have a S1! For example, if you upgrade a Miura P400 to a Miura SV, you still have a P400, that has now been modified. Modifying a car does not change what that car was built or manufactured as.