Countach, the ultimate supercar

I would still buy it.

 

Agreed. The early production cars are all a bit wavy.

 

Question:

Where comes weight difference between diffrent models?

And what are real numbers?

Raymond have some number on he's page:
http://www.countach.ch/History/index.html

 

The 25th anniversary has the additional weight of window lift motors, Seat motors to adjust the drivers and passenger seats, Side Skirts, Rear Bumper and some more stuff I'm sure Joe can fill us in on.

Mike

 

Does someone already hear about this particular early LP400 brochure, a kind of prototype brochure ?
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

There are several versions...
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

+ emissions equipment etc and I think U covered it.

We really must weigh all Countach variants. My experiences are only seat-of-the -pants. The LP400 feels lightest and I think the cars just got heavier with production, and I feel like the 25th feels the most 'planted'. Maybe its weight helps in that regard.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Japanese i assume.

 

As far as i know there are only one version, on your pic it has been fold out.

Kåre do you know if there are more versions?

 

Eric there is also the mini-brochure with manila pouch. Specs on rear.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Aha, i know thoose ones, i thought you meant there are differnt versions of the big one.

 

I only know these two versions. Which are quite difficult to find...

The only early Countach memorabilia I know other than that are the official Bertone pictures for the LP500.

 

As I have taken my car to parts, I found that there really is no heavy part. Interior parts are actually really light, to compare similar Ferrari parts (btw. Have you notice there is really good Ferrari information on this chat, besides obvious LamborghiniChat. )
-Chassi is allmost similar between all models.
-Bodypanels are basicly same, but classfibre stuff over later cars add some extra
-Emission stuff is heavy
-Sanden aircon compressor is lighter
-wheels are heavier under later cars

Last time my car was on scale number was: 1472kg With tools and emission stuff in. That number is with fluids in car, but how much fuel was in car is unknown.

 

As Joe mentioned, there's the mini-brochure as well. As a curiosity, the Countach mini-brochure differs from the other 5 (Miura SV, Jarama, Jarama S, Urraco P250 and Espada) in that it's the only one to have the printers name (Renografica Bologna) on the back.

 

Here's a great explanation of weight-adding items over the years, from an earlier post that discussed why the LP400 was so much lighter than the later cars:


How, you ask, is the LP so much lighter? Here's how: 1.) The body is smaller. 1.a.) Slice a couple of inched out of the body (under the doors/sill area). All that material weighs a lot.... it is that material that was added to make a low-body into a high-body (LP400 vs DD). 1.b.) The fender flares, front spoiler, sills (on 88.5) don't exist on LP400 and weigh something. 2) The aluminum thickness on LP400 is 1mm. On all others, it was thickened to 2mm. That doubles the weight of the body by doubling the amount of metal used to make the body. Those with both know how much more fragile and easier-to-bend the LP400 is vs the others. The factory doubled the thickness of the panels (and changed from pure aluminum to an alloy) to address the fragility complaints of the LP400. 3.) LP400 uses magnisium (vs aluminum by other variants which is heavier than mag) on suspension uprights (hub carriers), oil/diff casings, wheels, and many other castings, saving weight. 4) Wheels are smaller in diameter and width which makes them, and the tires mounted to them, much lighter. Ditto for the brakes. 5) Simple HVAC system much lighter on LP than the 88.5's climate control system (as used on Diablo) with its myriad of wires, vacuum, lines, actuator, relays, etc. 6) Electric antennae on 88.5 weighs about 4 lbs and doesn't exist on LP400. 7) LP400 used thinner (and more fragile) glass all around. Measure the thichness on an LP and you will see it is thinner and much lighter than the QV....again this was fattened up for durability reasons. 8) More leather on DD, including dash, headliner, etc. than on LP400, and leather is much heavier than cloth or mousehair. 9) Bigger engine on DD.....bigger pistons, twice as many valves and valve springs, bigger/heavier heads and valve covers, etc. that all go along with increasing an engine from 4 liters to 5.2 liters. 10) Much lighter exhaust without the extemely heavy cats. 11) stereo, speakers, and amps got better and heavier ...and they weigh a lot. Early cars had no radio or simple basic stuff. 12) LP400 had a simple, lighter wishbone rear suspension vs the later, heavier multi-link suspension. 13) Catalytic conveters mentioned in the exhaust comments above, but all the other emissions equipment weighs a lot too, especially the air pump/pulley/hoses and the myriad of tubes, wires etc. .....I could go on and on, as there is much more, but anyway, you get the point.....All these seemingly little things add up to Hell of a lot of weight. The difference in weight is not myth.

 

There it is!
I did not bodypanel thickness is differen't between models.

 

Thanks Vaholtorf, Awsome write up!!!

 

The LP400 definitely feels lightest. Its ride is the most forgiving also, courtesy of those tall profile tires. Accordingly it is the easiest Countach to pilot and to steer at slow speeds.

 

I saw it at Essen and inspected it... leather is in poor shape, to retrim it looks like not an option and mechanically it needs to be inspected as it smells a fuel leak somewhere and fuel evidence was on the ground...
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Bet both aluminium fuel tanks are leaking thru the underside surface of the tanks. Common problem.
I made a request for underside pics when at SLCM and they got them up on eBay after that.
The interior pics they showed in their eBay add and emailed me do not look anywhere near this one.
I'll say the car was misrepresented by seller.
Cheers,
Bjoern

 

Who is selling it?
How much are they asking for it? I see there is a sales add in front of car.
Cheers,
Bjoern

 

I'll bet that front bumper will be a big hit there.

 

120.000 € and can't remember seller's name...

 

too much money for an average FI QV
a good US QV is 95-100k $,it can be brought it in Europe for around 100k euro

a guy is selling a very nice low miles black QV for 95k$ on l-pow

 

Also, European seem to be willing to pay more for the car. The EU regulations to get a US car are demanding and can end up costing a pretty penny. (not mentioning the TVA tax). However, it seems to me maintenance cost are less there than here.

Finally, the crisis is not hitting europe as much to due a lot of social protection. I am prospecting there for a new business and there is a lot of not cheap real estate activity in the Region I am looking for. I wished that kind of activity would go on here where I live instead of going back to pre-pruchase prices!

I expect more car to end up there. Mine may as well.