Countach, the ultimate supercar

You are correct that I cannot verify 100% that the debris or sand was left behind from the factory. However given the facts that I know, I am suspect that this was the case.

My conclusion is based on the fact that the engine still had its signature tint to the block and heads meaning that they had never been removed. Nothing traveled through the pump itself as it was perfect internally. The main and rod bearings that were affected were the first in line from the supply line coming from the filter housing. The Dirt or sand came from either the hoses from the pump, the filter housing itself or the oil galley prior to the crankshaft oil circuit. Any contamination prior to the filter would have been captured by the filter. The sand or debris was after the filter and before main bearing oil circuit where the oil line bolts to the block.

Everything after that one main bearing and couple rods bearings was fine. That being said it leads me to believe that again the dirt was isolated to this spot alone. I don't see how dirt unless it was inside the filter itself could be accidentally introduced into this narrowly isolated area of the oil circuit. Is it possible yes, is it probable in my opinion no as my engine is not the only one that has suffered from this same fate.

Sincerely Vic

 

Great info Tony! Thanks for taking the time to put it up for everybody to see. So many myths out there it is good to see actual data. Looks like John's car came out awesome. I am sure he is very happy.

Just a little suggestion is it would be cool to start your own "Auto Italia" (or whatever you want to call it) thread with the stuff you do instead of putting it in this thread. I feel it just gets lost with all the pages. I feel your info and work needs its own thread. Just my 2 cents on that.

Keep up the great work!!!

 

very nice brother!
u got more pics of that beauty?

 

+1

gonna share restoration photos with us???

I LOVE that

 

Joe,
no, this is factory claim x 0.83 (or - 17%) , or rwhp declared by lambo taking note of a 17% drivetrain loss...

not real dyno numbers

Tony took these numbers out of factory specs

i am curious to see what the dyno will give on different cars and i am pretty much sure that we will find some discrepancy with factory claim (but nothing huge)

 

Correct.

As I tune different cars i will post the numbers.

I have another DD in the shop right now as well as an S3.

The 17% number is on this car, others may be less or more.

Tony

 

Well is is actual data for this car based on 455 factory HP. If the other DD I have here and the LP400S3 do the same as I have charted then the 17% number would be the drive train power loss for a Countach. Once I have tested enough cars (maybe 10) then the % number will be set.

 

So I was looking through an old Dupont Registry magazine to try and figure out why I saved it.

Look what I found in the same issue...

That incredible S1 that is now in Canada.

And Brian's new S3 (the seller told me he bought it from Shelton 14 years ago)

August 1996
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What does the ad for the Espada say?

 

Very cool. I almost bought the Boxer at that time but just got the Countach. (Now with an FChatter in Canada as noted) The Boxer was bought by a friend in Indy and last year sold to an FChatter in Florida. The BB512 is available again right now.

 

Is it still a ultra low mile show piece or has it turned into a driver?

 

It says...
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Pretty low still. Maybe another 1000 miles or so if I recall. Was serviced by FChatter Brian S. (tech section and North Central sections) in Indy just before it went to Fl. Had sat around alot prior to that.

As is today:
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The big three from the 1970's.
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Long time owner died. Daughter brought it to Wil Degroot to sell. Collector Art O'Brien purchased the care for in the 20's. The owner of the sister Miura, the only other car with the same paint, brought it for 100k. The 2 cars were displayed togther at Geneva. Obviously it was important enough to get the right color as the Miura was being restored and bring these 2 cars back together.
I hope I got the story correct. I turned down the car because I thought it too rough and did not realise the history. Now, I wish somebody would rough me up for not buying it for 25K-ish. F-ing stupid.

 

Long time owner died. Daughter brought it to Wil Degroot to sell. About 5yrs ago, Collector Art O'Brien purchased the car for in the 20's. The owner of the sister Miura, the only other car with the same paint, bought it for 100k. The 2 cars were displayed togther at Geneva. Obviously it was important enough to spend the money and get the right color as the Miura was being restored and bring these 2 cars back together.
I hope I got the story correct. I turned down the car because I thought it was too rough and did not realize the history. Now, I wish somebody would rough me up for not buying it for 25K-ish. F-ing stupid.

 

After having gone through every single posting on this wonderful thread, I decided it was time to throw in my two cents' worth about a very old discussion. Almost two years ago, there was some speculation about whether the LP400 #1120002 was the 1974 Geneva Motor Show car. The picture posted was black and white, but in going through my archives, I've dug out this image from the May 1974 issue of the Australian magazine called Modern Motor. The article, which I don't have in its entirety due to a misspent youth of over exercising my scissors, was all about the 1974 Geneva Motor Show and included this full colour image of the LP400 on display. If you look very closely, you can see the distinctive pattern on the headrest of the seat that was a characteristic of this car and, if you look even more closely, you can also just make out the door of the blue Urraco at the rear of the Countach. I hope this helps.

Regards,
Paul
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LOL! Paul, I know what you mean about "Scissors" and "Youth"! Back in the late-60's, my brother and I cut up our Beatles albums so we could put the pictures in a scrapbook!!

Thanks for sharing the photo!

Mike

 

Tony thanks for putting up some "actual data". Very refreshing to see that on here.