Countach, the ultimate supercar

It would likely come down to what needed to be changed. If the wheel arches end at the rocker they would need to be replaced. If not, a bit simpler.

 

That is definitely a good thing ! Though, the initial question on the cost remains unanswered, sorry for "steeling" it.

Mike : this picture is fantastic !
(front spoiler has extra holes in it ??)

 

I think it comes down to you, what do you like and what do you want to drive..if you have a car that you are concerned with changes effecting its VALUE..then it really is NOT YOUR car..you are just holding it till you sell it..do WHAT you want with your car, enjoy it..worry about cost once your Social Security check runs out LOL IMO

FYI, I had a 88 1/2 car that had the side skirts, was going to remove them, the cost I got was approx $2500.00. But the more and more I looked at it, it was not worth that to me, I was concerned with the DRIVE of the car..and it was a great drive car..and since I could not see the side skirts when I was in the car driving it..I could care less and placed the $2500 bucks into "Patron Tequilla" futures...Ha Ha

 

Cost is impossible to speculate on because modified (factory & privateer) Countachs that exist in the USA have such a varying degree of components added-on that you'd have to be looking at a specific car to determine what is required and the resultant cost.

What is undeniable is the trend towards putting the DOT'd cars back to what many perceive they should be - unmolested by bureaucratic mandates. You can see evidence of this from Scott597's pics of a recent Countach gathering showing USA-spec cars that have had most of the DOT stuff removed. Better, no?
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Dude, around you Patron doesn't have a future.

 

I agree, spending money removing the side skirts on an 88.5 car, its distinguishing feature, is throwing money away. If someone doesn't like the look of the 88.5 car, they should buy another Countach variant. There are a lot of variants that came from the factory without side skirts to choose from !

 

yes

leave the 88.5 to skirt lovers

 

yes!

i have an only exception: the cannonball LP400S (and its "sisters" made in period by lambo US importer)

 

I wouldn't sacrifice a 88.5, though, honestly, for an Anniversary, I would wonder...

 

Thanks for all of the feedback and Roy, thanks for the data point on the 88.5.

To be clear, I am not asking from a resale standpoint. For me, if I were to purchase a Countach, I would want it to look like the “original” from the factory because, well, THAT is what a Countach means to me. No side skirts and no US bumpers of any kind. I think the bumper removals are becoming more common and somewhat reasonable to convert if that is your preference. But I just haven’t heard much regarding the side skirts.

The case I was thinking of would not be for a 88.5 and I do understand the logic of leaving those sideskirts on. I am talking about the multitudes you see on the 5000S cars.

To put my question another way… would it make more sense to pass on a solid 5000S with sideskirts (with the intent to remove them) because the cost would be prohibitively high (to remove them) and just look for one without them?

I pretty much got the answer I was looking for – but it wasn’t what I really wanted to hear: “it depends”. Certainly understandable. I may have to investigate more if a particular car pops up. Thanks again for the feedback.

 

FYI, I have a Black 5000S inbound pretty soon, details coming, but if someone is intrested PM me or e-mail me at

[email protected]

 

Roy,

When your 5000S arrives we need to have a photo shoot of your Periscope, 5000S and my 5000QV. SWEET!

Mike

 

Yep. Thats the USA version of the lower spoiler when they came with the big ugly black bumper. Here is what it would have looked like. I still have the big, black, ugly bumper too! Its in a box up in the rafters!

Previous owner removed it and replaced it with the 25th anniversary bumper. One of these days, I want to buy the real Euro front bumper/spoiler and replace it.

Mike
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OK, did not notice those holes before. Thanks !

Coming back to your previous post... If I try to understand what really drives me, talking of cars, well, it's not the resale value since I will never sell a car I love, even for buying one I love more.

Though, when gathering with friends and other petrol-heads, there is one thing I think I don't want to live, it's the so-so face people make when they see, e.g., your Ferrari Mondial. I don't have one, but I regularly see how friends of mine who bring theirs to gatherings behave : they seem like guilty...

If I'd have a Countach, and because of my personal tastes, it wouldn't be a 25 anniv.
Any other would be okay, provided it'd be like the original one. I would feel like a traitor if I'd change something on a 88.5, but I wouldn't feel guilty if I'd remove those awfull US bumpers from a car, or extra skirts from a 5000QV.

So, ... taking things to the extremes, I'd ask (and I think I know your answer) : what would you think of someone removing all the ugly/stripy things (incl. the interior) from a 25 to make it resemble to a QV ? If he'd bring his sort of fake QV to a gathering, would you consider it as something to be ashamed of or ... ?

Yes, I know, I put too much importance into my peers' judgment ;-)

 

Changing a 25th to the earlier body style is much more than just the rockers. Look at the air scoops, and the rear of the car for starters. The physical shape of the car overall is what you really want to focus on (and version you want). I wouldn't concern myself with colors also, again the shape of the car is more important.

 

Even the front fenders are different on an Anniversary. For that matter, every panel except the doors and front hood are different. DON'T buy an Anniversary and convert it! They are cool just the way they are and there always will be a market for them as they came from the factory. Just wait and get the one you want, even if you have to pay up and bring one back into the US, because I bet it would cost more than $75K to have someone like Bobileff convert an original Anni to a QV on top of the cost of the Anni. And people would be scratching their heads afterwards wondering "...why in the world?.."...ruined an Anni...." etc. You would be better off getting a variant that looks like you want from original.

 

Great advice.

The other piece of advice I would give besides that of leaving 88.5s and Annivesarios alone as far as skirts & strakes are concerned, is, if you are going to de-DOT a Countach, do your homework, gather all the correct components, and go all the way.

Case in point this QV below which looks SO much better than it used to. BUT imagine how awesome it would be if the bodywork had been taken all the way to include removal of the DOT side-markers, replacement of the USA-spec bulky exhaust shield, and even use of the correct tail-lamp surrounds with reflectors (rather than the LP400 items used here). A few thoughts whilst the car is in the shop anyway...
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Makes sense. Did not know there were so many differences.

Though "Ruining an Anniv" : to my personal taste, there is a certain Horacio Pagani that ruined a Countach, but I can see some people would look at it differently.

 

white anniversary meets aventador
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was for sale at Oldtimer Galerie couple years ago
vey nice low miles car
anibody knows where is now?
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What do you think of this 1984 Canada VIN countach with the roof work..?

I can't imagine it being factory work.?
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any more pics ?

 

Yes, but then it would give away more info on this vehicle, not ready to do that yet..is in an Estate currenlty, ready for sale, but not yet advertised to the General Public.

Has not been driven since 1998, Black on Red, will need some mechanical conditioning I am sure, a one owner car from day one.

Does have a USA/State title currently, but was born to Canada.

 

Its funny I used to loath the Anniversary, but compared to many modern cars it has recently started to look really quite nice, perhaps like a fine wine it has matured with age. I really quite like it now, but it is still my least favourite Countach.
Although being a Countach it still towers above many moderns in my book.

 

In a large private collection in Switzerland, for sure not for sale...