Official Countach Value Thread

Yes, anything is possible. But as Peter states that the car was repainted 4 or 5 times, it may be difficult even for a good bodyshop. Maybe old photos help? The first owner still may have some. Although photos often are misleading, old photos might carry the information of a typical dark blue (Acapulco) or a lighter blue (as it is now).

In the end it probably doesn't matter that much as Peter is happy with the car as it is now. However I agree to one of your statements (in the lowbody thread) that points out that a car without questions has its advantages.

 

Its important that we are open-minded. As a DD QV owner these are your thoughts, and we respect them.

 

What do some of you in the States think about the removal of the god awful DOT required Mods to Countach's Being Removed and Euro parts like front spoiler and returning the rear of the car to original looks.

I'm talking about doing it right welding up holes repaint the whole bit. Just to remove all the bastardation.

Does this hurt or help value?

 

IMO it helps. The US bumpers are just so over-the-top hideous, as to literally destroy the lines of the car. I know I'd pay more not to have them.

 

countach wheels

there are 5 countach wheels:

1-LP400 campagnolo thin wheels in magnesium
2-LP400S bravo campagnolo wheels in magnesium
3-LP400S dish campagnolo wheels in magnesium
4- 500S - QV dish OZ alloy wheels
5- anniversario OZ alloy wheels

nr. 2 and 3 are not the same!
they do look similar but holes dimensions are not same, valve position is different and weight is different
i like the campagnolo more, personally
i owned complete sets or singol units of ALL the variants


p.s. there is also an other FACT, early 500S had still campagnolo dish wheels.....but only a handfull of cars and it just adds to the fact lambo changes are not always variant related

 

Lp400S, S2 and S3, share the same magnesium wheels, made by campagnolo
look at this pic: LP400S S3 with campagnolo magnsesium dish rims, you can see the valve position and holes dimensions
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this is an OZ alloy wheel for 500S and QV

you can see the valve position is different clearly
the material and hole design is different to
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4 or 5 times repainted! Crazyness! Peter, i just was reading on your website and was looking at the pictures from the painjob, why didn't you take out the windshield? Most of the time there you will find the correct colour, i mean hey come on for such an expensive car! But enough about paint and colours now! The car looks G R E A T! That engine too! Enjoy it in good health! Great job to bring it back in this condition!

 

Joe, i looked in differend threads, everywhere posts with pictures of you, just unbelievable, you posted almost 20.000 posts then again you write books!!!!! You must have no wife or kids, of a very good one!!! Great work!

 

This is a good question (better than your Bravo/QV post in the regular thread!). Probably they feared that the windshield will break when being taken out. It is much easier (and also a little bit cheaper) to repaint a Countach this way. Consequence: often the very first paint can be found under the windshield of a Countach, as many owners decide for the easier and less risky way.

 

Ok LC this explanes a lot to me. But the windows on the side, is it possible to make a good paintjob with leaving these windows in the car?

 

It helps the value, because NOBODY likes the DOT changes and they were not part of the original plan. That's why owners are paying good money to get rid of them, even on F.I. cars that were meant to be shipped directly to the U.S.
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IIRC at the Evans reunion there was only 1 car that still had the stupid dot front bumper...
and that owner has the euro version bumper in his basement but just hasn't taken the time to
have it installed yet.
Which car doesn't fit in?
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different angle..same event
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Interesting thread.

When I was looking to buy a Countach back in 2010, there seemed to be plenty of 5000S and Anniversary models available but very few 5000QV models, which is the one I really wanted. Yet when I see the production numbers quoted for the QV (as in Albert-LP's excellent post above), I can't understand why there aren't more QV models around. Does anyone know what the split between the QV FI and QV DD actually is because I often wonder if the QV DD is actually rarer than we all think.

How many of the 631 QV Countach Lamborghini supposedly produced were proper, full fat 455bhp models, rather than being federalised FI versions, with all that entailed in terms of styling, etc?

Another reason I believe valuing a Countach is much harder than, say a Ferrari, is to many casual observers, there are actually only three types of Countach; the early periscopo, the one with the big wheels and spats (as in the Cannonball Run) and the Anniversary.

Then, thanks to to a chap called Jeremy Clarkson and YouTube, most people believe the Countach is close to un-drivable because the cockpit is so small and the weight of steering/clutch/gearchange are impossible for regular humans to operate, so they don't even bother to look if one comes up for sale.

I only learnt there was such a thing as a low-roof Countach after I bought mine and I'm paid to know about these things!

Now I've owned my QV for 18 months, I come to realise I've got something very special. It's been interesting to see who the Countach has started to come under the radar of more and more enthusiasts recently, so I'd expect values to remain strong for some time to come.

 

Good point Maser about Clarkson and youtube... people *****ing about these cars publicly
whether they are accurate or not (usually not) does not help the value of this car. A guy detailing my car said he "always loved them but could never afford the repair bills so he'll
just GET A FERRARI" What?!!!! We laugh at guys like Clarkson but it does have a negative effect... they need more good press.

 

In December 1985, when I visit the factory, they were producing just US FI QV's.

Ubaldo told me, that they made 2 weeks of US cars, then 2 weeks of Euro cars.

so maybe 50% are DD and 50% FI ?

 

may be you are right, but even if there were just 325 QVDD, they would be more than 400, 400S and 5000S.

And there are several 5000S FI too...

All Countach are very close each other, there are big visible differences just between 400 and 400S and between QV and 25th, plus an engine change between the 5000S and QV.
Gearbox is the same for the LP400 and 25th...

ciao

 

Excellent post, thanks for sharing.

 

Helps.

Nobody wants the DOT stuff, and all the cars are over 21 years old so strictly speaking they don't apply anymore anyway.

The proviso though is that it has to be done right, and not half-a$$ed.

 

About two-thirds.

 

Anybody have any thoughts on the Countach from ebay. The white over red with white piping?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lamborghini-Countach-1990-Lamborghini-Countach-/270909737343?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3f137a897f

I understand it would need some work as it is a garage queen. Anyone venture a quess on the amount of work or cost to make it a driver?

What would be a good price on a qood condition queen like this.

Thanks.

 

Geno, your DD is a true euro and a nice one at that. the federalization can be addressed to restore it to the original look.
There are more than 18. I know of 30-35 DD in the US. Some not so good. The numbers I heard from others in that market is about 100. That number has yet to be verified.
G. Evans and Bobileff combined probably know better since they are seeing a lot of these cars. Their input would be great.
The lowest DD mileage I heard of is Roy's 800 miles white DD. Yours is second. It seems DD owners tend to drive their car more than let say anniv owners who sell them frequently with less than 10,000Km. Most DD have more than that from my experience.