Official Countach Value Thread

I had a poster of this car as a kid... made me love them even more. Couldn't keep my eyes off of it.

 

Interesting...

http://www.coys.co.uk/auction.php?auctionID=19&itemID=1316

 

Very!

That Ad features three (3) different white Countach LP500Ss...

 

that car has been on sale for 1 year. too much money for a car that has too many issues right from the add showing a hint of lack of care to get a "good condition" price:
1) ordometer replaced. why.
2) wrong badges. Why
3) tired interior.
4) Drilled pedals indicating a potential donuts maker (ouch the clutch)
5) gear lever replaced with non oem
6) engine appears to have been "touched"
7) missing fins in the front spoiler.

In short that car looks like a used tired hot rod. It is not necessary to comment on the ask price that is ,as Joe says often, "saleproof".
value for me: $80K to start if nothing else is wrong on PPI with a repair budget of $35K. That car's got flags all over it. I bet there is quite a bit of engine work to do there.

I also forgot: I assume the extensions to be true Bobnar extensions not add ons done in the US or that also has got to go. Rear bar has to go . OK I wont discount for that and swallow another potential 5K.

that car may work for the current owner but for a sale, it is a turn off for real collectors.

 

Just to clarify, the Ad http://www.coys.co.uk/auction.php?auctionID=19&itemID=1316
features pictures of 3 different LP500S - a car in Florida, a car in Italy, and a car in England.
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They list the VIN in the one I posted, what car does that belong too?

 

Here's what I know from talking with the present owner of this car over the last few months
He's a great guy first of all, and "loves" the car is an understatement for sure, he pampers it


1) Odometer replaced. why. - wasn't replaced, just changed to mph with all white faces to all guages
2) wrong badges. Why.. -all are original but the Lamborghini badge, all were gold plated when he purchased the car
3) tired interior.- I like it, though good reason to believe it was at one time all white
4) Drilled pedals indicating a potential donuts maker (ouch the clutch) -actually, he "babies" the car, so that's out of the question...
5) gear lever replaced with non oem- this was also done before he got it
6) engine appears to have been "touched" -he has a racing mechanic that keeps her tuned
7) missing fins in the front spoiler. - no, they are there, but painted black

Cheers,
Will

 

So, why does he think that it is now worth $225,000 just a few months after he had it listed with a buy-it-now of $125,000?

 

Hey now, no bandwagon here, car was worth every cent and now has escalating price history. If kept up, that car will only increase from there. There's a story, facts to back it up, and original 1 only features, if that doesn't command value what will?


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Will:

All you have said sounds great.

Now lets get down to the reality of numbers in the current market.

This is a much-modified LP500S. To myself, and the discerning buyer, this car's value has to be current market minus the costs of rectification to standard spec. Yes, I understand that for that "special someone" it might appeal, but the bottom line is that in today's market the smart money follows classic cars that either remain original in original spec, or restored to original spec. Don't ask me why, that's the way it is. Accordingly, lets say a nice LP500S is $125k to $150k, this car is worth that range minus the cost of restoration to standard trim. That cost will depend on the cost of bodywork & mechanicals, assuming the interior is good enough to save. Mechanical costs will largely depend on the state of the engine, as determined by a leak-down & compression test, information as to when the engine was last serviced and what was done, its current condition as tested, and if it needs a rebuild (at those miles its entirely possible it does).

With all due respect to the seller, he/she is entitled to ask whatever they want in the market. But, for that ask to have any relevance and be taken seriously, it must be related to something - recent sales. All markets operate this way. Recent sales of LP500S have been between $100k and $150k, and those have been un-modified cars. Given this car's status, I cant see advising anyone to even give six figures for this car, with the proviso being perhaps they don't mind paying over the odds (& as we have seen in recent times, some don't). Every Countach is special, including this one, and I think it represents an excellent project for someone to return it to its former glory just as it left Sant Agata.

 

Countach qv:

I would not argue with your purchase value as that is something that you have to be comfortable with and is your own opinion, but I can tell you from personal experience that your repair budget of $35k will fall far short if your plans are to return this car to standard original spec as described in my previous post. That much is obvious from pictures alone!

Best,

 

How rare is it that we come across someone who is seriously asking triple (or near) what their car is really worth?

 

They are not mine to share, but i have been sent videos of this white car running/sounding and driving very well. At least it APPEARS that way. It is located not far from me and i hope to check it out some day. The owner seems to be a BIG countach fan and from a friend of mine that has talked to him and taken a ride in the car it seems he just had some unique ideas about making it his own. If the interior was white i would change it back along with the gauges. Hopefully soon i will know something worth reporting about it.

 

Peter,

we cant compare the 2 cars. there are too far appart in the way they show. I will accept the response from will the guy loves his car. So the car did not get abused. However, Keir's car was all original and able to attract true collectors with deep pockets.
Given the changes, for good or bad, on the white car, there is no way the white car can break $100K and have the buyer stay in the money unless he stores it for some time AND restore it.
Now of course if a mechanic gets it, the cost of restauration is much less. but mechanics type owners are not the ones overpaying for cars.
Right now the "new" Tony from Florida is selling better cars (one being a 500S) for a bit less money but in far better conditions with what I understand to be custom history books on his cars.

 

Joe, You are certainly right. I did not go thru this in too much detail but from the top of my head that was the discount that came to mind to make the point. I am sure a detailled lookup would bring a more accurate value. I figured if all is well in the engine this CT could become original for less than $120K.
It is a shame the ordometer got changed to mph. To me that is the biggest detractor as now there always be a lengthy embarrasing explaination to give on mileage.

I also just wanted to make sure that looking at the weakness of the car does not mean that I disrespect the owner or question his love for the car.
i just beleive the owner has been looking at the car many did in the 80s and has not paid attention that carb CTs are slowly becoming collectables thus must be original to command top price.

 

I don't think the potential buyer of this car would be interested in putting it back to its
original form. Can't justify the cost... if this car ever sells then it will have to go to someone that loves the Koenig style. There were posters that created many fans back in the day...
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i wrote it many times: a good restore will cost from 50 to 100 K USD or Euro (we have in Italy 21% VAT so more or less the exchange on the real cost is 1=1). Mine restore (not ended yet) is at 95 K euro by now and two years of work. It will be an outstanding restore, but is really expensive.

Spare parts are very expensive and not all are available... 10 K just for whole suspension ball joints set...

Do not buy troubled or bad cars. Mine was not so bad and required that amount of money.

And do not try to save money during the restore: better keep the car as it is rather than doing a bad restore or with not oem parts.

Estimated cost of restore to have a centerfold car or very close:

almost perfect car (the best available for sale): 15-25 k
very good car: 30-40 k
Average car: 50-70 k
low average car: 70-100 k
bad cars: 100-150 k

and i's better always to prepare the highest of the two figures...

 

Truer words were never spoken.

I agree completely, and all this comes back to the point of this thread: values.

 

humm... Ken, may be i should not be asking this but what does the girl looks like now? Is she still original?

 

Ken:

Whilst I agree that a potential buyer would not be able to justify the coast of rectification of this car to original form, and also agree that someone who loves the Koenig style appealing might have an interest in it, the bottom line is that the ask number is at least double realistic market. But, that is the seller's prerogative.

So too, numbers have nothing to do with the owner's enthusiasm. All respect must be given for someone prepared to own & take care of any Countach, and that is duly granted here too. But, again, that has nothing to do with what the car is worth in the market.

As regards what Willy Koenig did to Countachs, that is a matter of taste. Some clearly love what he did, because there are several Countachs he modified or sold modifications for. On the other hand, some still have not forgiven him for what they consider to be automotive vandalism. In the late 80s, I encountered a Countach that had been surgically augmented by the aforementioned Mr Koenig. I quickly looked away, and prayed I would be spared that experience in person again.

 

Thanks, Joe: a perfect car probably will worth a lot of money and will be sold quickly for sure, if you need to resale it.

Perfect Countach cars are very rare.

ciao

 

+1

Now i know i'm no more alone on this planet... ;-)

 

I know Peter, just bustin chops. Also I don't think a 12% discount is that substantial. Mine was listed for 215$ not 225$. I'm sure there are many on here that may think the selling price was too high, I don't, and it's twin brother (the white one I own) I know is only a 100-125k car and its mint, but 424 was an incredible car.