Perhaps this is a tutorial of sorts, but I have had 3 rather concerned parties bring this issue to my attention within the last week alone. There are essentially 2 types of Countach turn-signal lenses: - The clear units with lines (1974 LP400 to 1988.5 QV) - The frosted units which are opaque (25th Annivesario) Trouble is, people are restoring cars with significant front-end damage using the wrong ones!! As more people know what is right for a Countach, this becomes more obvious. Look at this LP400 restored with Annivesario frosted/opaque units. Looks all wrong. Image Unavailable, Please Login
It should have the clear units like these, correct for 1974 to 1988.5 Image Unavailable, Please Login
Par for the course with all Annivesarios are the frosted lenses. However, there is a car out there on the market with clear units. Buyers beware. Anyone who knows these cars will spot this in an instant. * There is only one reason a Countach sports the wrong units: frontal damage severe enough to destroy the lenses. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Examples of 2 1987 QVs sporting correct-for-spec clear lenses Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Good point Joe, also many use the wrong side indicators, the original ones have a chrome ring, whereas many use simply the cheaper Fiat units which have no chrome but simply black rubber. The original indicators come from the Alfa GTV first series. They exist from Carello as well as from other suppliers like Altissimo. This is the correct one: http://www.ebay.de/itm/260834549990
Correct: my one. But Altissimo are just a second choice, as the OEM were marked Carello even if they are the same ciao Image Unavailable, Please Login
correct, like mine. There are also some available without the writing "Lamborghini", done by the same firm, but at one third cost. ciao Image Unavailable, Please Login
I was always curious about that lense. I am not a DD or Anni expert and keep low when they are discussed but was curious as to when a frosted lesnse used. Same as my question a year or so ago about the reflector on the rear lense. Thanks for clearing that up.
just to complete the front light part of the car: front Carello main lights and passing lamps. And not those sealed USA main light... ciao Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
ZA9CA05A4HLA12196, the ex-Andretti car http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=376714 Note that this is a modified Countach not originally built with side skirts. The seller notes this in this ad: http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/search/DRauSearchDetails.aspx?itemid=1187287 http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=141743135&postcount=14682 "Bradjohnson" (Allan Lambo) states: "Body and paint wise, the car is in good shape, but suffers from the usual Countach idiosynchrosies. Paint is cracking by the radiotor vents, the rubber caulking is turning colors and coming up in areas, front spoiler is scratched. In 2003 the car was involved in a small accident, rather silly as the repairs totalled $1800 with most of the cost going to replace the front spoiler, and refinishing the front wheel. The paint on the wheel is now chipping off and needs to be refinished. The other wheels had some scuffing, so all of them needed to be refinished. The tires were all old. Ofcourse the front bumper certainly had to go, and I also wanted to the proper european rear conversion. George said he would not repaint the car, so for now, we are fixing all the caulking, doing the euro conversion, new tires and refinishing all the wheels. If when I get the car I feel it needs a repaint I will do that too, but in speaking with George the paint is no better or worse than anyother car of this age." No mention of the replaced lenses. Why would a Countach have both the front turn-signal lenses changed? Ask any knowledgeable coach-builder who deals with these cars and they will tell you, "front-end damage severe enough to affect that area." Of course they could not get the correct items, or did not know what was correct for the car, and this speaks to the standard of repair facility used. Unfortunately for the car, that shop left permanent and undeniable proof of the car's frontal mishap. More pics here: http://www.ecarlist.com/cgi-bin/showroom.cgi?mode=show&id=273796&d_id=1332 Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ok Joe, you discovered the Brad identity and the true story of his FIQV: very well done, i appreciate this. But he already has a lot of problems with that car, i'm sure he does not need others! I know of a blue QV from Saudi Arabia now owned by an italian that suffered such a big front damage in a crash that it had to be replaced, all the front part of the car! Now it'is a shining car, inside and outside. So also this not very good FIQV can be fixed. I think here nobody believed the story that car was "perfect", may be nor Allan: it was not and by far, but still can become a beautiful swan if Allan Friedman wants to do it, as he has the money and Evans the skill and knowledge. ciao
Agreed. Anything can be made right in the end. But from what been posted by the recent seller and the current owner, you'd think this Countach was the best thing since sliced bread. As they say: "Misery Loves Company" and "Birds of a Feather Flock Together". All is good my friend.
The very first LP500 prototype and the first (red) LP400 prototype also had the frosted lenses. When it was painted green it received the clear lenses.
Good post Joe. I need to get in where my silver buckets are to clean and detail. What's the best way to get in there without getting into a headache? Looks like that black caulk is a mother to work with. By the way oh brother not that Allan Lambo guy. Why is here here anyway doesnt he have his own lambo site? lol Hey Allan remember me? GOT VIPER? What happened to that twin turbo POS Gayardo did you crap it out already? lol
Go in via the front trunk. Unhook the springs that hold the turn-signal lenses into place in the buckets. Be careful not to drop the springs into the crevices below because they are a mother to reach in & recover. A person with slim hands may have to help you with this - wife perhaps Then, use a compressed air blower with nozzle adjustment so the air pressure is not too high and blow into the empty bucket. By swishing the nozzle around you will get rid of most of the grit. The stubborn bits by the edges can be cleaned by use of a lollipop stick or similar wrapped with fabric. Gently does it. Replace turn-signal lenses and, voila, nice clean buckets without having to un-caulk the silicone! Or when I am in town I will just come over and do it for you!
lol you got a deal! I'll make sure I have a nice Cohiba from Cuba just for you. Oh man that Allan Lambo guy got banned. I wanted to have a little fun with him. I wonder if insulting him would get me banned? lol In all seriousness, did he buy that nasty CT? If so and George is reading this, charge him a bunch, and then a bunch more. Jerks like him deserve to pay the lamborghini tax.
Forgot to say, its best to remove the front trunk-lid for this procedure. It just totally gets in the way.
Thanks Joe. I plan on removing the bonnet anyway to clean up the entire trunk area. It's nasty way deep in there. I'm going to give it a good cleaning then spray that Krylon ultra flat black where needed. I still havent addressed the electrical problem to my passing lights. Once I get started in the front I don't want to stop until everything is to my satisfaction. I'm still waiting on a few parts so when I start I can finish "that" project before I move on to another. After I do the front I'm going to take apart the rear trunk and see why my license plate lights don't work. I bought a couple of clip on LED lights with watch batteries to light up a plate you can't see because it's hidden behind that bumper. I'm surprised the cops havent pulled me over because they cant see my plate. lol I'm going to enjoy working on my car and learning as much as I can as I go along. No sence in paying someone to do certain things and not learn anything about the car.
This image would be a great illustration of the kind of damage caused even in a low-speed "small" accident involving a Countach, that would cause turn-signal lenses to be replaced. Image Unavailable, Please Login
What is the part number for the original clear lenses? Both LH and RH? Any one have close ups of the part numbers on the clear and then Photos of the Aniversay lenses off the car with part numbers readable? I just believe that a lot of different things happen with these cars and just changing the lenses is not a no questions asked sign that a car has been wrecked. **** happens and they have been around the block for years now. Someone could have liked the look of the frosted style they could have altered the originals to look frosted. Or like you said the facility doing the work couldn't find a correct replacment and used the later ones, A rock could have broken one, some vandle could have smashed the lenses, come on there are a number of ways for cars to receive damage. To asume that it had significant frontal damage is just shooting in the dark. But there is no secret that that car was in an accident without photos of it no one knows how bad it was. And if all Countach's are worth saving why bash on the ex-Andretti car I was looking at that car as well. These are the lenses off of the ex-Andretti car. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Well sad day when we have to start bashing a car just to get a thread count up...there is no mis-understanding about Joe and Mine lack of affection for each other..and it has been real nice to rad and ignore the somewhat hand in pocket comments..who cares.. But to come on here and say ALL Countach cars with the wrong front lens is due to accident damage is total BS...and should not be tolerated by this community. It is one thing to post factual evidence and it is welcome...but to paint a image of a car as you have here without any evidence is just plain wrong... Regardless of what you and Allan care about each other, it is just wrong to "attempt" to paint a picture of. Bad light about his car, both here and in your recent "cosmetic" thread...just not par for the course..I have ore respect for you when you tick to facts and not this "bashing" of another's car because you don't get along for one reason or another.. Let us know when you fly to Florida...I think a step by step repair documented in video or pictures of YOU doing the light repairs to TripleX car would be very very valuable..It would give us all a chance to view your "words" in action on live Video..
Sorry for the poor scans. The manual is bound. 26: 006319504 39: 006319503 Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
