Official Countach Value Thread

And also, is the seller Tony Rienzi untrustworthy?
I do think the color of the car is great though.

 

Here's a video of it:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NJbjOUJrSE&feature=related[/ame]

 

I don't know about the car personally, and there is a scale by which Countachs' are judged in terms of desirability. Usually by the hardcore purists, myself being one of them. I would say, that if the car is sound and in good condition and that is what one can afford, there are few cars ever created that will offer the Countach experience. If its' a good car, buy it. They will all be worth more in the future.
Many, many Lambo/Ferrari guys told me the Jalpa was junk, I bought it anyways and loved the car! It is no Countach however, and mine is a true dream.

I just sold a client an Anniversary car, that I had just sold an F40 to, and although he loves the F40, he was beaming about driving the CT. It is the real deal, in any guise.

 

There is numerous things wrong with the car that have been pointed out on this site. It's also got a lot going for it. For one, it's not in a pile of parts, and is still drivable. The last ebay auction closed out around 75k. Now I don't know if that was a shill bid sale, hence why it's back or if it's a failed ppi or buyer flake out. I can't think of a single drivable Countach available in that price range if it is true.

 

Agreed. As long as you're realistic about your expectations any drivable Countach has potential. Just know what you're getting into.

 

Lately it seems buyers have to go through the cars that have recently sold anyway so
might as well start off buying one cheap such as this. This one could easily have a second life. With less than 2000 made and who knows how many destroyed (hundreds maybe) i'd say they are all worth saving.

 

When I see cars around $100K I immediately apply the 10-10-10 rule to make it “my driver” (I just made this up so if someone else came up with it first then sorry about that). That’s $10K engine, $10K exterior, $10K interior. I.E. $30K in reserves minimum (not exactly evenly distributed but you get the point). Note the emphasis on “minimum”. I realize this # could be off by 2X but as an initial assessment based on photos alone, and if the car is really worth $100K in its current state, it’s a good start.

Multiply the $30K by 3 for a “very good” car, or by 5 for an “excellent” car (at which point I would consider the Canepa car, or the current red DD on ebay for around $185K and start there).

Not here to dispute the meanings of “very good” and “excellent”, so your mileage may vary

 

Larry congratulations on your new Countach (I forgot to say previously), & drive it in good health!!

 

Ken I sincerely promise you I am not on your case , but that is a wild exaggeration.

I looked into this a while back, and honestly, I would be surprised if there are more than 40 destroyed, and that includes the ones burnt to a crisp on the ground (chassis compromised), the badly crashed ones, the one that fell off a very high mountain cliff, and the one that drove under a lorry at 100 mph!!

Destroyed meaning that the car is un-salvageable and will never be rescued.

 

All true Peter, but once the words "cannot afford" come into the same sentence as the word "Countach", I see only trouble up ahead, at least for the Countach.

Too many of these cars have been run on a shoestring budget, neglected & poorly maintained because they have been owned by people who, frankly, could not afford to own them. God bless them for trying, and showing enthusiasm, but, at the end of the day, the Countach is an exotic machine which requires expensive maintenance.

This is exactly the reason why so many poorly cars exist on the market today!

Major refurbishment, rebuilds, & restoration if done right on a Countach are not for the faint-of-wallet!

We have already talked about buying a car such as the one we are speaking about and driving it until "one day perhaps" we can afford to restore it. Personally I think that sets you up for a disappointing Countach experience, because nobody, except nobody, buys a Countach to not share it & show it off to one's peers, friends & family. Accordingly having to explain time & again how the car became this way , and what & when you are going to do something about it, is entirely not satisfying and will get old real fast. Then what happens? The car gets passed along even before anything is done about its poor state, or laid-up the way it is. I have seen this happen time & again, and I have heard the report from a dozen owners: "Joe, I am never again buying a substandard car. I will either wait till I can afford the best, or can afford to buy a substandard car and immediately send if off for restoration".

Personally, I would only buy this car for the purpose of a full restoration back to original. I am one of those who takes the view that these magnificent machines are automotive works of art, and they deserve nothing less from those of us who are lucky to be custodians of them.

 

Please Joe, with our shared passion here i would certainly not offend so easily. I appreciate correction and clarification. I am VERY glad to hear that the number is maybe much lower than at I thought. 40 still makes me a little sad though. I am glad you have looked into this as i have often wondered. Unfortunately, i can only take care of my own.

 

Thank you for understanding.

 

"This is exactly the reason why so many poorly cars exist on the market today!" Joe

I agree with this, and hopefully/thankfully seems to be slowly changing.

 

Thanks Joe and everyone on the forum. I went in being very well read thanks to all of you, and after having two experts go over the car (one pre and one post purchase) feel that I got a fair deal. With reserves in hand I’m slowing making a list of winter projects. I have my “perfect” cars and needed something to keep me entertained. I decided to buy in the middle of the pack so that I could drive as I go. I’m looking forward to the journey.

Larry
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I agree I think they gave you an excellent deal. Well done again.

 

+100!

A bad Countach is just a bad car and a bad experience: i drove it when it was bad and i drive it now when it is good so i think to know what you said, and i can also say that the difference is enormous.

It's a nonsense to own a wreckage just to say "this car one time WAS a Countach, the fastes and most outrageous car in the world": a Countach is a mechanical symphony that needs to be in good shape to perform well, or it will be just a big mess of noise and problems.

I think Countach owners are changing: now those cars are all going towards owners that can afford to restore them and keep them in good shape too. If you think, you will realize that this will grow up prices too: there will not be scraps for sale anymore, so prices will start from 150 instead of 80.

ciao

 

+1 a plan, knowledge and a lot of patience is required. The plan is vital to work through a car, as I am guessing very few people can reasonably afford 6 figure restoration bills in one go. A plan means the car can br driven and restored in stages.

 

My experience was that a good restore requires three years: one for mechanic, one for exterior and interiors, one to correct errors and do what you forget to do on the first attempt an tune everything. So a radical restore on a Countach is 40+40+20 or 50+40+10 or 40+30+10 or something like that. My cash flow was more or less 50+30+10, in euro.
I plan 5 k each year as maintenance: i do not know if they are too much or too low, but looks a reasonable figure.

ciao

 

Alberto I am at the year 1 stage with the bodywork.... Mechanics next, will be a similar route to yours other than I will be doing most of the work.

 

Alberto I am at the year 1 stage with the bodywork.... Mechanics next, will be a similar route to yours other than I will be doing most of the work.

 

have a good restore: remember to change the most heim joints you can, as car changes a lot with new suspension heim joints. They are very expensive...

ciao

 

Peter, generally, I think it is first-time owners who are the ones who buy Countachs with lots of needs hoping to tend to them later. I'll submit that by the time you've had a couple of classic Lamborghinis, your thinking will likely mirror that of Alberto & myself.