Thank you for sharing the PPG paint sticker. You are right, they are awesome cars, something I have been saying consistently for many years, in fact, ever since they were made. By the way, I have seen Rosso Perlato in person, and it looks striking. But in images it is always hard to discern Rosso Siviglia from Rosso Perlato. This car is Perlato, but its hard to tell. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
1989 was the only full production year, so assuming the bulk of production happened there, say 2/3 of production, we are talking about over 400 cars. So it would be safe to assume that in 1988 and 1990 a total of 260-odd cars were built, perhaps more in 1990 since we are talking about 6 fulls months of production that year versus just 4 full months of production in 1988. I'd guess 120 in 1988 and 140 in 1990. Until we put together a production register, this is just a guess, a shot in the dark. Another 25th in Rosso Perlato (which you can hardly tell) in this image. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Joe, Thanks for the answer. Do you think some US spec cars never made it to the US and were shipped to other parts of the world or stayed in Europe? Another question: In some of the 88.5 Countachs (pre 25th with the skirts) I see the older type concave wheels and on some I see the 25th wheels. Where some later models produced with the 25th wheels in 88.5 or do people just bolt them on? Geno
Any 88.5 cars you see (such as the Blu Acapulco one advertised with DK Engineering) with 25th wheels on, have had them fitted post-production. Yes its possible that a US car never made it here, but that was not normally the case. Joe Nastasi had every USA-spec car spoken for and wanted them on the ground in the USA post-haste. Even the early acquisition of 2 cars by Max Bobnar in Switzerland was as a result of cars delivered in California being made available to him by Tony Carlini of Pacifica Lamborghini. I think he (Carlini) delivered more 25ths than anyone! In recent times, many USA birds have flown the coop. This Bianco/Bianco 25th # 12631 was sold not too long ago to an enthusiast in Japan. I doubt it is coming back. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here is my contribution to the 25th thread. Before I found the '86 5000QV I have. This 25th was an option..... It was originally owned by an orchard owner over in Yakima, Washington who was seen driving this car EVERYWHERE!!! Hence, the high mileage (71,000km when I was looking at it back in late-2009 when it was for sale at "House of Luxuries" in Costa Mesa, CA). Roy was going to have Grant and Carlo from the local Lamborghini dealer go and check out before we pursued it further. However, it was sold before they had trhe opportunity. Are you sitting down? The asking price was $69,000.00. Again, not sure of what work it needed, what condition it was in, etc. All I had were these photos the dealer sent me. VIN for those interested was: KLA12574 Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thought this was cool.... Younger brother looking at big brother....Jeff's 002 as viewed in the mirror of an SE30. Fantastic thread.... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great story Mike. Yes I have heard of cars going that low in the last few years. FWIW here is a 25th that lives in Tokyo whose owner drives it to work everyday and it reportedly has well in excess of 150,000km according to my associate there. I have posted one pic of it already and I will try & dig up others. Here is a 1990-build late car, # 12051, which now has in excess of 70,000km. But it still looks pretty good, and the interior is in nice condition. 25th option sports seats fitted. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
John that is a spectacular image, and thank you for sharing. I know someone with a 25th & 30th! By the way, here is that Tokyo commuter-car I was speaking of Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
A red Shark among Minnows. UK-registered G 290 FAN, this RHD 25th was seen driving somewhere in central Europe a long way from home. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That's in Belgium, the yellow plate is dutch, the others white with red letters are belgium, the only country with that colour scheme.
Thanks Eric, was this a press image from the early days? I seem to recall a series of images with a girl involved. Countering yours, here is a truly stunning Nero 25th from a series I posted earlier: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=142006284&postcount=145 http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=142006285&postcount=146 Its seems I left the best one out! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Joe I believe 12631 was the beauty I saw for sale at Motorcars International. I took one day too long deciding to purchase her and a buyer from Japan scooped it up. It was a very nice low mile example. I knew I should have made the deal then and there. I purchased my 430 instead. Could you provide clarity as to why the 88.5 Countach seems to get even less respect than an Anniversary. I personally love them. The last Countach to have the old body style, yet updated wiring harness & A.C. They are also fitted with the proper sport seats not the powered 25th sedan type. Also, as to Geno's inquiry on the wheels, did the 88.5 have color coded wheels? Do you have any pics to show the difference in wheels between the 88.5 to the anniversary. I know they made the color coded gold OZ rims for the 88.5 but not sure what else. I am learning so much from this thread. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge. Frank
The reason I initially hesitated on the bianco countach at MCI was because I wanted a nero Countach. Why does the rear looks so different on this one?
Hi Frank, The 88.5 is not disrespected by me! Great car, for the reasons you mentioned, plus the build quality and reliability that was brought by Chrysler ownership, just like the Anni. Most people that disrespect them do so just because of the lower sill with the strakes, but imo, just as design items go from trendy/cool, to dated, then to cool again, we will see that be cool again, and we may, imo, even see the straked Testarossa be considered cool-looking again some day!
I don't know why any of these variants are shunned. Personally I like them all, but felt that the 25th was being unreasonably or unfairly neglected or passed over, because I truly believe they are the best Countach in terms of usability, quality, reliability, handling etc. That's why this thread came to be. Personally Ive grown to love the two-piece seats of the 25th over the single-piece seats of earlier models, but, I understand why some like the classic look. There is a reason they went to this seat, because in fact, many people complained about the single-piece seats. I recall an article in which a back-specialist claimed that they were the worst shape of an automotive seat he had ever seen in terms of back-support. I can testify that driving for several hours in a classic Countach seat is one of the most excruciating things I have ever subjected my back to. But they look good. Le Mans winner Paul Frere is on record in Road & Track magazine as having complained so much about them that factory engineer Luigi Marmirolli decided they had to go. Thinking about it in those terms, perhaps you can find it in your heart to accept them. Yes the 88.5's wheels came in silver, gold or in fact any color finish you wanted. The 88.5 came with the same classic wheels you see on most Countachs except LP400 & LP400S S1.
I think its just a good image so you notice all the details? Nero is very nice, and here is one that I happen to know is driven considerable distances in relative comfort. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Paul Frere spent a day driving this Countach with the classic seat, and he was so uncomfortable that he asked Luigi Marmirolli to re-design the seat. When he came back in late 1988 to test drive the new 25th Anniversario for Road & Track magazine, Marmirolli insisted that it was his request that resulted in the change. As reported by Frere in the October 1988 issue of R&T magazine. Although the classic seats look super-cool, driving any great distance in them is not easy. Image Unavailable, Please Login
25th seats - adjustable for height, fore & aft, and rake. Even I can get comfortable. Image Unavailable, Please Login
