Countach, the ultimate supercar

Gold looks great and it's rare on a Countach, but this (apparently) early LP400 I found on Pinterest is my favourite colour for these early cars.
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This car was listed as chassis #1120244 in ILR. As there are many wrong info on that website, this could be #1120032 as you mentioned...
Aside form this gold Countach, the yellow one owned previously by Farah Diba and the well-known #1120190, I've heard of a blue Countach (LP400 or an early LP400s) ordered by Shah and kept in Iran after the revolution until late 1990s. In that era the car was sold to a Malaysian businessman and exported out of Iran.

 

An Observation, #1121214 in Rame Colorado is thought to be the 1981 Monaco Grand Prix Pace Car.
I think the pace car was #1121312 which went to Patrick Mimran on 13th May 1981, it had exactly the same Color Combo. 1981 the Grand Prix took place on 31st May which would match perfectly.
The White pace car could have been #1121314 White/blue which went to Jean Claude Mimran on 15th May.

 

Of course the Mimrans were based in Vaud or Lac Leman in general, even their Swiss import company Codeco SA - Lambor SA was based in Nyon (and most likely owned by the Miimrans - they knew how to make money ). My Mimran QV was also registred in Vaud (VD-256925).
For me it makes no sense that #1121214 shall be the pace car, since it's more than a year older and also delivered to Italy whereas the two cars of the Mimrans match the color scheme and delivery time just before the GP.

BTW #1121312 was the first S3 according to the Info I got, from the few pictures of the pace car I couldn't determine whether it's an S2 or S3.

What I find strange, such iconic cars being used as pace cars in the most known GP but you can hardly find any pictures of them...

 

Hi,

Are you sure 1120190 was bought via the Shah ? Local lore says that it was bought by Princess Ashraf (who stayed often in Monaco) which she subsequently bequeathed to the former Crown Prince. The car does have a 'MC' sticker. Could you kindly clarify.

Many Thanks

Ramin

 

Hi Ramin,
Sorry for the confusion. I said "the King bought #1120190 through Monaco Motors in June 1976" but it is not very accurate!
This car was indeed delivered to Monaco Motors. But I've found two different stories for this particular car:

"Gift to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi from his aunt, after he passed driving test."
&
"Delivered to His Imperial Highness, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the late Shah of Iran for his son Prince Ciro of Persia's 18th Brithday present."

The first one doesn't make sense unless it confuses the Shah's name with his son's.
Prince Reza Cyrus Pahlavi was 18 in 1978. That's right.
Princess Ashraf Pahlavi (the Shah's twin sister) was living in France (and Monaco) at that time. That's also true.

Which of these stories do you think is closer to the truth?
Or a mix of both? (I think so)

Hi Nima,
That reminds me of a similar story with a Blue Miura SV...

But actually, there was indeed a Blue Countach LP400.
According to the factory's archives: Countach LP400, chassis #1120054, Bleu Thaiti - Tobacco, delivered on February 14th, 1975 to S.E.A. Auto (Italy, Roma-based dealer) to be sent to Persia.

#1120054 was "baked/roasted" (but not melted) in a garage fire... (don't know where and when) - See pictures

That said, I don't know if it is the same car you are refering to. But it's the only one I could find.
I would definitely love to know more about all these Countach from Iran!
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I saw this car in Florida about ten years ago. Every panel on the car was warped and destroyed along with just about every other component, a total mess. It was owned by a well known exotic car mechanic who had restored many high dollar Italian classics, if he's still got it I'm sure it's in some stage of restoration. He was in no rush though as he had another lp400 that was a driver.

 

a good chance that pic was taken in japan?

 

12666 is presently receiving a lot of love in my shop.

Here you go: Suspension and drivetrain are out for rebuild while the chassis and body get a makeover in the body shop
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YES!!!!! So cool to see them like that! I love it.

 

I've read that this particular Tahiti-Blue Countach Was delivered to Saudi Arabia... ?! and destroyed there in one of Imperial garages...

 

Digging out this old post, which car is it?

 

Hi,

Just some quick clarifications:

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the name of the Shah. Reza Pahlavi was the name of the Crown Prince. Our understanding is that the car was bought on Monaco by Princess Ashraf and given to Crown Prince Reza when passing his driving test (or another version has it as a birthday present). There is 300 SLR which has a similar story. Ashraf bought it in Monaco (and has MC sticker) and then brought it back to Iran, when she gave it to Reza who drove it on the Saadabad Palace grounds where Ashraf also kept a palace. He even tried to sport it up (the MERC) by adding a MOMO steering wheel (the innocence of youth ?). Since the royal family could import cars without any duties, it was not uncommon for them to import a car, then after tiring of it, passing it about to some lucky crony / relative. This is apparently how the white Miura ended up in the hands of Dr. Keyvan Saleh (Miura thread) and the Ghibli which is in the museum in the hands of the Shah's nephew.

I hope this helps.

By the way, what is the story of Queen Farah's yellow Countach. Sounds interesting.

Regards,

Ramin

 

Looks like that nasty popup roof vent is history. Fantastic!

 

Thanks to both of you for these clarifications!

 

Out of the whole production, there were only 2 RHD LP400 finished in Giallo Fly - Nero:

#1120168, originally exported unfinished (in order to avoid taxes) to South-Africa, and later imported in the UK.
#1120226, originally exported to Australia... and unknown nowadays.

Here is a photo of a RHD LP400, Giallo Fly - Nero, said to be during Lindfield Motor Show, 1978, Australia.

#1120168 is well-known and features several little differences (mostly for the fact that it was completed in South-Africa) compared with this particular car from Australia.

Therefore, I truly believe this car on the photo to be #1120226.

Dear members from Australia (and others), do you agree? Do you know something about #1120226 ?
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I think this is CLA12471 which is in reality 1121210 which got the 5l engine.

 

Hello Victor - that car is in Sydney Australia with a very private collector - i've previously posted picture of the car as it is now sporting custom 17in diameter wheels earlier in this thread.

 

Thank you!

Do you mean... that one?
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Not That car - the car is still yellow the picture is at page 566 of this thread.

 

Thanks!!

Could that silver car be #1120244 then ?

 

I don't know the vin of the silver car but I know its not 244, 244 is dismantled being restored - the silver car was always silver with Burgundy interior.