Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5 | Page 15 | FerrariChat

Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

Discussion in 'LamborghiniChat.com' started by joe sackey, Oct 25, 2015.

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  1. SupercarGuru

    SupercarGuru F1 Rookie
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    Fastest/Coolest growing thread on FerrariChat to date?? : )
     
  2. mt_jt

    mt_jt Formula Junior

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    I see an internet meme in the making with that too photo!
     
  3. 375+

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    Do you mean Autosport(Bacchelli e Villa) in Bastiglia? They don't do interior work.
     
  4. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    No, I don't mean them, I know who they are.

    I was thinking of another small shop in the Milan area.
     
  5. 375+

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  6. 375+

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    BTW the detail of Sig. Paratelli's work is exquisite, a cut above Ferrari IMO.
     
  7. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    #357 joe sackey, Oct 30, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Agreed.

    Here is a car that Ive known since new, and these images of his orignal work were taken when the car was 25 years old.

    One thong upholsterers forget when re-doing the interior of the Countach is, back in the period they used a leather that was fished to a certain sheen. It was quite shiny even when new, as opposed to the 'flat' finish of many of today's available leathers.
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  8. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    #358 joe sackey, Oct 30, 2015
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    Owners manual pouch supplied with the DD came in a number of different colors and finishes, but they all had a stitched-on shield with "NUOVA LAMBORGHINI" embossed on it, in deference to the company's official name at the time: Nuova Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SpA.
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  9. Edward 96GTS

    Edward 96GTS F1 World Champ
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    post #357, spot on re leather sheen. todays leathers are too flat, especially black, which looks charcoal in color.
     
  10. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    #360 joe sackey, Oct 31, 2015
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  11. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    #361 joe sackey, Oct 31, 2015
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    New Zealand-based ZA9C005A0HLA12089's history as explained to me by its owner:

    "I am the 3rd owner, the first owner picked up the car from the factory and drove it to London where it had its 1,500km service then shipped it to New Zealand so basically New Zealand when new,he drove it for 6,000km over 2 years then sold it to (Property Developer) Tracy Gough. He owned it for 15 years and only clocked up another 5,000km and I bought it at 11,277 km in 2005 . It has now traveled a total of almost 32,000km. Cheers, Phil"

    Below is 12089 when only a few years old in NZLater a DD QV arrived in NZ. The car was also used by Alpine for promotional purposes.
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  12. em42

    em42 Formula 3

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    I absolutely agree with that! Great remark.

    Not only for Countach interiors by the way. It seems that many restorers don't get it, even for very important motorcars. The use of matt leather really spoils vintage interiors. It is a shame seeing very good restorations being ruined by this.
     
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  13. em42

    em42 Formula 3

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    #363 em42, Oct 31, 2015
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  14. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    #364 joe sackey, Oct 31, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This is HLA12226 new to Alberto Garnerone in Turin, Bianco Perlato (Pearl White) with special leather piping, stitching & inserts, plus Burberry Tartan carpeting.

    I believe Paratelli did the work.

    Delivered September 27th 1987, the side-skirts are a rare factory application with single strake as assigned to just a couple of late 87 cars before the typical two-strake side skirt was applied in production from November 1987 onwards. I have images of a couple of other 1987 cars with this same side-skirt.

    Personally, I like it! Perhaps not my first choice, but a cool factory Speciale.

    When the car was a few months old, the Garnerones brought it back to Sant Agata for the 25th Anniversary celebrations, along with their LM002 (12041). They checked it in as "Bianco Perlato" chassis number ZA9C005AOJLA12226 based in Rosta a suburb of Turin. You can see it circulating on the track at Monza, original spec single-strake side skirt clearly in evidence, original spec painted door mirrors, and its original wing still mounted at the time. Hard to read the TO/Turin license plate affixed.
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  15. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    #365 joe sackey, Oct 31, 2015
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    As if to prove the point, here is another late 1987 Countach Downdraft (Bianco/Bianco in Japan) with single-strake side-skirt. Factory application.
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  16. joe sackey

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    #366 joe sackey, Oct 31, 2015
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    In the pre-Chrysler days, the factory was still so small that individuals could literally show up at Sant Agata to place an order and be welcomed. I know people who did this, and at that point they literally would make the cars to any spec or color desired. It truly was a small bespoke sports car maker.

    Metallic Peppermint Green with Red interior? No problem.
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  17. joe sackey

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    #367 joe sackey, Oct 31, 2015
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  18. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    #368 joe sackey, Oct 31, 2015
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  19. em42

    em42 Formula 3

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    Wow! Incredible combo. Do you have other pictures of it?
     
  20. Downdraft1

    Downdraft1 Formula Junior

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    I had spoken of this about 6 months ago with ex Paratelli workers which now are carrying on the tradition and usually have an Espada, Miura or Countach in restoration. I was told that today's leather is not as shiny but now can withstand direct sunlight and important temperature changes without shrinking or loosening. Basically they use Avendador leather. The tanning companies are also restriced by anti pollution laws so certain chemicals are no longer permitted.
     
  21. Downdraft1

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  22. Downdraft1

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    #372 Downdraft1, Oct 31, 2015
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  23. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    #373 joe sackey, Oct 31, 2015
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    I have a whole box of print images from the mid-to-late 80s that I need to get out of storage and convert one day, this is all I have on my desktop (not my image) for now.

    Well-known UK car the only one in ts livery (Metallic Money Green!), delivered new through Portman Lamborghini.
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  24. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    Fantastic Alex, the black Swiss DD registered GR.100.U actually has a red interior.
     
  25. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

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    #375 joe sackey, Oct 31, 2015
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