Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

A possible solution could be: companies which re-finish plastic material - There is a well known issue with certain Diablos and Ferrari cars of the 1990's that the plastic components of the interior become tacky. There are specialized companies which refinish them - could this be a solution to restore the mirrors of the QV? This could also be a solution for the Vitaloni mirrors which faded in color (turnining greyish) over time.

QUOTE=joe sackey;144546444]Another good question.

Bear in mind that once painted, you either need to stick with painted or find a NOS set which remains in black plastic, because they were never painted satin black. That said, DDs were indeed delivered with painted mirrors.[/QUOTE]

 

Thanks Ivor, any lead is worth a look, and is appreciated.

Maseratis & Ferraris both used several forms of Bordeaux.

In our case, we happen to have areas of perfectly-preserved paint which we are having matched in PPG paint by a specialist, so we hope to have a true rendition of the original color.

Bear in mind a couple of things:

Firstly, the paint on 12997 was a custom color not used on any other Countach per Valentino's recollection, and so I doubt you can find an existing coded color that is a perfect match.

Secondly, Mimran's Nuova Lamborghini SpA was somewhat of a major client of PPG Italver in Milan, and therefore, the boss could literally have any color he dreamed up. I bet the way it went down was he suggested he wanted something in that hue, and they mixed up some paint and sent it over to Sant Agata. Of course I'm assuming this is what happened, but, the only way for me to be sure about this, or why this color was chosen, is to ask the man himself.

One thing I do know is that, amongst his collection of cars, there were many sports cars in elegant metallic colors, silvers, dark blues, blacks, etc. For example, Patrick Mimran also owned this 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Boano 0547 below, and as you can see it had an elegant silver roof and metallic Bordeaux/Claret/Burgundy/Maroon paint (I'm not sure of the true name). Perhaps he liked this hue.

As you know very well, the paint-names & codes of Italian sports cars of the 60s/70s/80s are not an exact science (!) but the topic is probably book-worthy by itself!
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Great idea, I have heard of this solution.

 

FWIW, this 1986 magazine documents that FLA12878 had color-coded mirrors when new
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Luxembourg (?) - registered QV 5000, chassis number unknown to me
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As far as I can tell all the Lamborghini bodies designed/constructed/painted by Bertone used PPG paints and the Countach shared colour charts with the Jalpa. So my instinct says that this was a PPG colour and that Bertone had some part in the selection of the colours. There is also some evidence that colours were shared across marques. For example Oro Longchamps as used on the Khamsin was also used on at least one LP400 and one Silhouette.

To my eyes 51214 looks like a period water based code. I have another code MAS2874432 which may be an earlier acrylic PPG code 2.874.432...

 

Worse time of year. Empty garage syndrome. As the QV is in for service and MOT with the top man that is Mike Pullen. She has a leaky water pump, which is pretty common. Especially considering she will be 30 years old next year. Mike will cure and replace all hoses as precaution. Apart from that, the old girl seems to need less doing to her than my 355. She starts well, drives great. All down to being used I suspect.

Looking forward to getting her back, ready for the summer season.
R

 

You Need only the black palstic Body, it's the same as for the mechanic mirror and is still available, my mechanic told me today in Germany for 60 euros.

And guess what, I picked my old carton box which was in his Garage for years and found the original fog rear light!

 

Peugeot 205 GTI CTI Aussenspiegel rechts Vitaloni 814984 | eBay


Original, electric:
Vitaloni Turbo Außenspiegel Lamborghini Countach Ferrari 512BBi 308 400 412 328 | eBay

 

My QV is at Mikes' for a service too, must be quite a sight! I'm having the ignition box updated, as my car still has the original and there's a few too many pops and bangs from the exhaust for my liking. Doesn't like starting as much these days, either.

May have the electric power steering removed as well, as car not as stable at big speeds as it used to be. Not sure if it's the new tyres, wonky suspension, or the electric power steering, so working thru the options to eliminate each one in turn..

 

Thanks Ivor.

 

Basically, its this Vitaloni unit
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It took me a while to find one to complete the lighting package for the car!
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I think you may find the car moving around at speed is the suspension. The difference in handling between a Countach that has had the suspension completely overhauled & set up properly and another that needs sorting is a night-and-day handling experience! Even from a safety POV, you want the suspension spot-on if you drive fast.

Bravo on trying the PAS system, but I always thought that you'd lose the car's sharp go-kart 'feel' at speed. Perhaps I'm different, but when I drive a Countach, I actually want to work for my pleasure, if that makes sense. I actually think you'll be more satisfied with the 'Armstrong' power steering system!

Lastly, in a Countach, you can never have too many pops and bangs!

 

Hi Harry, Transporter Chris picked her up the other day and he mentioned taking your car to and from Excel for the show. I would get Mike to replace the suspension bushes. He did on mine, transformed the car. Mine also has new tyres on and I think, if memory serves correctly, you can switch off your power steering? Maybe go this route first, see what she feels like thereafter. Also, might be teaching you to suck eggs on this one, but tyre pressures all ok as well? What with the rear tyre being so wide, it does make a difference. Especially over our poor quality roads.

Just had a call from Mike. Asked me what finish I want on the water Y pipe. Original finish is more satin, but he's done some in a more gloss black which he reckons look very smart. I'm sure the purists won't agree, but easy enough to change back at some point if required. Chris will drop the car back to me when it's all done. So unlikely that I'll get down to Mike's shop. Probably just as well, as We are like a couple of old women chatting over a coffee. Love going there, just to nose and look at the other cars he is currently working upon.

Cheers
Rob

 

"I would get Mike to replace the suspension bushes. He did on mine, transformed the car. Mine also has new tyres on and I think, if memory serves correctly, you can switch off your power steering?"

Replacing suspension bushes on my car happens almost every other year, as I treat them almost as a service part! I'm very fussy when it comes to geometry, as it makes such a difference to how a car drives. The stability problem first arrived when the bushes had been renewed, new tyres were put on and I had the power steering fitted, hence why it's a mystery as to which of these is causing the problem. I used to track my Countach but I wouldn't do so now with the way mine feels at the moment, there's a degree of rear steer going on and it doesn't track straight and true at 120-130mph+, which is a little unnerving to say the least!

I've replaced the bushes since the power steering was done and I expect they will be replaced again during this service. I suspect it's a combination of the new tyres and the power steering causing the problem and while I'm very grateful Pirelli are making tyres in Countach sizes, I have to say my car felt way better on the Toyos I had on the front than it does on the latest set of Pirellis..

 

Mike's a good guy but he does love to finish engine bits & pieces in non-original specs. I remember the days when you could tell if Mike had worked upon a UK Countach - it would probably have red cam-covers! In those days the cars were worth nothing, so, who cared? These days, they are very valuable, so, if it were my car I'd ask him to refinish the Y-pipe in satin black, this way you never have to change it back, besides, then you'll have the satisfaction of knowing its right.

 

Harry, just my humble opinion, but given your commendable attention-to-detail to your car's suspension, it sounds like the issue is the power steering you added. The Pirellis wouldn't cause high-speed instability, they are rated for much higher than 130.

BTW some fabulous images of you car at the London show just came up. The sign on the wall says "Lamborghini Countach", for those who don't know!
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Caption this one cold-start & team-work, this one took some doing, and as he backs it off, the DS front wheel barely makes the ramp!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4fKDkc3wIs[/ame]

 

To add to the earlier posts, with a bit more time available, I wanted to humbly share my experiences with suspension issues having owned a number of Countachs.

There are a lot of suspension components to worry about, but, its worth checking all the bushings first, they're easier & cheaper to replace than the heim-joint suspension pieces.

The tie-rod ends are unique to this car, some built with angled/offset ends, and I have seen cars that have had these incorrectly replaced that drive poorly.

Basically, I estimate from personal experience that at least a third (or more) of all Countachs have suspension issues that need addressing.

I've even driven cars fresh out of a "restoration" with terrible handling because the suspension wasn't sorted fully!

I think the guys in Europe who actually do drive their cars in inclement weather need to check their suspension more frequently, as the rod-ends have no rubber-boot protection, and with road debris & zero lubrication, their life-cycle will be relatively short compared to cars used in different conditions, unless they are cleaned and lubricated every time they are driven a considerable distance in the rain - impossible to ask, of course.

The heim-joint suspension can give a well-sorted Countach incredible precision (go-kart) handling if it is spot-on, its an area that many overlook, but its a beautiful thing if its working the way it should.

One man I know who can simply take a car for a drive and tell you exactly what's going in with the suspension simply on the basis of said drive is Valentino, which is exactly why I have him help me when looking at Countachs.
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Bianco/Bianco DD @ Automotoretrò in Italy
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FLA12878
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That was close. The chap looked to be in a bit of a hurry.

 

Mr V is a great resource. Since his retirement from the works, his income is supplemented with assignments he does and service's he provides world wide. I have had the pleasure to engage his services for a few projects that are in the works. His fee(s) are well worth the feed back. If anyone is needing his service, I am more then happy to put you in contact with him.

 

It is always great to hear Valentino is appreciated, as he truly is an asset to the community!

He tells me nothing gives him greater pleasure than reuniting with cars he said goodbye to at Sant Agata.

Since you mention it, his contact is no secret as he is a public figure, and anyone can connect with him via https://www.facebook.com/Valentino-Balboni-45340848075/ or more directly via [email protected]

I have referred dozens of people to him over the years. He is available to us all, to anyone who has a Lamborghini or who simply needs his advice.

Indeed, he is very kind with his time and I agree he is fair with his costs, and I believe we are lucky to be able to even have access to the experience he has, delivered in that cool, calm & collected way.

Since you bring it up, please share with us what projects you have in the works with him? This way the community learns what services he can provide.

For my part I retain his services as part of our due-diligence process on cars we are looking at for clients, and in that regard Ive had the good fortune to be able to send him to South Africa, Sweden, Italy, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the United Arab Emirates, so far. Of course, I'd like him to test drive the car we are restoring in the USA.

A few years ago I asked myself the question: "who's driven a couple thousand Countachs?" and that's how I began working with him. He is one of the easiest people to work with in the car world. To know him and to work with him is to be connected with Lamborghini history, and we are very blessed to be able to do so.

A more recent portrait of the man. I think he's saying: "No problem"
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