Countach, the ultimate supercar

Olivier NAMECHE · May 30, 2016

Stefano,

I'm glad that you have spent a nice week end from the other side of the tribune... nice pic shoot and thanks for sharing your experience !

em42 · May 30, 2016

Stefano Pasini said: ↑

Hello everybody,

the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este was held during the week-end 20-22 May. At the end, the 'Best in Show', the most important prize of the Concorso, was awarded by the Jury on Sunday evening to a gorgeous 1954 Maserati A6GCS Pininfarina coupé. Not many may have noticed that the always spectacular 112.0202, Walter Wolf's light blue Countach, won its class, 'Class H- DRIVEN BY EXCESS FROM GLAM ROCK TO NEW WAVE'.

The car was in a splendid condition and I had little trouble in convincing my two team-mates in the Jury for that Class (Harm Lagaaj and Lord Charles March) of the extreme importance of this car in the automotive world of 1977 and of its visual impact even today. We all agreed that even if it is not 'elegant' in the strict sense of this word, it was anyway one of the cars that everybody would have been happy to take home for his garage, especially me; this made it for the 'Best in Class', that means that the Countach was theoretically eligible for the 'Best in Show' award. Valentino drove the car during the defilé in front of the Jury and was affable as ever.

2nd place in Class H went, and I think deservedly so, the last ray of hope of a dying Lamborghini in 1980, Albert and Rita Spiess' Athon. Harm and Charles were impressed by the 'futuristic' style of its interior and when I showed them some little special details of the prototype (the special, very much hand-made air filter boxes, for example) they were quite intrigued.

To be honest, I was much less impressed by Miura #4846, presented by Polo Storico. I don't know who was in charge of the car during the event, as none of the guys standing around didn't seem fit to introduce themselves to the Jury. While I don't think that they might know me (and I wouldn't be of much importance to them anyway) Lord March is well-known and some words would have been appreciated.

These notes apart, I was very happy to see and hear 112.0202 in rude health making all the right noises and driving well, always surrounded by lots of people fascinated by its history and sheer glamour. How did the Miura manage to win the people's vote on Sunday (when it's open to the general public) is anyone's guess.

I took the pic attached to this message from my place at the Jury's podium; if you ever want to see some more amateurish pics of that magnificent week-end.....

Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2016

All the best,

Stefano
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for sharing your pictures, they render so well the wonderful atmosphere of the Villa d'Este.

Also glad to see the Green Ufo LP400 restored.

By the way, I love your Bristol adventures! Being myself also a Bristol owner...
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joe sackey · May 30, 2016

Stefano Pasini said: ↑

Hello everybody,

the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este was held during the week-end 20-22 May. At the end, the 'Best in Show', the most important prize of the Concorso, was awarded by the Jury on Sunday evening to a gorgeous 1954 Maserati A6GCS Pininfarina coupé. Not many may have noticed that the always spectacular 112.0202, Walter Wolf's light blue Countach, won its class, 'Class H- DRIVEN BY EXCESS FROM GLAM ROCK TO NEW WAVE'.

The car was in a splendid condition and I had little trouble in convincing my two team-mates in the Jury for that Class (Harm Lagaaj and Lord Charles March) of the extreme importance of this car in the automotive world of 1977 and of its visual impact even today. We all agreed that even if it is not 'elegant' in the strict sense of this word, it was anyway one of the cars that everybody would have been happy to take home for his garage, especially me; this made it for the 'Best in Class', that means that the Countach was theoretically eligible for the 'Best in Show' award. Valentino drove the car during the defilé in front of the Jury and was affable as ever.

2nd place in Class H went, and I think deservedly so, the last ray of hope of a dying Lamborghini in 1980, Albert and Rita Spiess' Athon. Harm and Charles were impressed by the 'futuristic' style of its interior and when I showed them some little special details of the prototype (the special, very much hand-made air filter boxes, for example) they were quite intrigued.

To be honest, I was much less impressed by Miura #4846, presented by Polo Storico. I don't know who was in charge of the car during the event, as none of the guys standing around didn't seem fit to introduce themselves to the Jury. While I don't think that they might know me (and I wouldn't be of much importance to them anyway) Lord March is well-known and some words would have been appreciated.

These notes apart, I was very happy to see and hear 112.0202 in rude health making all the right noises and driving well, always surrounded by lots of people fascinated by its history and sheer glamour. How did the Miura manage to win the people's vote on Sunday (when it's open to the general public) is anyone's guess.

I took the pic attached to this message from my place at the Jury's podium; if you ever want to see some more amateurish pics of that magnificent week-end.....

Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2016

All the best,

Stefano
Click to expand...

Stefano, what a beautifully written & illustrated blog, yourself & Anna as stylish as always, connoisseurs of elegance, a memorable weekend, thank you for sharing, we'll be there one year soon!

mt_jt · May 30, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7b2DDQpCP8

Found this on YT.
I love the guys sitting in the chairs at the start trying to look casual as they are blasted by four exhausts from an old Lamborghini V12!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IdzRByr1LE

And this, just "some guy" giving rides!

Stefano Pasini · May 31, 2016

Grazie Joe, em42 and Olivier for your kind words,

it's the fourth year that I'm invited to be a Member of the Jury in Villa d'Este (it's one of the very few Concorsos of which I accept the invitation, I'm not interested in too many other events....) and it has always been a great experience. This year we had for the first time three Lamborghinis to judge in the same class, and 2 of them were extremely significant as well. UFO74 was brought there by Simon Kidston and it looked stunning! It would have been a nice 4th Lambo in the Concorso.

Em42, now I'm curios: what Bristol do you own? You can answer me by PM or e-mail if you prefer to avoid going OT. ;-) but surely driving a Bristol is bit eccentric, like it was to buy a Jarama or a Silhouette when all the rage were Miuras and Countachs.....

All the best

Stefano

em42 · May 31, 2016

Stefano Pasini said: ↑

Grazie Joe, em42 and Olivier for your kind words,

it's the fourth year that I'm invited to be a Member of the Jury in Villa d'Este (it's one of the very few Concorsos of which I accept the invitation, I'm not interested in too many other events....) and it has always been a great experience. This year we had for the first time three Lamborghinis to judge in the same class, and 2 of them were extremely significant as well. UFO74 was brought there by Simon Kidston and it looked stunning! It would have been a nice 4th Lambo in the Concorso.

Em42, now I'm curios: what Bristol do you own? You can answer me by PM or e-mail if you prefer to avoid going OT. ;-) but surely driving a Bristol is bit eccentric, like it was to buy a Jarama or a Silhouette when all the rage were Miuras and Countachs.....

All the best

Stefano
Click to expand...

Dear Stefano,

I've always liked oddities! That's surely why I've also owned an Islero. My Bristol is a 2000 Blenheim 3, surely an acquired taste, but I love its idiosyncrasies! It is one of a handful in left hand drive and the only one in Switzerland.
Sorry for the off topic!
All the best and thanks for everything!
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joe sackey · Jun 1, 2016

Here's what happens to a perfectly good LP500S when idle hands and too much time conspire to create a personalized rendition of Sant Agata's finest.

Enjoy.
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joe sackey · Jun 1, 2016

In case anyone is wondering about the engine's setup.

Much welding was involved.
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EarlyCat · Jun 1, 2016

I was getting ready to call out kit car. I do see one benefit, just a single 4bbl to tune without leaning over the car. lol. Any idea what happened to this one?

christiann · Jun 1, 2016

its for crushing the grapes to make fine wine

Peter K. · Jun 1, 2016

Come on, it could be A LOT worse.....could have been, and my 1st thought when see the first photo,......a V-8.

Countach88.5 · Jun 2, 2016

joe sackey said: ↑

Here's what happens to a perfectly good LP500S when idle hands and too much time conspire to create a personalized rendition of Sant Agata's finest.

Enjoy.
Click to expand...

any idea what changes the engine internals needed?
Ive always been interested in a boosted Countach, it would keep the youngsters honest!
I have actually been thinking about doing this recently, but I have no idea if the internals on my QV could handle more than a mild boost (7psi?), or if compression ratio would need changing.

joe sackey · Jun 2, 2016

Countach88.5 said: ↑

any idea what changes the engine internals needed?
Ive always been interested in a boosted Countach, it would keep the youngsters honest!
I have actually been thinking about doing this recently, but I have no idea if the internals on my QV could handle more than a mild boost (7psi?), or if compression ratio would need changing.
Click to expand...

Come on, please, stop it.

Countachqv · Jun 5, 2016

any one knows what this 400 is? no vin to be seen anywhere. I thought the last year bonham because interior is tan but this one has the euro blinkers.
clearly it is not driven.

Also no sale on Bonham 25th stalled at $260K
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joe sackey · Jun 5, 2016

LP400S S2 Lowbody in Los Angles circa 1981, purchased from S. E. A. Automobili Rome
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joe sackey · Jun 6, 2016

Countachqv said: ↑

any one knows what this 400 is? no vin to be seen anywhere
Click to expand...

Patrick, missed your question, its 1120064.

Lambocars666 · Jun 6, 2016

The blue LP400 is indeed #1120064.

joe sackey said: ↑

LP400S S2 Lowbody in Los Angles circa 1981, purchased from S. E. A. Automobili Rome
Click to expand...

Oh, wonderful period photo!
That could be the long-lost(?) #1121174... unless it's simply #1121224 or #1121252 before being repainted black.
All those 3 VINs mentioned were originally delivered to S.E.A. and the latter two ended up in the USA.
Do you know which one this is?

roytoy2003 · Jun 6, 2016

Little bit off subject, but I picked up this little Gem while on vacation in Monte Carlo last week....it was only $125..never had seen one of these prior. It was the only one in the store, so I bought it and took it home with me...
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Countachqv · Jun 6, 2016

joe sackey said: ↑

Patrick, missed your question, its 1120064.
Click to expand...

thks. amusing that 2 consecutives VIN Blue lp400 were at the concours 2 years appart. Clearly that one got a repaint. I think it makes sense as the well know "black line" near the scoop is gone.

joe sackey · Jun 6, 2016

Lambocars666 said: ↑

The blue LP400 is indeed #1120064.

Oh, wonderful period photo!
That could be the long-lost(?) #1121174... unless it's simply #1121224 or #1121252 before being repainted black.
All those 3 VINs mentioned were originally delivered to S.E.A. and the latter two ended up in the USA.
Do you know which one this is?
Click to expand...

Victor I will check & advise.

joe sackey · Jun 6, 2016

Countachqv said: ↑

thks. amusing that 2 consecutives VIN Blue lp400 were at the concours 2 years appart. Clearly that one got a repaint. I think it makes sense as the well know "black line" near the scoop is gone.
Click to expand...

Yes definitely repainted.

In fact the last time I saw 0064 it was Nero, and German-registered MYK.PH-555, just as featured in the September 1997 issue of Oldtimer Markt.

Same aftermarket door-mirrors still mounted.
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idart · Jun 7, 2016

Scan from a poor quality but original 3x5 inch print – 1979 German car show.
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NürScud · Jun 8, 2016

I don't know if this is a repost..but it is great.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRxP8p3x0hY[/ame]

exotic30 · Jun 8, 2016

NürScud;144731547 said:

I don't know if this is a repost..but it is great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRxP8p3x0hY
Click to expand...

Probably reposted about 100 times

Lambocars666 · Jun 8, 2016

idart said: ↑

Scan from a poor quality but original 3x5 inch print – 1979 German car show.
Click to expand...

Finally a color photo of #1121084 at '79 IAA Frankfurt show!!!
Thank you very much for sharing!!

And that's the Turbo engine of Hahne you can see on display next to the car.
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