Official Countach Value Thread

Correct, you have not been directly involved with the quality of an Italian restoration, but do you remember that you have seen an awesome Countach S3 that was sold by european owner to US Customer...

which was restored in Italy... that S3 was the most impressive detailled Countach... Lucky new owner !
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I know 2x cars available in Europe :

1. Countach LP S2 1980, for 535.000 €

2. Countach 25th 1989, for 275.000 €


interested by one of these, PM me

 

1121316 is one car that serves as the basis for how I feel about restorations from Italy.

It was very good indeed, but there were some some small glaring errors, some of which you can see openly discussed in the Countach thread - in case you missed those posts.

The European owner tried to sell the car himself for a considerable period of time, finally contacted me, and I sold the car to a client of mine the same week. Before my client took delivery, the car was shipped to California, where I was able to spend a not inconsiderable amount of time with it, resulting in my thoughts as described above. Again, it was avery good restoration indeed, but I felt it could have been even better.

 

What is your thought ?

been better than what you saw ?
or
been better than how it was done during production period ?

 

As I said, "it was avery good restoration indeed, but I felt it could have been even better".

Perhaps something is lost in translation?

Let me elaborate.

To give just one example: in the interior upholstery, the transmission tunnel was incorrectly done, and its shown in the image above you have provided. An LP400S S3 should never have the piping surrounding the shift gate. That is a feature that did not start till the LP5000QV! This is a very basic & elementary mistake that speaks, quite frankly, to laziness at best because someone couldn't be bothered to check, or a basic lack of knowledge at worst. When you see stuff like that, you start looking for other things. And I found them.

Don't get me wrong, the overall result was stunning & beautiful, and as I said, "very good indeed", but when a guy puts up a quarter-million bucks to restore a car, it better be 100% correct. No? That is the basis upon which I base my comment that "I felt it could have been even better", and that's true for most restorations I have seen.

 

Thanks, now that's clear...

 

Are the low body cars recognized for their value yet?

 

Of course they are.

I think that each of the variants from LP400 through to 25th have all been recognized with additional value in the last few years relative to where they were, say 5 years ago.

But around that time, Roy sagely proclaimed the Downdraft as the best variant, so it too is gaining value as we are finally paying attention http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/lamborghinichat-com-sponsored-cats-exotics/503457-countach-downdraft.html

 

Well, I don't pay any attention to the downdraft Countach, because many other Lamborghini's from the "golden era" are around, cheaper and way cooler.
in my book Urraco>Countach quattrovalvole.

 

Here's an alternative view - the iconic cars that launched the Lamborghini brand are the cars that were poster cars for the youth of the 80s, and this means Countach.

More specifically, the Downdraft was featured in the 1986 CBS 60 Minutes TV program and I believe that did more than anything to establish the brand in the Hearts & Minds of enthusiasts everywhere.

I also believe the Golden Era includes the time when Mimran rescued the brand from extinction, so we are talking pre-Chrysler.

Note too that the Downdraft was the ONLY Countach variant that was FIA Homologated.

For all of the above, I believe the Downdraft deserves a lot of attention, it sure is getting it, and it has a great future.

 

I agree with this as well. However, I do not recall saying the DD was "the best"...it would be interesting to see that in writing as it is claimed for me to have said...I honestly dont recall.

I own a Black DD, fantastic car...HOWEVER it is fact that the FI version of the Anniversary Countach is much more rare then a DD car of the same by numbers produced.

IMO, the HUGH price difference and recent FAST and sky rocketing prices for a DD is NOT worth the additional $coin$ over a FI car.

I have multiple in my collection, "Side Draft" early cars, as well as a Low Body and QV DD and QV FI and Anniversary FI.

There is a bump in HP, but again not worth the spread of $$ in my book.

I would MUCH prefer driving the 4 ltr side draft cars, lighter and more spirited then the QV car IMO. OR ANY 89/90 Anniversary in EITHER a DD or FI Version.

All great cars, regardless of the year or the variant. Just have to decide what value its worth to each and there own for a car of such design.

But each will have there own thoughts.

 

All opinions are good opinions and yours is an valid as anyone else's.

Sure, many mid 70's V8's seem great value today (Urraco, Merak, 308 GT4 etc). Especially when compared to some early flat six's I could name.

But it's very hard to argue that even a top of the range 3ltr 250 bhp car can be "way cooler" than a 5.2 ltr. 455bhp. space-ship of a car.

Mel Nichols liked the Urraco in period, but he was quite clear when he said it's handling could be surpassed...notably by the Boxer and the...wait for it...Countach!

I pay attention to every Lamborghini, warts and all, because they are, equally, part of the history of this Great Enterprise of which I am a fan. Frankly, I am consistently amazed that any of them were ever built. Thank heaven they were.

But I love the Countach and I think the Downdraft is a prince among them. And don't take my word for it...Or even Joe's.

"Not only was the LP5000S QV the fastest flat out, it was also arguably the best Countach to drive, featuring myriad other mechanical improvements that boosted power and enhanced handling. And this was achieved without the added visual baggage of the Anniversary bodykit approved by Chrysler after their takeover of the Italian marque.

Often referred to as the ‘DD’ (downdraught, referring to its new Weber DNCF carburettors), this is the Countach which today's hedge fund managers dreamed of as impecunious teenagers. Its future is bright.

We can think of no collectors’ motor car which offers better value for money and long-term future prospects – you heard it here first."

Kidston, 2016.

Only another opinion, but part of a growing body of opinion. I would suggest that to ignore the DD is to put yourself at a disadvantage. Forget the values. They go up, they go down, but the DD's are always good fun.

Let the love in...

 

In your opinion, what actually is the HUGE price difference currently between a DD and an FI?

 

I haven't seen a nice turnkey Downdraft less than $500,000.00. Anything in the $400k range needs work.

I would say depending upon needs, miles, colors they range easily from $500,000-750,000.00 with the top of the market maybe even more...

Fuel Injected USA spec cars sell between $250,000-400,000.00 depending upon miles and condition.

In my eyes the difference is $100,000-250,000.00.

 

I would pretty much agree with this posting, with the only exception being I think FI USA Spec cars are topping out at about $375K for an "excellent" example....so for me, a gap of around $400K for equal condition FI and DD cars...

Of course everyone's value is different...I just dont think that spread is worth it...but everyone has their on thoughts.

It is funny, I dont think there is anyone here that would say NO to a GOOD DEAL FI car if they could not afford a DD car at the moment. In another words..you get in to the game, as all rising prices raise the bar for a whole brand IMO..so the longer you wait to get in to the entry point, the further the gap gets from you first choice if it happens to be the most expensive of the group.

Just get out and play ball, trade up as you go along and sooner or latter you get where you want. Thats how you stay in the game from inning one to the end of your 9 innings of your life.

 

It's such a sad ,depressing topic, they are identical cars,built side by side ,same worker, same lunch brake story's, only diff is carbs versus fi. It's borderline retarded, f40 s got fi same with the got 288. I driven all of the above, there is absolutely nothing indicating the qv should be valued less than a dd. The key word is qv

 

I guess when you are selling a DD, that's what you have to write.

-mick

Kidston - Sold Cars

 

It's all broker manipulated, Period.

 

100% agree. There is absolutely no reason this restoration should be inncorect in any way or detail. Period,

 

As seen above, from the first page of this thread in 2012 and well before, DDs have long commanded a strong premium over FI cars. This type of variant premium can be seen throughout the collector car world; two cars from the same factory, made by the same people, where certain enhancements or specs command a premium in the market. Not sure why this is so groundbreaking here.

 

Well said.

 

Correct.

 

Really?

In case you have forgotten, I must nominate you as President of the Downdraft Owners Club, such is your unbridled enthusiasm for them.

As you said to all of us: "these cars are just doing nothing but going up in their investment quality” http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/140866316-post4.html

You waxed lyrical and extolled the virtues of the Downdraft above all others as he goes on: "I also like the article, wear Mr. VB was quoted as saying.. 'out of ALL the Countach cars..he would take the LP400 for the history of the company, BUT the 5000S QV DD as the BEST all around car of the entire line’…" http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/140866904-post11.html

Let's not forget that you sagely continued: "I would rather buy 5 80 series DD cars and enjoy a different one on the road each day then have an overpriced "race" history car that I can look at AND NOT take on a daily drive anytime I wont...but thats just me I guess.” http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/140869530-post45.html Well, you are probably right, what’s better than a Countach Downdraft? A Boatload of them, of course!

Unable to leave it there, as if to underscore your previous point even more emphatically, you said: "Actualy, Valentino says the 5000 QV DD cars are the best..” http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/140869535-post46.html So I guess that’s final, its Case Closed, judgement has been passed.

But wait, there’s more. Last but not least, as Downdraft Ambassador par extraordinaire you finished off: "IMO, way UNDERPIRICED here in the USA due to all the BS as they are hard to keep tuned, pass emissions, get titled and licensed etc wetc..all wife's tales..” http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/140938651-post93.html

All this sort of blatantly contradicts the tune you're singing here now, no?

 

John someone you know very well has been offered over $750,000 for their Downdraft and they have no interest in selling at that number.

 

It's not just Roy...I seem to remember long ago talking about S1 & S2's. Something you were selling at that time. Claims along the lines that the lowboy was just as fast, due to the lower weight, as the dd. Then comes along the fi Anni. Best car ever.