Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

'Random application' can cover all variations.

 

More of E 825 LYU, big wing and sports exhaust affixed.
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Last but not least, how could anyone forget the irrepressible Rob Capp's Bianco Perlato car.

Bianco Perlato paint, white leather with red piping and carpets, painted door mirrors from the factory.

This car also had sport headers and sports exhaust from the factory, and it was loud - appropriately it was seemingly always driven with gusto.

Thank you Snapper 7 for this walk down memory lane, I had not seen most of these images and coming across them is like finding a small treasure trove.

Happy Holidays!
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Yes, that's also this car http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/144916646-post4010.html

 

The factory delivered a handful of Downdrafts with color-coded mirrors, that much I know for sure as I saw certain cars being delivered, Gerald Carroll's, Rob Capp's and Steve Fosters cars amongst them.

I'm not sure if there was an options 'list' per se, or if ordering owners simply asked for their cars to be built like that.

As with certain features that owners requested, the factory tended to consider using them for subsequent variants, if they thought it looked aesthetically pleasing. This is exactly what happened here, and as you know the factory adopted color-coded mirrors for the subsequent 25th Anniversario.

Here below is the aforementioned JLA12414 and other cars at Syon Park, West London. The man with the yellow jacket is Mike Perry, Portman Lamborghini's Sales Director. He took the new-car orders and ensured that Sant Agata carried them out.

This pic would be from 1989, when the first few 25ths had been delivered.
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I consider myself fortunate to be able to post them, especially because I knew the cars & owners depicted in these images from back then. It seems like last year even though its over 28 years ago!

Here is FLA12878, by now owned by Vic 'Red Rocket' Sawyer, seen powering out of the Chicane after Woodcote on the old Goodwood circuit, clearly not sparing the horses.
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Another chassis number I've discovered is this Bianco Perlato/Bianco Downdraft, seen here @ Goodwood circa 1988.

I belive this car still exists in the UK with this registration C 596 MGO.

Its ZA9C005A0GLA12975, first UK-registered on the 2nd of February 1987.

Note twin rear fog lights at a time when the car was new.

In the 2nd image it can be seen in the company of another almost identically-liveried car, likely the Rob Capp Downdraft.

Both cars have color-coded door mirrors.

In the 3rd image it can be seen exhibiting some youthful exuberance coming out of the Chicane after Woodcote.
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Giallo Downdraft @ Goodwood, this is the AUTOCAR test car which achieved an electronically timed 180 mph @ Bruntingthorpe with big wing and big muffler box exhaust affixed. Impressive!
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I do remember the 88.5 UK-registered E 176 BGO seen @ Goodwood, its ZA9C005A0JLA12299.

My notes tell me this car kept and not registered until April the 25th 1989.

I must say there were, or are, a lot of Countachs in the UK!
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LHD but UK-registered 999 MNN, this is ZA9C005A0JLA12395.

The rear badges are off.

This tells me one of two things: either it previously had the rear safety panel on (Middle East delivery for example) or, it was hit from the rear. Without an exact template to hand, placement is often askew when rectification work is done.
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Another Jersey-registered (J 13216) Downdraft, I have no idea which this one is.

Seen in the track lineup at a Supercar Test day at Castle Combe Circuit circa 1989.

Appears to be LHD, white caulking, color-coded mirrors, and rims with some brake-dust.
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I should have known better about GLA12975 because David Chidlow - who sent it to Australia - is a friend of mine!

I think you are right, D 421 HYP is in fact the Rob Capp car, captured before the 185 EXY plate was transferred from the non-metallic white LP500S he had previously.

Sharing & discussion, its how these details are established - notes updated!

 

I love these videos Raymond, thanks for sharing, especially the first one which shows GLA12997 preparing for its trip to the USA with parts in the trunk.

Shortly after you sent me this video, I got the letter below from CARS.

FWIW, from Switzerland, it went to the UK, then flew into San Francisco in the USA.
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Tags for GLA12997 showing stopover & destination
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Not sure if these stills are from the same track event/s or not
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The wing is much-discussed in the general Countach thread I started 10-odd years ago, but, by the advent of the Downdraft , the factory were supplying the cars with wings, although, 'unofficially'.

Unofficially because they were never Homologated for road use.

My understanding is that the manufacture of the wings were sublet, but I'm not sure if they were fitted offsite or at the factory itself. However, there is no question that cars were supplied by the factory with the wings already affixed.

Factory engineers and test-drivers will tell you that the wing is not a useful appendage, it slows the car down, and its effectiveness is dateable although it can be argued that at very high speeds it steadies the car.

That said there is no question owners love the wing, and as this image shows below, I believe more Countachs exist with a wing than ever left the factory with one.
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