Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

A portrait of Maestro Valentino @ work in the Mimran Downdraft, a picture says a thousand words.
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Dugan Enterprises rectified the malfunctioning speedo in December 2016 the week after the film shoot, so I’m afraid this is somewhat old news.

That said, this is exactly one of the reasons I invited factory test driver Valentino Balboni to test-drive the car post-restoration, and as a result, he came up with a small list of items to rectify, just as would happen at Sant Agata when the cars were new.

In test driving the car previous to Valentino doing so, the speedo worked just fine for Chris & Cam, in my case a week later, I was so concerned about sounds, temperatures, revs and performance that I never even noticed the speedo had stopped working. But, there is no substitute for experience, and the Maestro catches everything.

He reported to us that both the speedo and cold air from the AC were inop, and, gave direction towards final adjustments to the car’s steering column and the suspension. He thought that the speedo cable might have failed, not uncommon in a Countach as it has a torturous path kinking through the bulkhead into the car, but as I recall, I think it turned out to be an issue with the worm drive assembly. Or something. Anyway, it got fixed and has worked nicely ever since.

I might look into a corrector gearbox which attaches to the speedo cable and gives virtually 100% accurate speedometer.

Of course we asked Valentino about the engine’s power delivery and feel, and he simply grinned broadly and muttered something in Italian which I didn’t fully understand, besides the word “Spettacolare” which I took to mean good things. At lunch afterwards, he pointed out that he was test-driving this car for the second time, just over 30 years later, a special day for him I believe.

This car doesn't have any low miles to protect, at over 70,000 kms (@44,000 miles) it can be enjoyed.

The damage was a parking lot affair at no more than 3 mph as Raymond will tell you himself, my wife & I happened to be witnesses to it as is openly discussed in fun here http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/144483927-post1702.html and I'm certain it had zero impact on the cable. Also, when I received the car the speedo and odometer were working fine, and now that the car has been restored and final-tested, it works fine again. My hope is to continue Raymond's tradition of putting some miles on this fantastic Countach.

 

IG pic of my daughter & I leaving Il Fornaio in Carmel, the rear parallel-linked suspension can be seen at work on the uneven ground, very cool.
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Fellow Countach owner Dennis F took this short video https://www.instagram.com/p/BYTjQVnFBb6/?tagged=countach and shared the link with me, cellphone volume is never the best but this is fun to see.

 

Thanks Nils, cellphone sound can be good but not exact, and the best replication of the cars sound I have heard so far is Ben's video which I really need Early Cat to embed! https://youtu.be/TorVQotPDNg

Of course, you are assuming (or hoping) that it will change hands, either way, you could be in for a very long wait.

With respect to a speedometer cable that stopped working during the course of two drives strictly during post-restoration testing, absolutely no TMU applies, just as was the case when speedos were found to be inoperable during Valentino's test-drives of new Countachs 30 years ago, and as is the case with literally hundreds of vintage & classic cars that have a brief speedo disconnect, especially whilst in the shop or on testing. In our case, the car is fully restored and as good as new if not better, yet the odometer reflects that it has over 70,000 kms and we are certain that its within @ 75 miles of genuine travelled distance.

Strictly no offense, but, as regards your previous comments "Very easy to disconnect on the older cars. Just connect it back prior to delivery to the new owner", those kind of thoughts simply never cross my mind, nor will they ever, I guess I just don't think that way, as such, I'm unaware that it is very easy to disconnect the odometer on the older cars, as you say.

Valentino Balboni was invited by me to test-drive my car upon the completion of its restoration, he was also invited by me to feature in my film production of him and my car, as a special project. Emails on file making the invitation and his acceptance attest to this. As such it is 100% correct to say he was invited, and just because it is customary that his travel, accommodation and his suggested expenses are taken care of everywhere he goes (as matter of simple logistics of a retired person) does not negate the fact that he was invited one iota. You may not know that he flew directly from Italy to California and back again especially to do my project for me, cancelling other obligations to facilitate me despite some pressing family issues back in Italy. You may also note that he is invited to do many different things and attend many events, some of which he declines. On the other hand, of course, he is also retained on a purely business basis for inspections etc.

As regards how nice this car is, Vale is right, its a nice car, it speaks for itself, there are videos, magazine articles and many high-resolution images of it all over the internet for you anyone judge, and, I'm certainly not hiding the car from personal viewing from anyone. That said, this car has become more to me than just another nice car, it's become an example of what I do and how I do it, and it gets me out there sharing with clients & enthusiasts. It's also a very special Countach in terms of specification and it's role in Lamborghini heritage, and the story of how I accidentally came to own it, restored it, and sought out Patrick Mimran, means something to me now. Truth be told, these details matter more to me than how nice it is after the restoration, that's exactly why I did not show it over the Pebble Beach weekend but simply drove it around to share with people. I hope to continue to do that.

I wish the video was longer.
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The damage was a parking lot affair at no more than 3 mph as Raymond will tell you himself, my wife & I happened to be witnesses to it as is openly discussed in fun here http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/144483927-post1702.html it's a well-known often joked-about event, it's always disclosed as it was in this thread earlier, and I'm certain it has zero impact on the cars value after our total last-nut-and-bolt restoration.

Again, you are assuming the car will be sold.

As I mentioned, in test driving the car previous to Valentino doing so, the speedo worked just fine for Chris & Cam, in my case a week later, I was so concerned about sounds, temperatures, revs and performance that I never even noticed the speedo had stopped working. I'm human. But, Valentino caught it, part of the reason he was there.

By the way, I invite you to see the car in person Allan.

 

Bear in mind I'm not asking anyone to take my word for anything because I'm not offering the car for sale, plus, the incident has it's own publicly-disclosed detailed image link which has been up for 10 years, where you can see the damage was very minor.

Also, my style is to typically pay what people ask if I like the deal or walk, rather than try to leverage them down, otherwise I would have used this same incident (which I witnessed) to leverage Raymond down to pay less! Ask Raymond if I did that to him.

I think some people are making a mistake with this Mimran Downdraft thinking its just another car to me.

Here is my perspective:

I don't worry about ANY of the rather insignificant negative details people bring up because I consider that I am one seriously lucky SOB to own this car, its a once-in-a-lifetime type of car amongst many great cars of all makes & models for so many reasons. My perspective is, this is a dream car, and last I checked that dream car is in my garage. It was one of those things that was meant to be, the icing on the cake that comes along once-in-a-while when you work hard, and perhaps I'm old enough to have the sense to realize this. For example, I don't think what are Downdraft's worth and then value it accordingly, it's priceless, to me it IS Lamborghini history.

Why do I prize it highly?

Perhaps because I came to own it innocently by trying to facilitate a client after I tried to sell it for him and nobody would take, so I stepped up and took care of my client. My kind of story.

Perhaps because I had dreamed for decades of doing a cost-no-object total restoration, my way to my satisfaction even if things have to be done twice over, and, I was able to make that dream come true with this car, and for the outcome to meet my sometimes too-high expectations.

Perhaps because even though everyone told me you'll never find Patrick Mimran, and even if you find him, he'll never talk to you, not only did I find him, he talked to me, I was able to share the entire restoration process of my car with him, and he gave me permission to print the only exclusive interview regarding Lamborghini he has given in over 30 years (no, I did not pay him anything, he's sort of a billionaire, doesn't need my money!). Again, my kind of story.

Perhaps because this car is absolutely unique in spec and livery amongst all Countachs, a true automotive Fabergé Egg if I've the common-sense to recognize one.

I hope this conveys that this car is a little bit different, to me at least, and I'm not bothered if anyone agrees with me, its clear to anyone who talks to me about it that my feelings are genuine, and that's all that really matters.

To help appreciate the car, here is my entire image library on the Mimran Downdraft, use the arrows to scroll to the right https://www.flickr.com/photos/joesac...in/dateposted/

Here below are excerpts from the car’s history sheet:

* Countach Quattrovalvole (LP112D) "Downdraft" chassis number ZA9C005A0GLA12997, specially-built for the CEO & owner of Nuova Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SpA, Patrick Mimran who saved Lamborghini from bankruptcy and turned it into the basis of today's global brand.

* Built by Lamborghini to one-off livery, 'Bordeaux Speciale' paint with 'Panna' leather interior and 'Oro' wheels. Factory-tuned engine (Tipo L507 V4/73 carburatori, with special cams & additional oil-cooler @ 470 bhp) N°1202 was installed with gearbox N° 1013, and differential N° 909. Factory-supplied with leather headliner, and special Alpine electronics package.

* Completed & delivered at Sant Agata on May the 13th 1986 for delivery to Switzerland, where it was Vaude-registered VD.256925 for Patrick Mimran.

* Featured in the December 1986 edition of Road & Track magazine (Exotic Cars Quarterly N° 5) showing the car coming down the Sant Agata factory assembly line prior to build completion.

* Sold by Mimran a number of years after he sold Lamborghini to American automaker, Chrysler.

* GLA12997 remained in Switzerland for 29 years from new till 2015, the last 15 years of its life there in the hands of Countach enthusiast Raymond Stofer.

* Certificate of Vehicle Original Configuration confirming specification issued by Automobili Lamborghini SpA on September 1st 2015.

* Ownership history, special specification & livery certified by Valentino Balboni.

* Featured in a short film “The Lamborghini Countach driven by Valentino Balboni” directed by Ben Bertucci and produced by Joe Sackey Classics LLC https://youtu.be/TorVQotPDNg

* Featured in the July 2017 edition of Classic & Sports Car magazine in an article entitled “The Boss’ Countach” featuring an exclusive interview with Patrick Mimran himself.

Apologies for the long-winded post, but after screwing around with cars for 30 years, you'll have to forgive me for extolling the virtues of one that I have come to realize is a little bit special. We are grateful to own it, appreciative of what it is, and we intend to enjoy it regardless.
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Thank you Raymond for your clarification, please take heart, NOTHING will stop me from enjoying this car and regarding it as anything less than a better-than-new fully-restored one-off Countach Downdraft of peerless Lamborghini heritage, I know what I have, and I thank you again for making it possible.

Remember, this is the same car that its recent detractors would LOVE to own!

As regards the mileage, if we consider that whenever a Countach speedo becomes inoperative it automatically becomes a TMU car, then @ 40% of all Countachs (@800 cars) at this point should have their Titles changed to reflect same! The utter stupidity of the aforementioned notion speaks for itself. In fact, I have irrefutable proof that at least two (2) Countachs that should be declared TMU examples that have passed through Cats Exotics possession on the basis of his ridiculous assertions, the QV HLA12115 sold by them multiple times, and the LP500S 12562 still owned by them. I guess that under Federal Law, he will take immediate steps to ensure that the aforementioned vehicles are a branded TMU vehicles and their current Titles issued would reflect this, don't worry I'm sure Roy is going to get right on this

After owning many significant Lamborghinis from the ex-Shah of Iran's Miura SV to the ex-Silvera LP400 over a 30-year period, I can say that none of them compare to the satisfaction this car has given us for all the reasons previously stated. I am happy with what you sold me and what I have subsequently done with it, and unlike some people, my wife says I smile in my sleep

Rich, thanks for the compliments on the car, you can talk, because you actually travelled to California and spent time with it!

Meanwhile, there is a good saying - Misery Loves Company

You can see that the initial comments about the car's speedo being inop was simply a setup for Roy to chime in and hate, so I agree with you, hating simply makes you look stupid, and is a poor reflection of only one person - the hater. Hating by it's very nature is an admission of insecurity and jealousy, and simply documents that the hater is hating because they perceive that you have something they don't or can't. There are courses to correct this that you can take at UCLA or just read the book "How To Win Freinds & Influence People"

Crappy posts? You are too kind by half meanwhile all this publicity is noise that is great for the car.

Joey, you Sir possess the patience of Job and the the diplomacy of Lincoln please take that as the ultimate compliment but, there is no other way you can spin this one, what we have seen here is pure unadulterated hating, period.

Patrick, this is the Downdraft thread, and isn't the Mimran Downdraft a Downdraft?

Let's remember, I could have started a one-car thread as we have seen elsewhere, but, I started a thread that includes ALL Downdrafts, including yours, in a thread mostly maintained by me at not inconsiderable effort on my part. So relax and enjoy the show, and rest assured, it's one of the best thread's on FChat, why do you think it gets so many views, including regular daily attendance from even the haters?

Meanwhile, if anyone feels they are seeing a lot of the Mimran Downdraft, they may have to get used to it.

Just for you and to get this thread back on track, here is a non-Mimran Downdraft, caption this one "Here comes Tadek".

PS- its a long weekend, and the weather is forecast as great, we all know what that means, right?
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