Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

Joe is this particular car, JLA12299 too?

 

Yes, I'll defer to Robert on the other two.

 

A few more from Snapper Seven, showing Mike P's black Downdraft, Dino's car wearing 25th Anniversario front lenses, and the famed Flying Star!

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"Lessons Given To Ferrari Owners" - that made me laugh, great sense of humor given the Ferraris that turned up (I think that's Greg S's Downdraft behind the Driving School Countach).

Last image is of the dearly departed D 351 GYX, if memory serves me, this car was Bianco Perlato with a green leather interior!
Shame it's no longer around.

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Thank you Joe for deferring to me. I'm honoured as ever.

Cars have got mixed up here - hopefully I can clarify without getting into a tizz myself.

SS - thanks for posting the fab photos on flickr (and Joe for posting them here).

There are 17 RHD skirted 88 Countachs. It is very easy to confuse which car is which as one white 88 Countach looks much the same as another, and most of these cars are white or red.

Rod Stewart owned #12256, which was registered E440MYL. The car pictured above with the doors open and the beautfiful radiant smiler in the passenger seat is this car. The photo appears in an article by a UK auction house highlighting some of the interesting cars they have sold.

E176BGO is indeed #12299. This car was not owned by Rod Stewart(unless there is evidence somewhere that he did). ....but both 12256 and 12299 are white with a blue interior and both have been seen with and without a wing, so very easy to confuse.

F926OYR is #12387, which was destroyed in an accident. Portman Lamborghini in London registered new Countachs on number plates from F919OYR through 920 921 922 923 924 925 and F926OYR just to make the cars even easier for all of us to confuse!

 

Robert do you have in your notes that JLA12256 was new to Nick Asher?

 

GLA12942 in it's Blu Acapulco glory, a Downdraft I much-admired when it was new with my neighbor.

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Yes! Then to Rod Stewart (obviously!)

 

JLA12256 was the very first 88.5 Countach I saw, still on EE plates after Nick had picked it up @ Sant Agata, and I distinctly recall, it was delivered new wingless.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login While you're not supposed to choose favorites amongst your children, I can say I look forward to driving these two Gandini masterpieces the most.

 

Do you posted photos of JLA12256 in this thread? Maybe i didn´t noticed.

 

Such beautiful original examples we were lucky to find.

Yes several times, this image below of the car with E 440 MYL plates (which isn't mine) was the first and a couple more besides.

I also knew the first owner Nick Asher so I saw the car in person a handful of times when it was new before Rod Stewart got it.

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Ohhhh Harry has posted up part 1 YouTube video of his recent adventure down to the Lambo concourse event. Another great video Harry, looking forward to seeing part 2!!!!

 

This is epic! Thanks for sharing and well done Harry, once again it is a fantastic video. Looking forward to seeing part 2.

 

Excellent, and thank you for sharing this!

 

Forgot to mention, it's possible that Harry's Countach is missing it's transmission tunnel sound-deadening felt padding which sits under the fiberglass casing, which they all came from the factory with. I have seen several Countachs where the original upholstery was removed by electricians accessing cockpit wiring over the years. What happens is, the original material disintegrates into a mess, so it simply gets thrown away and not replaced. In this case, the gearbox becomes very noisy in the cockpit!

The material I am speaking of is like this below.

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Harry is the perfect host and brilliant as the Countach roadtrip reporter, also such humble,likeable personality, bravo,thank you, make me want to go for a long drive
In my car, wich,by the way,i tried yesterday, come to find out my brake light was stuck on all the time.( traced quickly to a stuck brake line switch located in the center tunnel)no worries, new switch next day air from George Evans.

 

Had the good fortune of meeting Harry at Pebble Beach this year. A true gentleman.

 

Great, all Sound so familiar, having driven GLA12997 for 14 years covering almost 60t Kilometers I can feel every bit he describes in my memories.

 

Wow Harry, another killer Countach video!
I'm itching to see pt.2.
The sound reverberating off the mountain and hearing the engine close to reline. I have my speakers turned right up.
Daaamn... as good as it gets.

 

Fantastic video Harry and I agree with the comments that it makes you want to get in your car and do a road trip.
I think your advice on routes and the area is great, and the little cameos of the towns gives one an idea of what to expect, so for me the travelogue and the shots of the car tackling the windy bends is just a perfect mix.
And as always, the sound of that V12!

Bring on part 2

 

what VIN was this car?

 

Nobody mentionned it so far, but on this picture, the mechanic is no else than Oracio Salvioli, at the time head of "Reparto Assistenza Image Unavailable, Please Login " and now running with his son Lucas their well known shop Top Motors in Nonantola, about 5 km from the factory...

 

yes, he looks very much the same today...only with white hairs

 

Here is how Valentino and Orazio Salvioli looked @ 1986.

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