Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

In the December 14th issue of AUTOWEEK, Giancarlo Perini's visit to the factory revealed some interesting statistics about the Downdraft-engined Super Countach (Countach Evoluzione), which corroborates exactly what Ingegnere Luigi Marmiroli told me personally @ 2 years ago.

In his article titled "In Search of the Super Countach" he said the Super Countach weighed in at just "2,633 pounds" (!), and spoke about a 5.2 liter engine at "500 bhp". He went out with Valentino (below) who stated "I saw 324 kph (201 mph) on the very precise speedometer while I still had more power available".

The Countach Evoluzione below on PROVA BO.2133 plates with Messrs Balboni & Perini.

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Perini tries out the Super Countach.

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He is asking 920,000 Euros or $1.085 million US, @ the same number Jean Guikas achieved for the delivery-mileage (95 km) JLA12305.

I am surprised he is not asking more given the car's provenance:

- Built specially for Keke Rosberg when he was already F1 World Driving Champion (Rosberg kept this car a number of years after he sold his 288 GTO).
- Blueprinted engine with factory-intalled sport exhaust.
- Triple Bianco livery with big wing.

This is an important Lamborghini IMVHO, I bet it is a quick one (meaning I wouldn't be surprised if it has seen 195 mph) and if I didn't have a special one, I would love to own it.

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Flashback May 1985 - Keke, private jet & Countach.

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Here's that AUTOWEEK article.

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FLA12824 drawing a crowd as always.

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Oh sorry, yes I should have known that's your question

I'll leave John to make that declaration.

 

I remember that also.

But as we all know that's a familiar story with classic Lamborghinis, and with time, as people learn more about the specification and histories of individual cars, things change, especially in an age where people are much more educated about the individual cars than they used to be.

I wouldn't worry about the past, as we know with many the world's valuable sports cars, there were periods in their life when they practically couldn't be given away, all it takes is one forward-thinking person to see things differently from most.

Anyway, this Countach has a lot going for it - the ultimate performance version of the Countach built for an F1 World Champion in highly desirable livery and still in basically un-modified disposition, I'll recommend it to any serious collector who is looking for a special Countach. It does need a little TLC, but apparently nothing serious.

Hey, I think Nico should buy it!

 

In another thread Ivor provided a list of Lamborghini factory Prova (test) plates, here is BO.1364

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I did a little checking on the Rosberg - Lamborghini connection.

Apparently, FLA12808 was delivered to Keijo Erik (Keke) Rosberg, who won the F1 World Driving Championship in 1982 in a Williams, in the Spring of 1985.

He took delivery of his Countach Downdraft directly from the factory on on EE plates, drove it back to Monaco, and often returned the car to Sant Agata for service, having Valentino Balboni ensure that it remained in fine fettle - cars that were originally serviced at the factory have fared very well mechanically in later years.

In November 1991 he also took delivery of a Giallo Diablo, servicing that car also at Sant Agata, in April 1993.

Keke's Team Rosberg has just purchased 2 Lamborghini Huracan GTs for GT racing next year. His son and also Formula 1 World Driving Champion Nico Rosberg will be on the team, Team Rosberg won the DTM this year. Father & son recently visited Lamborghini, and interestingly, Nico does own some classic & vintage cars.

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The recent Rosberg visit to Lamborghini, F1 World Driving Champion Nico drove the Centenario.

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Naturally, as a fellow owner I see where you are coming from, and some may say this has no bearing on the market, but having been around these cars for 30 years I know that there comes a time where they need to be refurbished & restored (now), and when this takes place in a professional manner to very high standard and to original specification, the cars ascend in value partially due to those costs, and partially due to renewed desirability. We saw the same thing happen with Miuras 10 years ago, and many other makes & models. That said, it would be hypocritical of me to say the asking price of the Rosberg Downdraft is high as my Mimran Downdraft is appraised & insured for more than that, perhaps I was hoping that would put off any interest so I could enjoy this car as I really do, but, I'm not sure it's working!

 

Moving on to an easier subject, no matter the value, we are lucky to have the opportunity to preserve and prolong the lives
of these Lamborghini legends.

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I don't have a census yet.

Red was likely the most prolific color followed by White then Black. Then the metallic colors such as Blu Acapulco, Pearl White, Blu Tahiti and so forth. Of course I'm basing this purely on observation of the cars from 1985 to this day.

 

You should ask Valentino Balboni, whom Giancarlo Perini quoted.

For purposes of speed tests in a prototype, an auxiliary precision speedo could be mounted in the cockpit in any number of places within scope of the driver's vision.

 

As usual, you are simply guessing it didn't happen, and are typically clueless to reality besides magazine image guesswork, and, most importantly, you haven't conducted any first-hand independent research into this subject.

The Countach Evoluzione, essentially being a Sperimentale Muletta, existed in many guises as its testing and development went along, so one picture does not establish its interior specification. By the mid 80s, all the tests done at Nardo were done with a plug-in speedo, most often an adaptation of the Leitz Correvit unit used to record the 180 mph achieved by the yellow Downdraft at Bruntingthorpe. These speedos used optical sensor technology and as such were dead-accurate (preferred to this day by some over GPS technology) just as Vale stated to AUTOWEEK's Giancarlo Perini. Dario Benuzzi @ Ferrari used the same system @ Nardo for the 288 GTO in 1984, and the F40 in 1987. Later on in the early 90s Loris Bicocchi used the same system in the Bugatti EB110. Anyone who does even the most basic research into how speeds were measured can establish what equipment was used and corroborate what happened by speaking to the people who performed these tests.

Look at the image below, anyone can see there are a few places where an optical sensor speedo can be plugged in and taped within the driver's vision.

Then there is the issue of the veracity of a man's statement, Valentino Balboni goes on the record with Giancarlo Perini for AUTOWEEK saying he saw 195 mph on an accurate speedo, what basis do you have not to believe him?

I thought this was the man you had so much faith in that you had dinner with him to attempt to get him to say that the FIA Homologation was meaningless and that the Fuelie & Downdraft are "the same" so you could post it here in this thread in support of your sad agenda simply because you don't own a Downdraft?

I should point out that he completely denies that he ever said what you claim he did, essentially, your post here was a blatant misrepresentation, see if you can get him to go on the record and put his name to your claim now.

Meanwhile, F1 driver Pierluigi Martini's 314.1 kph (195.2 mph) based on a car with a blueprinted 470 bhp engine and air-box spacer enhancement can be duplicated with the right tires, properly tuned engine and suitable location.

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