Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

Geno,

Happy New Year.

JLA12345 was special-ordered via Portman Lamborghini (UK) by a young London-based Middle Eastern Prince who was attending school in England at the time.

I was privileged to see this stunning car a handful of times when it was new @ 1988 as I already owned a Countach myself at the time and several owners got together on a regular basis.

It left quite an impression on me.

The color was not an 'available color' for the model per se, and is definitely not one of those on the standard PPG color chart which I have (below). However, you could correctly refer to it as a Paint To Sample color, and I note that Nuova Automobili Lamborghini SpA carried this type of request out for VIP clients a few times.

The interesting thing about the official chart I have is some colors such as PPG 2.463.012 Canna Di Fucile Metallizzato were rarely-ordered (only 2 known to me) and others such as PPG 2.463.685 Oro Sahara Metallizzato were not used at all, to my knowledge. That said, you’ll note that Bianco Perlato was not on the color chart, yet at least a dozen cars or more were ordered in that color.

FWIW the colors on the chart are:

PPG 2.464.022 Rosso Siviglia (Red)
PPG 2.467.026 Nero Tenebre (Black)
PPG 2.461.025 Bianco Polo Park (White)
PPG 2.463.924 Blu Acapulco Metalizzato (Dark blue metallic)
PPG 2.463.739 Blu Tahiti Metallizzato (Medium blue metallic)
PPG 2.463.729 Argento Luna Metallizzato (Silver)
PPG 2.463.685 Oro Sahara Metallizzato (Gold)
PPG 2.463.012 Canna Di Fucille (Dark grey metallic)

Meanwhile, I can only describe the color of the yellow 88.5 Downdraft as metallic yellow (I do not know what the official PPG name is, so I referred to it as 'Giallo Metallizzato'), and, as with our Bordeaux Speciale, I have not seen another Countach in this color.

IMO, speaking from experience, a one-off color for a Miura or a Countach would command a significant premium were it to be for sale, exactly how much would depend on the car’s current condition, the desirability of the color, and the car's historical provenance.

 

I agree, that's been my observation also.

 

Walter,

Long time, hope you are well!

IMHO, referring to this variant as the Downdraft is easier and less “complicated” than referring to it as the ‘LP5000 QV Carburatori’ or the 'carbureted version of the LP5000QV'!

Monikers or nicknames proliferate the classic and sports car world, making it easier for owners & enthusiasts to refer to the cars in a simple unofficial way, without using all the lengthy official model designations. This is true from Porsche to Ferrari to Lamborghini and more makes besides, and it has become more common as the years go by.

Beetle, Pagoda, Frog Eye, Ducktail, Gullwing, Longtail, Shortnose, 4-Cam, Plexi-nose, Lightweight, the list of monikers goes on.

Amongst the Countach variants, in recent years we have Periscopa, Lowbody, Downdraft etc.

Downdraft is appropriate for this Countach type as it refers to the only variant of the Countach powered by Downdraft carbureted induction, an understandable reference to its most important & desirable distinguishing feature. Personally, I think the name is a pretty cool reference.

I agree with your point about the 80s, when I purchased my first Downdraft in the latter part of that decade whilst the cars were still being built, there was no such name! But, times change, and I think Downdraft might be here to stay as I note that people were referring to the variant as the "Downdraft" long before this thread was created in 2015.

 

Yes, exactly, in our film Valentino refers to our car as "Countach Quattrovavole", and that works just fine, but when I had my first Downdraft whilst the cars were still in production in the late 80s and we all used the moniker "QV".

I have indeed heard people refer to the carbureted 25th as "25th Downdraft", and I have also heard some European owners & enthusiasts use the expression "Downdraft", quite often nowadays in fact.

It appears the name Downdraft started here in the USA, and is now becoming universally used, although bear in mind it is spoken Downdraft but most often written up on forums as "DD".

Same with the moniker "88.5", it started here in the USA, and now I see everyone including owners, enthusiasts and car dealers in Europe using it as well.

"Anni", that's another moniker or nickname, I think that one started in Europe?

The moral of the story is, unofficially, people will call these cars whatever they want, just to make a specific reference, and like all nicknames, once it catches on and becomes universally understood, that's what they like to use.

That said, the official designation always remains the same.

 

Here is an International auction company (RM) referring to a car they are selling as a "Downdraft" @ 8 years ago:

https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO09/Sports---Classics-of-Monterey/lots/r259-1987-lamborghini-countach-5000-quattrovalvole-downdraft/199352

Here are other well-known entities in the trade using the "Downdraft" name a number of years ago:

http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/1096-Lamborghini-Countach 5000 QV Euro Spe-5.0 Litre 12-Cylinder

http://www.themotoringenthusiast.com/cars/countach-qv-dd

Also, here is a European dealer you know using the "88.5" name @ 4-5 years ago:

https://www.dkeng.co.uk/ferrari-sales/326/Prestige_Cars/Lamborghini_Countach_5000_QV_885.html

Bear in mind that just because you havent heard it doesn't mean it isn't being used, I have European clients who refer to the car as Downdraft, as with Periscopa and Lowbody.

 

Actually, I first noticed the expression @ 3 years ago as used to describe a very English car https://notoriousluxury.com/2015/06/20/retrospect-1986-1989-aston-martin-v8-vantage-volante/ the Aston Martin Vantage

That's true as far as the car's official name is concerned, but don’t forget that the Countach variant built @ Sant Agata with the 6 Weber (44 DCNF) vertical twin-barrel carburetors received official distinction by Nuova Automobili Lamborghini SpA in the form of separate parts book material and accompanying numbers, and a separate owner’s manual. The reference to Carburatore and Inezione separately by the factory to make the distinction between the variants is well-established.

Walter, I appreciate & respect your preference and you are certainly entitled to it, in the same way that in the free world owners & enthusiasts didn't need factory permission to start referring to certain variants as Persicopa, Lowbody, or Downdraft. You guys make the point for the coining and existence of these monikers, so far on this page alone I have seen five (5) different suggested official names for the car that is the thread's variant, no wonder a simple one-word description works so well. Downdraft - no further explanation needed.

 

Fantastic post John, as always!

Thank you for taking the time to compile this, and I dare say some of the the images I have of the cars in the factory @ the point of production supports this study.

Speaking of data, I would love to see how many cars actually left the factory with wings on.

It is my theory that there are wings on @ 10% more cars than were delivered with them.

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The first image is how all license plate folders start out, the second image is what I hope to avoid happening to mine.

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That's the plan.

True, it could be.

My theory is just that, a theory. That said, I remember some who bought new Countachs and the subsequently asked the delivering dealer to supply and fit a wing after the car was delivered, and I recall a lot cars arriving from the factory wingless - as supported by images. I've also seen many people source and fit wings over the past 25 years, and as such, I'm aware of a significant number of cars with wings that were originally supplied wingless. Even accounting for wings that have been removed, and I agree a significant number have, my theory, based on observation over many years, is that we may be ahead on wings.

Anyway, per it would be fun to see the original data of wing-supplied cars, but as the unit wasn't homologated, the factory did not record that data, I don't think. I hope I'm wrong.

 

Besides the suggested official names for the Downdraft as posted on this page (Countach 5000S Quattrovalvole, 5000S QV, Quattrovalvole, QV, Quattroporte 5000S QV, LP500 4V, Countach 4V, Tipo 4V L507), perhaps there is room for one more, this one by the factory itself:

“Countach 5000 4 Valvole”

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Thanks for sharing this.

Is there a link?

I don't have anything on this car, perhaps others do.

Books, manuals and all the associated literature are becoming quite important to have for these cars, I think I went a bit overboard in assembling some missing pieces:

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/144517568/

 

Classic Throttle shop link with some good images:

http://classicthrottleshop.com/1985-lamborghini-countach-5000qv/

You'll notice that 1985 Downdrafts use the same foglight as the LP500S.

The writeup has some errors in it and the car requires some TLC in engine bay and interior, the latter I believe has been re-trimmed once before in the past.

If one must have a wing, the big wing is quite a statement.

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Small wing by comparison on JLA12307, a true hero car, I hope the French-connection posts when this much-enjoyed Countach
passes 200,000 kms.

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