Countach, the ultimate supercar

Countach LP500S rallying across Patagonia

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1980 Lamborghini Countach 400S Turbo, 1 of 2 cars created by the legendary Lamborghini distributor Max Bobnar arrives in Miami!

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#1121160 #230, 4.6.1980 in Rosso/Bianco, Max waited a long time for the delivery.
I don't know when it changed from Standard red to this Pearl red, I have Pictures in both liveries.

 

It was pictured in 1984 and 1983 with a few magazines in the Pearl Red specification, my guess is late 1982 or 1983? It was imported into the USA from Max to Bill Pennington of Circus Circus around 1985.

 

This is the Countach that Miami Vice should have used!

Max waited so long because of the factory's financial situation at the time

I posted this (hopefully) useful link on the previous page https://www.lp112.com/Lamborghini/Detail.asp?Model=Countach&Version=LP400+S&ChassisNumber=1121160 it covers the development of the car over the years, you can see it in the famed Coltrin-Marchet book with Max's famed SO.303 plates on

 

I'm learning more about this Countach LP500S I posted at the top of the page, apparently its been in a number of Rallys in Europe, now, its been shipped to South America to drive across that continent!

A hero.

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Super cool turbo. How many turbo carb v12s in the world? Maybe just two?

 

Max Bobnar commissioned two that I'm aware of, the first engineered by Franz Albert, the second I think was engineered by Koenig Specials.

I believe both Franz Albert and Koenig Specials did several carb Turbo Countachs also, the latter marketing this availability in the 80s.

In the USA Bob Wallace did two Turbo cars for Robert Rusie, the first was on a carbureted LP400 discussed early in the main Countach thread, and the second later on in the 80s was an LP400 converted to fuel-injection which now belongs to an FChatter. Bobby also did a carbed Turbo engine for John Robertson's LP400S, but that engine had some difficulties and was replaced with another Turbocharged engine, this time fuel-injected. The replaced carbed Turbo engine was rebuilt and ended up with Jack Houpe who never installed it in the LP400S he had at the time.

This is just what I'm aware of, I have heard of others but haven't been unable to verify anything.

 

Brave and very cool

 

Both of Max' Countach were done by Franz Albert - Albrex in Wörgl (aut), the LP400s #1121160 and the black 5l #ELA12712.
I have never seen a Countach Turbo from Koenig Specials, I guess it was only in their catalog.

In the end you never knew who was involved in those Projects, since TTP, Lotec, Koenig, Albrex - they all worked together, shared knowledge installed kits the other produced etc.

In case of #1121160 a friend of mine working at Lotec made the carburattors working, they had Problem with the swimmers because of the Turbo boost.

 

They all did an incredible job! Even Valentino was impressed with how it ran! Video coming soon... : )

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In the 1980s I once saw a Countach pimped by KOENIG SPECIALS ...and I did not like it at all! It was dread ugly in my humble opinion.
Same with their "creations" on the Ferrari BBs!
Until today I don`t like this kind of visual- or technical modifications. The purest things are the best! Or, better: "Less is more" (Mies van der Rohe, Architect).

 

i love Mies works like the the Seagram

this said, i also happen to like some of the tuners works from the 80's
some of their works are interesting and a part of supercars history and the over the top exageration of what a supercar was

 

Also,the Testarossa did copy(iloabw) the early 80s styling side strakes such as Koenig , the XJS jag looked wide and pretty cool at the time.

 

Here in red in a german Magazine:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/MM-2368-Mehrleistung-Lamborghini-Countach-S-Albert-Turbo-in-einer/232635805335

here the same Magazine showing the cover
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Rallye-Racing-82-12-Lamborghini-Countach-Turbo-Jaguar-XJ-5-3-HE-Arden/232530969367

the black one was once in Penthouse tested by swiss formula 1 Driver Marc Surer
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Penthouse-Nr-7-1987-Toni-Shiletto-Christopher-Lambert-Lamborghini-Countach/401485397563

 

Walter Koenig did at least 2 such cars, most notable of which was the candy red LP500S http://www.lambocars.com/countach/countach_koenig_specials.html the other a black car you'll find if you type in 1986 Countach Turbo Koenig-Specials

 

Indeed!

I hope they documented this South American adventure on film

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Did you ever see a Picture of the engine of those cars...

 

No, but Mark Smeyers saw the candy red LP500S @ Zandvoort in 1996

 

True.

When Franz Albert retired, one of his technicians Conrad Gruber took over his inventory and has since created another Turbo Countach in Austria based on a white LP500S http://www.autotraderuae.com/news/lamborghini/albrex-lamborghini-countach-biturbothe-legend-lives/1104/

I believe there are a couple of others in Japan.

Clearly the Bobnar cars are the best iterations and the most famous of the turbocharged cars.

Also, this is the Robertson car I mentioned earlier which Bob Wallace originally Turbocharged, then subsequently installed a normally-aspirated LM002 engine https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/PA15/Paris/lots/r175-1980-lamborghini-countach-lp400s/181526

 

sure, but why isn't there any Picture of the Turbo charged engine it it was really charged...

In over 30 years of being fan of Countach I saw many, many false Claims, unless one can proof what he's telling I don't believe it.
In fact Koenig did not Turbo Charge the tuned cars himself, it was either done at Lotec in Kolbermoor or Albrex, this is a fact I got to know from my friend who worked for Lotec.

I know of 4 Turbo charged countachs in Europe
the two of Max both done by Albrex, the White LP500s by Gruber, finally the black 25th in Switzerland which was destroyed when the house it was stored in the Garage burnt to the ground.

 

I remember the black 25th now you mention it.

 

The turbo Engine.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/138267873/

 

W

Er...wasn’t it Willy Koenig....? You have your Walter Wolfs and Willy Koenigs mixed up I think?

 

I think you are right, and speaking of Walter, here is the Wolf Countach 1120202 alongside 1121160 with Messrs Balboni & Lamborghini

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